Let Him Have His Way With Thee

"Let Him Have His Way With Thee” was written and composed by Cyrus Nusbaum, who was born near Elkhart, IN, in 1861. In 1886, he became a minister in the Methodist Church and first served in churches in Kansas.

This hymn was produced in 1898 and was based on experiences in his first year as minister. Nusbaum had been serving in one of the poorest circuits in the district. At the end of the year, he and his wife attended the conference where he hoped to be appointed to a better charge. However, he was named to the same circuit. Unhappy in his situation, he knelt in prayer and told the Lord that he would be willing to let Him have His way with him regardless of the cost. That feeling of surrender became the inspiration for the song. It first appeared in the Gospel Praises hymnal in 1899.

Nusbaum later became a conference evangelist and, during World War I, he was appointed by Woodrow Wilson as inspector of the American Red Cross in France, holding the rank of captain in the U. S. Army. After the war, he travelled throughout the United States conducting evangelistic meetings. In addition to this hymn, he also wrote both words and music for a number of other gospel songs. He passed away in 1937.

Would you live for Jesus And be always pure and good
Would you walk with Him Within the narrow road
Would you have Him bear your burden carry all your load
Let Him have His way with thee

His power can make you What you ought to be
His blood can cleanse your heart And make you free
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to Have His way with thee

If you are struggling with problems in life, look to Jesus and “Let Him Have His Way with Thee.”

The Foundation of God is my Refuge

Sunday at church, we sang "How Firm a Foundation," a fitting hymn for the day, seeing how Clear Fork was organized 221 years ago this week.

"In ev’ry condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land, on the sea
As thy days may demand
Shall thy strength ever be"

That is the second verse of the original lyrics to the hymn that was first published in London, England in 1787 in John Rippon's "A Selection of Hymns." It first appeared in America in Joseph Fund’s 1832 Genuine Church Music.

The hymn became much loved and adored. Just over a decade later, Andrew Jackson requested it be sung at his deathbed. It was sung at Confederate General Robert E. Lee's funeral in 1870. No doubt, though, it comforted people on both sides during the Civil War. It was sung by American troops on Christmas morning in 1898 during the Spanish-American war, and It was sung during the funerals of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt in 1919 and Woodrow Wilson in 1924.

Yet, with all of its notoriety, the author of the hymn is somewhat of a mystery. In the original publication in 1787, it was attributed simply to “K.” That "K" was most likely Robert Keene, who was the song leader in Rippon's church.

Regardless of the author, It is good to know that in today's world, no matter the circumstance, we can rely on God to provide us with a firm foundation to keep us calm and encouraged. God's love for us is rich and pure, measureless, strong and enduring. While I am blessed to be a part of one of the longest continuing church congregations in this region, I am more blessed to know that the foundation of god is my refuge.