August 5

OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE
Words and Music by Clara H. Scott, 1841–1897
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. (Psalm 119:18)
The Scriptures teach that our faith in Christ employs all of our God-given senses:
SIGHT—“Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 45:22).
HEARING—“Hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3).
SMELL—“Thy name is like ointment poured forth” (Song of Solomon 1:3).
TOUCH—“If I may but touch His garment, I shall be well” (Matthew 9:21).
TASTE—“O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
In order to receive God’s truth properly, then, we must have our entire being alive and alert to His every prompting. In general, most Christians do not deliberately and dramatically disobey God. Instead we simply do not heed Him by being sensitive to His leading in the small details of our lives. How important that we learn the lesson taught by this hymn text that we should have seeing eyes, hearing ears, a verbal communication of the truth, and a loving heart for sharing God’s love. All of this is possible as we are illuminated by the Holy Spirit during times of quiet waiting.
Clara Scott, author and composer of this hymn, taught music in the Ladies’ Seminary at Lyons, Iowa. Mrs. Scott was a prolific composer of vocal and instrumental music, including a book of anthems, The Royal Anthem Book, published in 1882. These words have since been widely used to help believers have a greater awareness of God’s will for their lives and a readiness to obey (James 1:22).
Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see; open my eyes—illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear; and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, ev’rything false will disappear. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see; open my ears—illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere. Open my heart and let me prepare love with Thy children thus to share. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see; open my heart—illumine me, Spirit divine!

    For Today: Psalm 40:8; Proverbs 16:9; Matthew 13:6; Luke 8:18; John 7:17

Ask God to activate your senses for receiving His truth and to make you more sensitive to the needs of those who need to hear “the warm truth” and to experience His love. Breathe this musical prayer as you prepare to go forth—

August 4

BREAK THOU THE BREAD OF LIFE
Mary Ann Lathbury, 1841–1913
I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)
As Christians, our supreme occupation must always be with Christ Himself—not merely our church, denomination or religious system. Reading the Bible and spending time in prayer are vital to our spiritual well-being. But even these activities are a means to an end, the end purpose being that they bring us into a closer relationship with God Himself. Notice the words of this hymn:
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord …
And in Thy book revealed I see the Lord.
Although it is often used as a communion service hymn, this hymn’s real teaching is that God’s Word—“the Bread of Life” should nourish our spiritual lives and bring us into an ever closer relationship with our Lord.
The hymn’s author, Mary Lathbury, was a longtime associate with the Chautauqua Assembly, a Methodist camp meeting located on beautiful Lake Chautauqua in New York. In 1877 at the request of the camp director, Miss Lathbury wrote these words to be used as a theme song for the Bible study sessions. The music was composed by the gifted music director of Chautauqua, William F. Sherwin. The hymn has since been widely used at the camp grounds, as it has been by Christians everywhere for times of quiet reflection upon the things of God.
Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me, as Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea: Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord; my spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me—to me, as Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee: Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall, and I shall find my peace, my All in all.
Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me; Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me: Give me to eat and live with Thee above; teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.
O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me, that He may touch my eyes and make me see: Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word, and in Thy book revealed I see the Lord.

    For Today: Psalm 63:1; 119:45; Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 14:13–21

Determine that your life will reflect complete peace and contentment as you allow Christ to nourish and fill you with Himself. Use this hymn to help in this spiritual quest.

