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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Though it be a cross that raiseth me...

I picked up a book last night for the first time in a month. I haven't had much time for recreational reading outside of school, but I felt like I should start something. I found one from my family's library entitled Great Christian Hymn Writers, which I had set aside a couple months ago for future reading. The first biography given in this book is of an English girl during the 19th Century named Sarah Flower Adams. She penned the beloved hymn, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee. Here is an excerpt from the book about this particular hymn:
"The hymn is based on Genesis 28:11-17. When Jacob flees from Esau, he dreams of a ladder reaching up to heaven. Sarah Flower Adams expressed in her hymn the truth that even in darkness and trouble, we may be lifted nearer to God. Many Christians will add, particularly in troubled and dark moments the comforting presence of Christ is real (pg. 14)."

There was a young woman from Maine during the same century that was later influenced by this very hymn to write her own called, More Love to Thee, O Christ. The story of what brought this women, named Elizabeth Prentiss, to write it comes from a place of deep pain. Elizabeth suffered severe headaches and chronic insomnia through most of her life. She was always very weak in body. In addition, although she had a beautiful marriage, her motherhood was one of grief.
"Shortly after the family moved to New York City, the Prentisses lost their oldest child. Then tragedy suck another hammer blow - their other child died. One evening when the sad parents return home after putting flowers on the graces of their children, Elizabeth cried in anguish, "Our home is broken up, our lives wrecked, our hopes shattered, our dreams dissolved. Sometimes I don't think I can stand living for another moment, much less a lifetime."
Her husband held her in his arms and let her cry. Then in a quiet voice, he said just the thing to help her turn back to the only source of comfort in this sad world: "In times like these, God loves us all the more, just as we loved our children in their distress."
Shortly after this conversation....Elizabeth picked up her Bible and hymnal and went to her room. She read a number of passages from Scripture, and then turned to the hymnbook to find words of comfort and consolation. She stopped at Sarah Adam's "Nearer My God to Thee" and read it several times. She began to think about that moment in history when God met Jacob in a time of human sorrow and need, and bowed her head praying that she might have a similar experience (pg 136, 137)."

It was during that very prayer that the words for More Love to Thee O Christ came to her. It is in the same metrical pattern as Nearer My God to Thee. Elizabeth once said, “To love Christ more, is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul…Out in the woods and on my bed and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!”

It is this very reason that joy and strength remain even as the heart becomes rent through much weeping.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song would be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

The with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
~ Sarah Flower Adams

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

~ Elizabeth Prentiss

A beautiful instrumental version of Nearer My God to Thee.
(You will have to turn off my playlist at the bottom of my page so that you can hear these)


More Love to Thee O Christ - piano and vocals.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ~ John 15:9

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

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