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Songs for Sunday: Lonely Voices

The first time I heard this song, I was probably about 12 years old, and visiting my grandparent’s church in Bixby Oklahoma. It was sung by the youth minister’s wife. Her name was Nina, and she had the sweetest voice. I thought the lyrics and melody were both hauntingly beautiful.

Here is a YouTube video from Bethel Church.

Lonely voices crying in the city,
Lonely voices sounding like a child.
Lonely voices come from busy people,
Too disturbed to stop a little while.
Lonely voices fill my dreams,
Lonely voices haunt my memory.

Lonely faces looking for the sunrise,
Just to find another busy day.
Lonely faces all around the city,
Men afraid, but too ashamed to pray.
Lonely faces do I see,
Lonely faces haunt my memory.

Lonely eyes, I see them in the subway,
Burdened by the worries of the day;
Men at leisure, but they’re so unhappy,
Tired of foolish roles they try to play.
Lonely people do I see,
Lonely people haunt my memory.

Abundant life He came to truly give man,
But so few His gift of grace receive.
Lonely people live in every city,
Men who face a dark and lonely grave.
Lonely faces do I see,
Lonely voices calling out to me.

The song was written in 1967 by Billie Hanks Jr, who was part of the Billy Graham crusades. You can find out what he is doing now here. George Beverly Shea, who was also a familiar face at the crusades, recorded the song on his album If That Isn’t Love

I still love the melody, but lyrics bother me a little. While the song points out the problem of the lonely people who obviously need to know the Lord, the writer appears to be only an observer, and fails to do anything about the need. Were the lonely voices haunting this person’s memory because they didn’t tell those people about the Lord, when they should have?

How many of us are like that? How often do we sadly shake our heads, and say that person “needs the Lord”, but never tell them about Jesus? Guilty as charged. We….I…have to do better. Jesus told us to tell others about Him. We need to answer the lonely voices with the news of the Savior!

See you in church!

Connie

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Songs for Sunday: We Are

Hear this song first thing in the morning, and you’ll be singing it all day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

We Are

Every secret, every shame
Every fear, every pain
Live inside the dark
But that’s not who we are
We are children of the day

So wake up, sleeper, lift your head
We were meant for more than this
Fight the shadows, conquer death
Make the most of the time we have left

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine, let the light shine, let the light shine

We are called to spread the news
To tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there’s freedom in His name
So let His love break through

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

We are the light
We are the light
We are the light
So let your light shine brighter
We are the light
We are the light
We are the light

Jesus, you are the light
You are the light
You are the light
We will lift you high and shine, shine, shine

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

We gotta shine, we gotta shine (let the light shine) [4x]

This song written by Chuck Butler, Ed Cash, James Thiele, and Hilary McBride, and recorded by Kari Jobe is taken straight from the scripture.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16)

We’ll talk more about being “the light” next week.

Here is a video of Kari performing “We Are”. I was able to see her live at Women of Faith a few years ago. She is an incredible performer!

See you in church!

Connie

Posted on by cahall63

Songs for Sunday: Send the Light

Good morning! Welcome to Songs for Sunday!

This hymn is one of two that have been running around in my head for a few weeks. I decided to research it a little and share it with you. I’ll probably do the other one next week.

Send the Light

There’s a call comes ringing over the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!

Refrain

Send the light, the blessèd Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessèd Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

We have heard the Macedonian call today,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden offering at the cross we lay,
Send the light! Send the light!

Refrain

Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,
Send the light! Send the light!

Refrain

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

Refrain

I can remember singing this in church as a kid. I loved it then, and I still do.  The song is about spreading the gospel; fulfilling the Great Commission to “go and tell”.

The “Macedonian call” in verse 2 refers to something recorded in Acts 16.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10).

According to Cyber Hymnal.org, “Send the Light” was written by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel in 1890. He was a composer, music teacher, choir director and music publisher. You can find more information about him, as well as a list of many of his works here.

Like they do today, music publishers of the 19th century published song books that contained works by many different people. However, they did not have access to the number of talented men and women we do today.

Composers and lyricists often used pen names in order to give the impression there were more people composing and writing than actually existed. Charles Gabriel used at least three: H. A. Henry, Charlotte. G. Homer, and S. B. Jackson. In comparison, Fanny Crosby wrote under at least fifty.

Here is a nice youtube video of “Send the Light” performed by the Corban University Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, and Concert Choir.

See you in church!

Connie

 

Posted on by cahall63

Songs for Sunday: Show Me Your Glory and He Hideth My Soul

Welcome to Songs for Sunday. Every Sunday morning, I’ll post something about a song or songs that pertain to other recent posts, or refer to “light” in some way. Consider it a great way to start your morning before you head out to church to meet with other believers. If it blesses you, please share it with others!

At the end of my “So, What is Glory?” Post, I shared the exchange between Moses and God from Exodus 33 and 34. Moses asked to see God’s glory, and God told him that he couldn’t see His face, but that God would put Moses in the cleft of a rock and cover him with is hand.  Then when God passed by, He would remove His hand and let Moses see Him from the back.

Today, I have two songs that refer back to that scripture.

The first is “Show Me Your Glory”, recorded by Third Day, and released in 2001 on their Grammy winning “Come Together” album. The song was written by Mark D. Lee, Samuel Tai Anderson, Bradley B.C. Avery, David Carr, Johnny Mac Powell, and Marc Byrd.

The song is a beautiful representation of not only Moses’ desire, but what should be ours as well.

I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I’ll never be the same

Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can’t go on without You, Lord

When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won’t settle for ordinary things
I’m gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won’t rest ’til I see You again

Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can’t go on without You, Lord

(Lyrics from MetroLyrics.com

The second song can be found in many hymnals.  Published in 1890, the lyrics were written by Fanny Crosby, and the music by William J. Kirkpatrick. Fanny Crosby, blinded as an infant, wrote the lyrics to over 8000 hymns, as well as some secular songs. Kirkpatrick was a composer and music publisher. He is credited with composing nearly 200 songs, as well as publishing 50 song collections. There may be more collaborations between them, but I only found one other song, called “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”.

As for “He Hideth My Soul, I have not found any additional information about it. However, the source for the chorus lyrics obviously comes from Exodus 33. I am always fascinated at how many of Fanny’s lyrics mention sight.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

  • Refrain:
    He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
    That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
    He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
    And covers me there with His hand,
    And covers me there with His hand

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God!
For such a Redeemer as mine.

When clothed with His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high. (Lyrics from Timeless Truths.com)

 

Here is a youtube video of Guy Penrod singing “He Hideth My Soul”

See you in church!
Connie