Tag Archives: Hymnals

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Daysong

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Daysong

The sands of time are sinking;
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for,
The fair, sweet morn awakes.

Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be o’er me,
Where darkest clouds have been.

No night is there, no sorrow,
No death and no decay,
No yesterday, no morrow,
But one eternal day.

7.6.7.6 – Various authors

Tune: Lasst uns Alle New

Gesangbuch Ander Teil, 1632
arr. Matthew L. Harber, 2011

#670 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

“Daysong” is another “composite” hymn, demonstrating that properly-metered lyrics can be matched to many tunes written in that same meter. This allows worship leaders to “mix and match,” creating “new hymns” from verses of different hymns but with the same themes.  Setting them to different or unfamiliar tunes can revive older tunes and “freshen” verses worshipers might be tempted to sing by “rote” due to their familiarity.

The hymns from which this “composite” is constructed are “The Sands of Time” by Anne Ross Cousin, 1857 (#710); “In Heavenly Love Abiding” by Anna L. Waring, 1850 (#667 & 668); and “There Is a Habitation” by Love H. Jameson, 1882 (#749) – all hymns which have stood the test of time due to strong, Biblical lyrics, written in proper metrical form.

A HYMN FOR TODAY – We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before Thee; we kneel and adore Thee.
We bless Thy holy name; glad praises we sing.

We worship Thee, God of our fathers; we bless Thee.
Through life’s storm and tempest our Guide hast Thou been.
When perils o’ertake us, Thou wilt not forsake us,
And with Thy help, O LORD, life’s battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
And gladly our songs of true worship we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us; our God is before us.
To Thee, our great Redeemer, ever be praise.

12.11.12.11 – Julia C. Cory, 1902

Tune: KREMSER – Valerius’ Collection, 1626
arr. Edward Kremser, 1877

#139 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

WE PRAISE THEE, O GOD, OUR REDEEMER directs praise to God as our Redeemer. It also blesses Him as Creator, Guide, and Helper. (Isaiah 44:24; 47:4)

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Living Water, Bread of Life

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Living Water, Bread of Life

God sends springs into the valleys,
Flowing softly through the hills.
God sends streams down from the mountains,
Leaping over rocks and rills.
He fills rivers; He fills oceans.
Oh! what bounty overflows!
But His gift of living water
Quenches thirst within my soul.

God makes seed we plant for harvest,
Grows the seedling in the field,
Ripens grain for us to gather,
For the good bread it will yield.
He made manna sent from heaven.
Oh! what bounty He bestows!
Yet the bread of life He gives me
Feeds the hunger of my soul.

God provides in great abundance;
Of His bounty He has said:
“I’ll not see the saints forsaken
Or the righteous begging bread.”
Father, keep it still before me:
Greatest bounty You bestow
Is the Christ, the living water,
Bread of life to fill my soul.

8.7.8.7.D – Gayle D. Garrison, 1999
From Psalm 37:25-26; 104:10-15; 107:35-37

Tune: Gayle D. Garrison, 1999

Arr. R.J. Stevens, 1999

#56 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

LIVING WATER, BREAD OF LIFE thanks God for water and bread. Then, in contrast, it thanks God for the greater gift of spiritual nourishment through Christ, who is the Living Water and Bread of Life. (Exodus 16:14-15; Psalm 37:25-26; 65:9-13; 104:10-14; Isaiah 55:10; John 4:10-14; 6:27-58; 2 Corinthians 9:10)

A HYMN FOR TODAY – I Will Wake the Dawn With Praises

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

I Will Wake the Dawn With Praises

Dawn and sunset, fierce and joyful,
Each reflects His mighty ways.
With the sea and sky before me,
I will give Him all my praise.

Stars will joy in praises from me;
“Lesser light” will know my voice.
When I give my God His glory,
Night will hear me and rejoice.

Shout His glory, brothers, sisters;
Laud His name and do His will.
Like the sands upon the shoreline
Are the praises due Him still.

[Chorus]
I will wake the dawn with praises!
I will speak His name abroad.
I will worship Him forever,
He my Lord, my only God.

