Dear Grace Members and Friends,
There are so many wonderful hymns that it would be difficult to choose a favorite, but if I had to choose one it would be the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness.
This hymn was written by Thomas Chisholm, based upon a familiar passage of Scripture from the third chapter of Lamentations.
22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Thomas Chisholm didn’t have an easy life. He suffered ill health most of his adult life and therefore had a smaller than average income. Of this circumstance he said, “God has given me many wonderful displays of his providing care, which have filled me with astonishing gratefulness.”
Chisholm wrote hundreds of poems during his lifetime. In 1923, he was inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23 to write the text for the hymn, Great is thy Faithfulness.
Chisholm sent the words of this poem to his friend, William Runyan, who wrote the music. Runyan was a friend of Dr. Will Houghton, the president of Moody Bible Institute, and Great is thy Faithfulness soon became Houghton’s favorite. He invited George Beverly Shea, an unknown singer at the time, to sing hymns on the Institute’s radio station. Shea included Houghton’s favorite hymn in his repertoire.
Through those radio broadcasts Billy Graham, then a student at Wheaton College, became familiar with George Beverly Shea and the song, Great is thy Faithfulness. Graham asked Shea to become part of his ministry of evangelism. It was through their crusades that this hymn became internationally popular.
I will be preaching on Lamentations 3 this Sunday. And, of course, we are going to sing this song! Join us for the live stream at 9:00 AM. Or view it any time after that.
We continue our mid-week study on the life of Joseph. God did some amazing things in his life, in spite of some very difficult circumstances. I think you will be encouraged by this study.
We continue to pray that we will be able to meet together soon. I miss you all. If you have any prayer requests or needs please contact the church office. May the Lord give you His peace and strength each day.
In His Grace,
Pastor Peter Franz