August 3

MY JESUS, AS THOU WILT!
Benjamin Schmolck, 1672–1737
Translated by Jane L. Borthwick, 1813–1897
I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)
My will is not my own till Thou has made it Thine; if it would reach the monarch’s throne it must its crown resign. It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife, till on Thy bosom it has leant and found in Thee its life.
—George Matheson
Following the decision to accept God’s provision for salvation, our next most important decision is to do God’s will, regardless of what the future may bring. Often, however, we have difficulty in discerning God’s will. George Mueller, one of the great men of prayer, has given these insights from his own life regarding this matter:
• Seek to get your heart in such a condition that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Do not depend upon feelings or impressions.
• Seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God.
• Take into account providential circumstances.
• Ask God in prayer to reveal His will clearly.
Thus, through prayer to God, the study of His Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. I have found this method always effective.
“My Jesus, As Thou Wilt!” first appeared in a German hymnal in 1704. Later it was translated into English by Jane Borthwick and appeared in the collection Hymns from the Land of Luther, published in 1820. These words have since reminded believers that it is only as we yield our wills to God that He can empower us for living victoriously for Him:
My Jesus, as Thou wilt! O may Thy will be mine! Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign. Through sorrow or through joy, conduct me as Thine own; and help me still to say, “My Lord, Thy will be done.”
My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear, let not my star of hope grow dim or disappear. Since Thou on earth hast wept, and sorrowed oft alone, if I must weep with Thee, My Lord, Thy will be done.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me; each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee. Straight to my home above I travel calmly on, and sing, in life or death, “My Lord, Thy will be done.”

    For Today: Matthew 6:10; Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 1:9; Hebrews 13:21; 1 John 2:17

How do you try to discern God’s will for your life? Are you willing to accept and do whatever He may reveal to you? Use this hymn to help in your reflection—

Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933), Grandfather of Gospel Music

CHARLES ALBERT TINDLEY
born July 7, 1851, Berlin, Maryland
died July 26, 1933, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
buried Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It is Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993), composer of “Precious Lord” and “There Will Be Peace in the Valley,” who is known as the “Father of Gospel Music.” But if that is true, then Charles Albert Tindley is the “Grandfather of Gospel Music,” for it was Tindley who virtually invented the style a generation before Dorsey began composing, and it was Dorsey’s hearing Tindley’s hymns at an annual meeting of the National Baptist Convention in Philadelphia that led Dorsey to begin writing religious music. Dorsey had previously been a successful jazz and blues musician who often made use of bawdy and brash lyrics. While Dorsey went on to successfully blend the sacred spirituals and hymns with the secular style of blues and jazz, he always acknowledged his debt to Tindley.

Tindley was born fourteen years before the end of the American Civil War, the son of slave parents. By age five, both of his parents had died. By age seventeen he had taught himself how to read. He moved to Philadelphia and found employment as the janitor for the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church. He took night classes and later correspondence courses from Boston University, eventually being ordained in the Methodist ministry, serving appointments in South Wilmington, Odessa, Ezion, Wilmington, Delaware, and May, New Jersey. From 1899-1902 he served as presiding elder of the Wilmington district.

In 1902 Tindley was appointed pastor of the Calvary Methodist Church, the church that had employed him thirty years earlier as its janitor. This was to be his position until his death in 1933. During his appointment at Calvary, the church experienced great growth in numbers and ministry, growing to over 7,000 members that included African Americans, Europeans, Jews, and Hispanics. Upon building a new church building, the congregation changed its name over Tindley’s protest to Tindley Temple Methodist Church.

Tindley composed forty-seven hymns, some of which are still protected by US copyright law. Tindley’s hymns formed the basis of the black gospel hymn style for all who came after. They were based on the spiritual and the blues and included elements from white gospel style. Tindley wrote his hymns within the older tradition of African American worship and music that included distinctive preaching and singing styles, lining-out, shouting, hand-clapping, improvised melodies, rhythmic keyboard accompaniments, and congregational interjections of hallelujahs and amens. The congregation would often sing along with the choir or soloist. Later in the twentieth century the style included the addition of the electronic organ, especially the early Hammond organs, and percussion instruments. Tindley’s lyrics are a reflection of the daily lives of African Americans of the time, and speak of poverty, discrimination, suffering, with deliverance, freedom, and a better day coming.

