Category: Hymn of the Week

Music and words by Tillit S. Teddlie

Oh the depth and the riches of God’s saving grace
Flowing down from the cross for me!
There the debt for my sins by the Savior was paid
In His suffering on Calvary!

Oh the riches and depth of such wonderful love,
Flowing boundless and full and free!
And the debt on the cross for my sins was all paid
In His suffering on Calvary!

How my heart humbly bows in His presence today,
When I think of His agony,
By His stripes I am freed from the bondage of sin
Through His suffering on Calvary!

Oh what marvelous mercy, what infinite love!
What immeasurable grace I see!
By His blood I am cleansed; I am happy and free
Through His suffering on Calvary!

MP3 Downloads of this song at Amazon.com

Audio from the annual singing at the Bellaire congregation: 
Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

Music by F. L. Eiland
Lyrics by Jennie Wilson

Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!

Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring.
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling!

Covet not this world’s vain riches
That so rapidly decay;
Seek to gain the heavenly treasures,
They will never pass away!

When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view!

F. L. Eiland was a Christian songwriter of the nineteenth century who wrote many good hymns. Unfortunately, this is practically the only one still sung today.

A bit late, I know. I am finally home after traveling with my family around Tennessee and Arkansas, and now that my first year of college work is done, I am ready to do other things for a few months.

This is a devotional song that has been passed around orally, and I have not yet found who wrote it.

O Lord, I thought the day would never come
When I could lay my burdens down and walk with You.
But this morning as I greet the rising sun,
The fondest of my dreams have all come true.

The greatest friend you’ll ever find is on a lonely mountain.
The highest high you’ll ever reach is when you kneel to pray.
The brightest light you’ll ever see is when you close your eyes.
O Lord, You are my first love,
And at last I realize.

O Lord, I need a mountain to climb on,
Just a quiet place to go and know You’re there.
O Lord, I need to spend some time with You;
Jesus spent the night with You in prayer.

The greatest friend you’ll ever find is on a lonely mountain.
The highest high you’ll ever reach is when you kneel to pray.
The brightest light you’ll ever see is when you close your eyes.
O Lord, You are my first love,
And at last I realize.

O Lord, You are my first love,
And at last I realize.

I want Jesus to walk with me.
I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along life’s pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials He’ll walk with me.
In my trials He’ll walk with me.
All along life’s pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m dying, He’ll walk with me.
When I’m dying, He’ll walk with me.
All along life’s pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

I love Jesus, and He loves me.
I love Jesus, and He loves me.
All along life’s pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

I tried to lead this song at a devo recently, and discovered that I was the only one who knew it. I’ve found that since I’ve been exposed to such a wide variety of songs in many places, I can’t just assume that everyone else knows the same songs I do.

This is an echoing minor tune, which apparently originated as a negro spiritual. Although it’s a bit repetitive, it carries a wonderful message—that we can be confident going through life knowing that Jesus is walking right along with us.

Amazon MP3 downloads: The Alton Howard Singers, David Slater (medly with “Wayfaring Stranger”).