Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family! Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (ESV). Several times you have heard me talk about Fanny Crosby, a blind hymn writer, who wrote over 8,000 hymns. Every experience, every daily activity, every conversation brought an inspiration to Fanny for a new hymn, to proclaim God’s glory and to teach a truth. This passage at the beginning of my article is an example.

One day Fanny Crosby was having a friendly conversation with William Howard Doane, a philanthropist from Connecticut, who helped Fanny several times with melodies for her lyrics. This particular evening, and after reading this passage from Hebrews, their conversation turned to about how close God is to His children. I can see Fanny talking about feeling God’s presence when she was a little blind girl, learning how to do daily tasks that for other girls were easy; but God was near to her every single moment. I can see William Howard Doane talking about experiences when he helped people in their necessities and could feel God close to him, blessing his efforts. That night, after Mr. Doane left and before Mrs. Crosby went to bed, she penned the lyrics of a new hymn, a hymn that has been a blessing for many: “I Am Thine O Lord.”

1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
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Refrain
Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3 O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4 There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

In His service,
Israel