Great Is Thy Faithfulness!
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His
mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say
to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope
in him!” Lamentations
3:22-24.
Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, was born on
July 20, 1866, in a log cabin on a small farm in Kentucky. Thomas joined his
parents, James and Lucy Chisholm, and older brother, Joseph. By the age of
sixteen, Thomas taught in the country school where he had received his
education. When Thomas reached the age
of 21, he became the associate editor of the town newspaper. In 1893, at the age of 27, he attended a
revival in Franklin and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior.
July 20, 1866, in a log cabin on a small farm in Kentucky. Thomas joined his
parents, James and Lucy Chisholm, and older brother, Joseph. By the age of
sixteen, Thomas taught in the country school where he had received his
education. When Thomas reached the age
of 21, he became the associate editor of the town newspaper. In 1893, at the age of 27, he attended a
revival in Franklin and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior.
Thomas Chisholm had a variety of
positions – from farmer to teacher to editor to editor/business manager of the Pentecostal Herald. After his father
passed away in 1897, he lived with his brother and worked as travelling
salesman. Thomas Chisholm was ordained as the pastor at a Methodist church from
1903 until 1909, when his health deteriorated.
He was also married in 1903 had two daughters. During these years he
continued writing. He wrote over 1,200 poems, with 800 published in The Sunday School Times and Moody Monthly and many were set to music.
positions – from farmer to teacher to editor to editor/business manager of the Pentecostal Herald. After his father
passed away in 1897, he lived with his brother and worked as travelling
salesman. Thomas Chisholm was ordained as the pastor at a Methodist church from
1903 until 1909, when his health deteriorated.
He was also married in 1903 had two daughters. During these years he
continued writing. He wrote over 1,200 poems, with 800 published in The Sunday School Times and Moody Monthly and many were set to music.
His
life was a struggle of ordinariness, very little money, and yet always God was
faithful to him. In 1923, at the age of
57, he looked back on his life and was struck by the Lord’s great faithfulness. He wrote the poem – Great is Thy Faithfulness. A musician, William Runyan, a musician
with Moody Bible Institute, prayed earnestly that the music he wrote would
convey the message
life was a struggle of ordinariness, very little money, and yet always God was
faithful to him. In 1923, at the age of
57, he looked back on his life and was struck by the Lord’s great faithfulness. He wrote the poem – Great is Thy Faithfulness. A musician, William Runyan, a musician
with Moody Bible Institute, prayed earnestly that the music he wrote would
convey the message
He
could see God’s Guidance and rich Strength leading him from the log cabin to
job after job, preparing him always to create songs of praise and give glory to
our God. In the era he lived, he endured
life in WWI and WWII, and the Great Financial Depression in 1929 when every
penny counted. He closed his eyes the last time at the age of 94.
could see God’s Guidance and rich Strength leading him from the log cabin to
job after job, preparing him always to create songs of praise and give glory to
our God. In the era he lived, he endured
life in WWI and WWII, and the Great Financial Depression in 1929 when every
penny counted. He closed his eyes the last time at the age of 94.
“Jesus didn’t come to tell us
the answers to the questions of life, He comes to be the Answer” – Timothy
Keller. Thomas Chisholm knew this
truth. Jesus is the answer to life.
the answers to the questions of life, He comes to be the Answer” – Timothy
Keller. Thomas Chisholm knew this
truth. Jesus is the answer to life.
As I sing the words of this hymn, tears
come to my eyes. Our Lord God made a way
through Jesus Christ to be His. He tears
the veil of sin separating us and forgives us, just as we forgive others. Revelation 22:13 reads, I
am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
come to my eyes. Our Lord God made a way
through Jesus Christ to be His. He tears
the veil of sin separating us and forgives us, just as we forgive others. Revelation 22:13 reads, I
am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Great
is Thy Faithfulness listen
to the words sung here. The second verse describes scenes we have all seen with
our eyes, but have we seen them with our hearts? Do we understand they are
gifts from God? They are symbols of God’s faithfulness.
is Thy Faithfulness listen
to the words sung here. The second verse describes scenes we have all seen with
our eyes, but have we seen them with our hearts? Do we understand they are
gifts from God? They are symbols of God’s faithfulness.
Summer
and winter and springtime, and harvest. Sun, moon, and stars in their courses
above – Join with all nature in manifold witness, To thy great faithfulness,
mercy, and love.
and winter and springtime, and harvest. Sun, moon, and stars in their courses
above – Join with all nature in manifold witness, To thy great faithfulness,
mercy, and love.
The chorus repeats a verse from
Lamentations 3. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by
morning new mercies I see! All I have need they hand hath provided. Great is Thy
faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Lamentations 3. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by
morning new mercies I see! All I have need they hand hath provided. Great is Thy
faithfulness, Lord unto me.
How is this faithfulness
available to us? Believe and Trust God. When
we realize the more we understand our salvation isn’t our behavior, the more
radically our behavior changes to please Him through His great Love. ‘Thou shalt not’s’ are replaced by ‘Thou
shalt love!’
available to us? Believe and Trust God. When
we realize the more we understand our salvation isn’t our behavior, the more
radically our behavior changes to please Him through His great Love. ‘Thou shalt not’s’ are replaced by ‘Thou
shalt love!’
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is
the first and greatest commandment. A
second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39
all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is
the first and greatest commandment. A
second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39
“If you are faithful in little
things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little
things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are
untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of
heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should
you be trusted with things of your own? Luke
16:10-12
things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little
things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are
untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of
heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should
you be trusted with things of your own? Luke
16:10-12
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all
who keep his covenant and obey his demands. For the
honor of your name, O Lord, forgive
my many, many sins. Psalm
25:9-11
teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all
who keep his covenant and obey his demands. For the
honor of your name, O Lord, forgive
my many, many sins. Psalm
25:9-11
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness
reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like
the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean
depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. Psalm
36:5-6
reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like
the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean
depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. Psalm
36:5-6
But I am like an olive tree, thriving
in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what
you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. Psalm 52:8-9
in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what
you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. Psalm 52:8-9
But you, O Lord, are a God of
compassion and mercy, slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your
strength to your servant; save me, the son of your
servant. Psalm 86:15-16
compassion and mercy, slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your
strength to your servant; save me, the son of your
servant. Psalm 86:15-16
All heaven will praise your great
wonders, Lord; myriads of angels
will praise you for your faithfulness. For who in all
of heaven can compare with the Lord? What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord? Psalm
89:5-6
wonders, Lord; myriads of angels
will praise you for your faithfulness. For who in all
of heaven can compare with the Lord? What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord? Psalm
89:5-6
Peace be with you, dear brothers and
sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. Ephesians
6:23
sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. Ephesians
6:23
The temptations in your life are no
different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can
stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
I Corinthians 10:13
different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can
stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
I Corinthians 10:13
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. I
John 1:9
sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. I
John 1:9
Grace and peace to you from the one who
is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before
his throne; and from
Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise
from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. Revelation 1:4b-6
is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before
his throne; and from
Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise
from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. Revelation 1:4b-6
All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory
and power to him forever and ever! Amen. Revelation 22:19-21
by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory
and power to him forever and ever! Amen. Revelation 22:19-21
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