8.7.8.7 with chorus – Sarah J. Furhman, 2001

Tune – Glenda B. Schales, 2001

#143 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

I WILL WAKE THE DAWN WITH PRAISES borrows exuberant language from the Psalms to praise the Creator. Just as the dawn, the sunset, and the starry night praise God, so too the worshiper is overcome with the desire to glorify Him and encourage others to do the same. (Psalm 19:1-6; 57:7-11; 108:1-2)

A HYMN FOR TODAY – All Things Bright and Beautiful

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Each little flow’r that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden:
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day,

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

[Refrain]
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The LORD God made them all.

7.6.7.6 with refrain – Cecil F. Alexander, 1848

Tune: ROYAL OAK – Playford’s Dancing Master, 1680
arr. Martin F. Shaw (1915)

#93 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs – 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – The Spacious Firmament on High

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heav’ns, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
Th’unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator’s pow’r display
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the list’ning earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn
And all the planets in their turn
Confirm the tidings as they roll
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid the radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”

LMD (8.8.8.8.D) – Joseph Addison, 1712

Psalm 19:1-6

Tune: CREATION – Franz J. Haydn, 1798
arr. Mason and Webb’s National Psalmist, 1848

#64 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – The Rock of My Heart

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

The Rock of My Heart

My Lord, I need nothing beside You;
Without You, I could not have stood.
Your promise is my hope and my refuge;
Your nearness, my strength and my good.

CHORUS:

My heart may be broken within me;
My earthly strength may depart.
But You are my portion forever,
You are the Rock of my heart.
You are the Rock of my heart.

When I was distressed and embittered,
By things I could not understand,
Your presence was continually with me;
You always took hold of my hand.

I know that Your counsel will guide me
In wisdom, devotion, and love,
And afterward You’ll call me to glory
To dwell in Your presence above.

CHORUS:

My heart may be broken within me;
My earthly strength may depart.
But You are my portion forever,
You are the Rock of my heart.
You are the Rock of my heart.

9.8.10.8  – M. W. Bassford, 2000

From Psalm 73:2, 21-28

Tune: Glenda B. Schales, 2000

#29 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

THE ROCK OF MY HEART takes the words of Asaph in Psalm 73 to express the Christian’s dependence on God and God’s faithfulness, even when the Christian’s faith begins to waver. (Psalm 73:2, 21-24, 25-28)

A HYMN FOR TODAY – We Give Thee But Thine Own

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O LORD, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our firstfruits give.

To comfort and to bless,
To find a balm for woe,
To tend the lone and fatherless
Is angels’ work below.

The captive to release,
To God the lost to bring,
To teach the way of life and peace –
It is a Christ-like thing.

And we believe Thy word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate’er for Thine we do, O LORD,
We do it unto Thee.

SM (6.6.8.6) – William Walsham How, 1868

Tune: SCHUMANN – Mason and Webb’s Cantica Laudis, 1850

#609 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

1 Chronicles 29:14

Note various stanzas too often omitted from many hymnals.

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Our Faithful Care

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Our Faithful Care

“Glory to God!” In all lamentation,
Teach us to suffer like our Lord;
Then may we seek Thy holy compassion,
Our arms outstretched, Thy love outpoured.

“Glory to God!” In all tribulation,
Measure the portion each can bear;
Cover new pain with fresh consolation –
Balm for our hearts to heal and share.

“Glory to God!” In all our tomorrows,
Ready Thy throne for coming prayers,
Some future tears, or some distant sorrows;
Be Thou our God, our Faithful Care.

10.8.10.8 – C.A. Roberts and Glenda B. Schales, 1997

Tune: PARAKALEO – C.A. Roberts and Glenda B. Schales, 1997

#419 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

OUR FAITHFUL CARE takes thoughts from 2 Corinthians 1. Each verse glorifies God for the sufferings and trials He permits. The three verses pray for the proper response to suffering, ask God to allow suffering in tolerable doses, and to expect more prayers as His children experience future trials. (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11).

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Christ, the Lord, Is Ris’n Today

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Christ, the Lord, is ris’n today,
Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say,
Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply,
Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell,
Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise,
Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise,
Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King,
Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save,
Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave?
Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led,
Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted head,
Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise,
Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies,
Alleluia!

7.7.7.7 with alleluias – Charles Wesley, 1739

Tune: Worgan – Walsh’s Lyra Davidica (1708)
arr. Arnold’s Compleat Psalmodist (1741)

#251 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012