Category Archives: songs & scripture

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Words: Robert Robinson, 1758. Music: American folk tune. Public Domain.

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Therefore I, Lord, will remember
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Scripture References
1 Sam 7:12-14; 2 Pet 2:25

Notes
The tune is known as Nettleton, by attribution to the evangelist Asahel Nettleton who composed it early in the nineteenth century.

“When [Robinson] was 17 he and some friends attended a meeting where George Whitefield was preaching. Robinson and his friends went for the purpose of ‘scoffing at the poor deluded Methodists.’ However, Whitefield’s strong evangelistic preaching so impressed him that he was converted to Christ.” 101 Hymns Stories by Kenneth Osbeck pg. 52.

Robinson penned these words at age 22 or 23 as a hymn-poem for the conclusion of his sermon for Whitsunday, 1758.

In stanza three, Robinson speaks of being “prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love”. In his later life, he lapsed into sin. There is a well-known story of Robinson, riding a stagecoach with a lady who was deeply engrossed in a hymnbook. Seeking to encourage him, she asked him what he thought of the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Robinson burst into tears and said, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.”

Ebenezer
The word “Ebenezer” comes from Hebrew and is actually two words pronounced together: Even Haazer. It literally means “Stone of Help”.

Fetter
1. A chain or shackle placed on the feet.
2. Usually, fetters. anything that confines or restrains.

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name
Words & Music: Beth Redman & Matt Redman.
©2002 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music. CCLI Song #3798438

Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your Name
And blessed be Your Name when I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your Name

PRE-CHORUS:
Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say

CHORUS:
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious Name

Blessed be Your Name when the sun’s shining down on me
When the world is as it should be
Blessed be Your Name
And blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering
When there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your Name
(Repeat Pre-Chorus/Chorus)

BRIDGE:
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your Name

Scripture References
Job 1:21; Job 13:15; Isaiah 35:3-6; Isaiah 43:20-21

Be Unto Your Name

Be Unto Your Name
Words & Music: Lynn DeShazo & Gary Sadler. ©1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. CCLI #2177476

We are a moment, You are forever
Lord of the ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting, reigning on high.

CHORUS:
Holy, holy Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name,
Be unto Your name.

We are the broken, You are the healer,
Jesus, Redeemer, mighty to save;
You are the love song we’ll sing forever,
Bowing before You, blessing Your name.
(Repeat CHORUS)

Scripture References:
Rev 5:12

Better Is One Day

Better Is One Day
Words & Music: Matt Redman. ©1995 Thankyou Music. CCLI Song #1097451

How lovely is Your dwelling place,
O Lord Almighty;
For my soul longs and even faints for You.
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence;
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings.

CHORUS:
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask and I would seek:
To see Your beauty;
To find You in the place Your glory dwells.
On Thing I ask and I would seek:
To see Your beauty;
To find You in the place Your glory dwells.
(Repeat Chorus)

BRIDGE:
My heart and flesh cry out
For You the living God,
Your Spirit’s water to my soul;
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen,
Come once again to me;
I will draw near to You,
I will draw near to You.
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References:
Ps 84:1-12; Ps 27:4

Be Still My Soul

Be Still My Soul
Words by Katharina von Schlegel, 1752, translated by Jane Borthwick, 1855. Tune: Finlandia, Jean Sibelius, 1899.

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul, your God will undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears.
Then shall you better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul, your Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord;
Where disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow redeemed, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul, where pain and tears are past,
We safe and blessed shall Jesus meet at last.

Scripture References
Psalm 46:10, Matthew 8:23-27, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 21:4

Before The Throne Of God Above

Before the Throne of God Above
Words: Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863; Music: Vikki Cook, 1993.
©1997 PDI Worship (Admin. By The Copyright Company)

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself, I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.

