MUSIC COMPOSERS He Leadeth Me By Bill Dagle Much ink has been used to answer the question, “How can | know God's leading?” All of us, in one way or another, would like to know the answer. Somewhere along the way, | heard a Bible teacher say this about God's leading: “To know His leading, there are three things—the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the circumstances of life. God will use all of these to direct our paths into His will.” Because the Bible tells us to speak to one another (Eph. 5:10) and to encourage one another (Heb. 10:25), I’m thinking of a hymn that will do just that. The song, He Leadeth Me, was written in 1861 at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, or to be more precise, the house next door. John Henry Gilmore was the supply pastor and, following prayer meeting, was visiting Deacon Watson in the house next door. The members of the church had gathered there and were discussing the pastor's message on the 23rd Psalm. As Pastor Gilmore listened, he started to write: and within a short time, had completed the hymn. Giving the hymn to his wife, the good pastor soon forgot about it. A few years later, while visiting a church in Rochester, New York, to his surprise, he found his song in a new hymnal the church was using. Apparently, Mrs. Gilmore had sent the words to a Baptist publication. William Bradbury, the Father of Gospel Music, had seen the words and added some music. Thus, a new hymn was born. It's been said that music prepares the heart for the message. This hymn does that. In its verses, we are reminded that God’s Word, His Spirit and the ups and downs of life are used to lead His children—both in this life and even in the valley to the next (Psalm 23). He leadeth me—Oh blessed thought! Oh, words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate’er | do, wher-e’er | be, Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me. Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom, By waters calm, o’er troubled sea, Still ‘tis His hand that leadeth me. Lord, | would clasp thy hand in mine, Nor ever murmur or repine; Content whatever lot | see, Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me. And when my task on earth is done, When, by Thy grace, the victory’s won, E’en death's cold wave | will not flee, Since God through Jordan, leadeth me. Chorus He leadeth me, He leadeth me; By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower | would be, For by His hand He leadeth me. Amazing Grace By Bill Dagle When | was ten years old, a childhood friend invited me to Sunday School. It was there that | first heard of God’s amazing grace and, through the spirit’s convicting power, was brought under its lasting power. Thus started another life not understanding, but certainly enjoying, the amazing grace of Christ the Lord. John Newton, as a little boy, learned of this same truth and would give the world a song that has been around for over two hundred and twenty years. This is the story of how God's grace saved another soul and set the world singing. John Newton was born in London in the year 1725. His father was a sea captain. His mother was a devout Christian woman who, realizing that an illness she had would take her life within a short time, taught her son to know the Bible at an early age. When John was seven, his mother died. He went to sea with his father when he was eleven; and by the time he was seventeen, he was in the British Royal Navy on a man-ofwar ship. During this time, John drifted far from the teachings of his mother. With each passing year, he sank deeper into the pit of sin. First, he was a Sailor on a slave ship. Eventually, he was a captain, transporting slaves from Africa to ports where they could be sold for the best prices. Finally, one stormy night on a waterlogged ship in 1748, with the main mast broken in two, John Newton came face to face with the God of his childhood Bible learning. Then and there, John was saved from his darkest sins. John’s life was changed forever. He abandoned the sea, settled in Liverpool and married Mary Catlett. Soon, John felt God's call on his life to preach; and preach he did, securing an appointment to the parish church at Olney, England. To add a special touch to his messages, John would close with poetic verse that he would compose. Ona Sunday morning, in 1779, Pastor Newton closed his heart-warming message with an original poem about God's grace or as John called it, “His Amazing Grace.” That same grace changed my life and can change yours too, if you will let it. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! | once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now | see. The Bible states, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 Abide With Me By Bill Dagle Have you made preparations for your funeral yet? Yes, | know, that’s a strange way to start a story; but bear with me. The end will justify the beginning. We spend so much time preparing for life, which at best, is three score and ten, and so little time in preparing for eternity. When the final hour arrives, will you be ready and will your loved ones and friends know where you are? Henry Francis Lyte wrote a hymn on September 4. 1847, almost a hundred years before | was born, that caught my interest. A man, frail in body but strong in spirit, he had pastored a poor parish church at Lower Brixhan, Devonshire, England for 23 years. Now, he was dying. His doctor advised him to move to Italy where the climate would be less severe. This would be his last Sunday in England, his last chance to bid farewell to his loved ones and friends. Have | caught your interest? “Oh brethren,” he said as he entered the familiar pulpit for the last time, “I stand here before you today, as alive from the dead, if | may hope to impress upon you and get you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all. | plead with you to become acquainted with the changeless Christ and His death.” He then closed the service by administering communion to his weeping church family. That evening, he put on paper a poem expressing his confidence in an unchanging Christ and gave it to an adopted daughter that very night. Setting out the next day for Italy, he reached Nice, France, where he had a seizure and died. Henry Lyte is remembered for coining the phrase, “It is better to wear out than to rust out”; but he is also remembered for something far more important. In his preparations for his death, he left behind a message in song, a message you too can have for those who weep for you. In this life, if you are willing to admit you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness and, in faith, allow Christ to come into your life, then you will be ready for the final hour. The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation,” and the hymn writer said: Abide with me, falls fast the eventide The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail, and comfort flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away Change and decay and all around | see: Oh thou who changest not, abide with me! Hold thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine thro’ the gloom, and point me to the skies: Heav'n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me! From my Huawei Notepad