There are five Tindley hymns in The United Methodist Hymnal (1989):

•  no. 373, “Nothing Between My Soul and My Savior” (NOTHING BETWEEN)
•  no. 512, “When the Storms of Life Are Raging” (STAND BY ME)
•  no. 522, “If the World from You Withhold” (LEAVE IT THERE)
•  no. 524, “Beams of Heaven As I Go” (SOMEDAY)
•  no. 525, “We Are Tossed and Driven” (BY AND BY)

There are other Tindley hymns available onthis site, with others to follow:

•  “Heaven’s Christmas Tree”
•  “I’ll Overcome Someday”

“I’ll Overcome Someday” is the hymn that was transformed into the greatest of all the civil rights era’s freedom songs, “We Shall Overcome” (The United Methodist Hymnal, no. 533).

Tindley’s published hymns include:

1.  After a While
2.  Better Day Is Coming By and By, A
3.  Better Home, A
4.  Christ is the Way
5.  Consolation
6.  From Youth to Old Age
7.  Go Talk with Jesus about It
8.  Go Wash in the Beautiful Stream
9.  Have You Crossed the Line?
10.  Heaven’s Christmas Tree
11.  Here Am I, Send Me
12.  He’ll Take You Through
13.  Heavenly Union, The
14.  Home of the Soul, The
15.  I Believe It
16.  I Have Found at Last a Savior
17.  I Know the Lord Will Make a Way
18.  I Will Go, if My Father Holds My Hand
19.  I’ll Be Satisfied
20.  I’ll Overcome Some Day
21.  I’m Going to Die with My Staff in My Hand
22.  I’m Going There
23.  In Me
24.  It May Be the Best for Me
25.  Joyous Anticipation
26.  Just Today
27.  Leave It There
28.  Let Jesus Fix It for You
29.  Lord, I’ve Tried
30.  Lord Will Make the Way, The
31.  Mountain Top Dwelling
32.  My Secret of Joy
33.  Nothing Between
34.  Our Suffering Jesus
35.  Pilgrim’s Song, The
36.  Saved and Satisfied
37.  Some Day
38.  Someone Is Waiting for Me
39.  Spiritual Spring Time
40.  Stand by Me
41.  Storm Is Passing Over, The
42.  Stranger Cut the Rope, A
43.  Today
44.  We’ll Understand It Better By and By
45.  What Are They Doing in Heaven?
46.  Will You Be There?
47.  Your Faith Has Saved You

August 2

NOTHING BETWEEN
Words and music by Charles A. Tindley, 1851–1933
If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. (1 John 3:21, 22)
Born to slave parents and separated from them when only five years of age, Charles Tindley was a most remarkable individual. He learned to read and write on his own at the age of 17, attended night school, completed seminary training through correspondence, and was ordained to the Methodist ministry. While attending evening school, young Tindley supported himself as the janitor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. In 1902, Charles Tindley was called to pastor this prestigious church where he had once been the janitor. The Calvary Methodist Church prospered greatly under his leadership. Eventually several larger sanctuaries had to be built to accommodate the crowds of all races that came to hear this humble preacher. In 1924, in spite of Tindley’s protests, the new church building was renamed the Tindley Temple Methodist Church.
Charles Tindley expresses a concern in this hymn for many of the practices and attitudes that must be rejected if Christians are to be pleasing to their Lord. The hymn reminds us that we must watch out for those allurements and temptations that can easily disrupt our spiritual courses: “Delusive dreams, sinful-worldly pleasures, habits, pride, self or friends.” The Bible teaches that we are not to be conformed to this world but should know the transforming power of a spiritually renewed mind (Romans 12:1, 2).
Nothing between my soul and the Savior, naught of this world’s delusive dream: I have renounced all sinful pleasure—Jesus is mine! There’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like worldly pleasure! Habits of life, tho harmless they seem, must not my heart from Him ever sever—He is my all! There’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like pride or station: Self or friends shall not intervene; tho it may cost me much tribulation, I am resolved! There’s nothing between.
Nothing between, e’en many hard trials, tho the whole world against me convene; watching with prayer and much self denial—Triumph at last, with nothing between!
Chorus: Nothing between my soul and the Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of His favor: Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

    For Today: Psalm 51:10; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 13:6; 1 John 3:18–24

Reflect on this truth: “The price of spiritual power is a purity of heart.” Ask God to reveal anything that might hinder His flow of power in your life.