Scripture References:
Heb 9:24; Heb 4:14; Isa 49:16; Rev 5:6; Rom 6:6; Rom 3:26; Rev 5:9-10; Phil 3:7-9; John 8:58; Eph 2:6; Rev 5:9; Col 3:3; John 20:28;

Awake, My Soul

Awake, My Soul
Words & Music: Sandra McCracken
©2002 Same Old Dress Music. CCLI Song #3947148

The image of God invisible,
The firstborn of all life;
Before and within, You hold it all in,
One Name, one faith, one Christ

CHORUS:
No one is good enough
To save himself;
Awake my soul tonight
To boast nothing else

I trust no other source or Name,
Nowhere else can I hide,
Cause Your grace gives me fear,
And Your grace draws me near,
And all that You ask You provide
(Repeat Chorus)

No seam in this garment,
All my rags to hide,
No less than Your love
For Jesus is mine

When I stand on the edges of Jordan
With the saints and the angels beside;
When this body is healed and the glory revealed
Still I can boast only Christ
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References
Col 1:15-20

Arise, My Soul, Arise

Arise, My Soul, Arise
Words: Charles Wesley, 1742. Music: Kevin Twit, 1996.
©1996 Kevin Twit Music. CCLI #2570138

Arise, my soul, arise, (Isa 60:1, Col 3:1)
shake off your guilty fears; (Psalm 34:4)
The bleeding sacrifice, (1 Cor 5:7)
in my behalf appears; (Heb 9:24)
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands, (Rev 5:6)
My name is written on His hands. (Isa 49:16)

CHORUS:
Arise, arise, arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Arise, arise, arise
Arise, my soul, arise. (Col 3:1)
Shake off your guilty fears and rise (Psalm 34:4)

He ever lives above,
for me to intercede; (Heb 7:25, Rom 8:34)
His all redeeming love,
His precious blood, to plead; (1 Peter 1:19)
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race, (Rom 5:11, 1 Tim 2:6)
And sprinkles now the throne of grace. (Heb 12:24, Heb 4:16)
(Repeat Chorus)

Five bleeding wounds He bears;
received on Calvary; (Luke 23:33)
They pour effectual prayers;
they strongly plead for me: (Lam 3:58, Heb 12:24)
“Forgive him, O forgive” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive” they cry, (Luke 23:34)
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!” (Job 33:24, 1 Tim 2:6)
(Repeat Chorus)

My God is reconciled; (Rom 5:10)
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear (Gal 3:26, Rom 8:15)
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh, (Eph 3:12, Heb 7:19)
And “Father, Abba, Father” cry. (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:6)
(Repeat Chorus)

All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name (Raise Up The Crown)

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Raise Up The Crown)
Words: Edward Perronet, 1779. Music: Oliver Holden, 1792. Chorus: Chris Tomlin. ©2004 worshiptogether.com songs. CCLI Song #4256917

All hail the power of Jesus’ name
Let angels prostrate fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all

CHORUS:
Raise up the crown, rise on the praises,
Rest on the brow of the King of Ages,
Raise up the crown, rise on the praises,
Rest on the brow of the King of Ages

O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall,
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all;
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References:
Phil 2:9; Ps 8:1; Ps 103:1; Ps 148:13; Matt 1:23; Jn 14:13; Rev 4:10-11; Gen 28:15; Isa 45:25; Mark 10:45; Rev 5:9-10; Eph 2:8; Rev 19:11; 1 Tim 1:7; Rev 7:9-11; Phil 2:11; Rom 14:11

All Creatures Of Our God And King

All Creatures of Our God And King
Words: Francis of Assisi, circa 1225; Translated to English by William H. Draper, 1919. Music: Peter von Brachel, 1623.

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beams,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
Oh praise Him, Oh praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice,
Oh praise Him, Oh praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

And all ye souls of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
Oh sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care,
Oh praise Him, Oh praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
Oh praise Him, Oh praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
Oh praise Him, Oh praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

(additional lyrics)

Scripture References
Ps 145:10-11; Job 12:7-10; Ps 148:3; Ps 148:8-9; Ps 148:11-13

Notes
“All Creatures of Our God and King” is from one of Saint Francis’s writings entitled “Canticles of the Sun,” written shortly before his death while he was very ill and suffering the loss of his eyesight.