Alternate Title: Dyma gariad fel y moroedd

Lyrics: William Rees, translated from Welsh to English by William Williams, 1900.
Music: Robert Lowry.
Theme: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
I John 3:1

Shirley: ‘Here Is Love’ is the love song which came out of the Welsh Revival in 1904. The tune itself with the words stirs my heart like no other hymn.

Here is love vast as the ocean
Loving kindness as the flood
When the Prince of life, our ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heaven’s eternal days

On the Mount of Crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love

Let us all His love accepting
Love Him ever all our days
Let us seek His Kingdom only
And our lives be to His praise
He alone shall be our glory
Nothing in the world we see
He has cleansed and sanctified us
He Himself has set us free

In His truth He does direct me
By His Spirit through His Word
And His grace my need is meeting
As I trust in Him, my Lord
All His fullness He is pouring
In His love and power in me
Without measure
Full and boundless
As I yield myself to Thee.

I like the old Welsh version above, but if you want here’s an updated version from Steve and VIcki Cook at Sovreign Grace Ministries. You can also listen to Matt Redman sing his souped-up rendition here.

Odd, how things serendipitously coincide. I had never heard of this hymn. However, on Saturday we had a sort of hymn sing/mime worship time at my church, and one of the songs we sang was Here Is Love Vast As the Ocean.

Lyrics: Psalm 23, from the Scottish Psalter of 1650, translated by Francis Rous.
Music: CRIMOND by Jessie S. Irvine.
EVAN by William Henry Havergal.
There are an amazing number of other tunes that will fit these lyrics; it’s written in the same syllabic meter as Amazing Grace, so you can mix and match to your heart’s content.

Or if you prefer, William Dutton on BBC Songs Of Praise (3 February, 2008), singing Bob Chilcott’s setting of Psalm 23 with Emma Whiteley.

Theme:

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for His own name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me,
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

The video below is NOT, I think, the version of this beloved psalm that people voted for, but it’s supposed to be a “Celtic” version of Psalm 23. I don’t know who the singer is nor who wrote the music or the lyrics (maybe Hillsong?). But I did think it was a rather beautiful rendition.

And here’s a George Herbert poem/hymn version of Psalm 23 posted at Rebecca Writes today.

Lyrics: Fanny Crosby
Music: Robert Lowry
Theme: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20.

Here’s a beautiful, reflective piano arrangement by James Stevens:

This beloved hymn came to Fanny as a result of a prayer. Struggling financially, she desperately needed some money. As her usual custom, Fanny began to pray. A few minutes later, a gentleman offered her five dollars, the exact amount she needed. Later recalling the incident, she said, “I have no way of accounting for this except to believe that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money.” The poem she wrote afterward became “All The Way My Savior Leads Me.”

Fanny Crosby knew about being led; she was blind all of her life from the age of six months when a doctor treated her eyes incorrectly and caused her total blindness. She certainly experienced her share of being led, both physically and spiritually speaking. It is reported that Fanny said about her blindness: “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me. If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind. . . for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour.”

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

Ms. Crosby wrote at least five of the hymns on this top 100 list. Two we have already talked about: this one and Tell Me the Story of Jesus. Can anyone guess the other three? It’s always possible I missed another one or two since I haven’t actually written the posts for all of the hymns on the list yet. Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns and poems. Amazing woman.

I’d like to read one of the books pictured above. Can anyone recommend one of them? The first one is Ms. Crosby’s own autobiography.

More about Fanny Crosby.
To top off this post, here’s a little bit different version by Rich Mullins:

Sources:
Gospel Hymn Stories: All the Way My Savior Leads Me.
Faith Hall of Fame: Frances Jane van Alstyne.

Lyrics: 17th century German Jesuit poem translated from German to English by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873.
Music: CRUSADER’S HYMN, from a Silesian folk tune, arranged by Richard Willis.
Theme: Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Revelation 5:12-13

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

4. All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

5. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.

Believe it or not, back in the dark ages (1970’s) when I went to high school, this hymn was my public high school choir’s theme song. They sang the last verse a cappella at the end of every concert. Could that possibly happen nowadays?

At any rate, it’s a beautiful hymn. The origin of both words and the tune is disputed, but what I wrote at the beginning is my best guess.

Lyrics: George W. Kitchin, 1887.
Music: CRUCIFER by Sydney H. Nicholson, 1916
Theme: [Jesus said] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 12:32-33

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore his sacred name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.

You can read a different set of lyrics and listen to this hymn here at The Center for Church Music. I suppose this version is the revised version by Michael Newbolt. (It’s under copyright? How does anyone have a copyright for a hymn written in 1887?)

I’ve never heard this hymn before. It seems to be a rather Episcopal/Anglican/Lutheran high-churchy sort of thing, but after I listened to it several times, it grew on me. It seems also to be a favorite of organists, but I liked this version best of the ones at youtube, on tubular bells:

May I lift high the cross of Christ today in my life, in my actions, and in my words.

Lyrics: Attributed to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836.
Music: BRADBURY by William B. Bradbury
Theme: he LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3.

Hope Chest Legacy: “This hymn is not just for children; but for anyone who knows their Shepherd and yearns to be under His loving care. Jesus referred to himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10.”
1. Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

2. We are thine, do thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3. Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Early let us turn to thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Early let us turn to thee.

4. Early let us seek thy favor, early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Mr. Bradbury also wrote the music to Jesus Loves Me, a tune known around the world. This one is not so well known, but I remember it from way back in my Southern Baptist childhood.

I don’t know if this story is true or not, but here’s a tale about how this song saved Ira Sankey’s life during the Civil War.

Sources:
Center for Church Music: Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.
Everlasting Worship: Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.