WHAT A JEWEL OF A SONG!

In my Aug. 2 post "TEARS", I told of Katie Sisco. I didn't mention how she and her missionary family had been interred in a prison camp in China, in which she had often been rocked to sleep on the knees of Herbert Taylor, Hudson Taylor's oldest son. When the Lord led the family to freedom, their train passed in front of the Tientsin prison camp where Eric Lidell (starred in "Chariots of Fire") died. Katie's love of coloring her heart with the Word and with songs of praise was infectious.

Most know the hymn, "Amazing Grace", yet few have heard another song by John Newton, the same hymnwriter, called "Prayer Answered By Crosses". I only recently heard and love this, decided I'd learn it next.

It's also known by the lyrics, "I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow". I decided to post the hymn along with fitting photos from my recent Stateside trip: Can you guess where they were taken?

I asked the Lord that I might grow 

In faith and love and ev'ry  grace

Might more of His salvation know

And seek more earnestly His face

 

'Twas He who taught me thus to pray

And He, I trust, has answered prayer

But it has been in such a way

As almost drove mt to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour

At once he'd answer my request

And by his love's constraining pow'r

Subdue my sins and give me rest. 

Instead of this, He made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart

And let the angry pow'rs of hell

Assault my soul in ev'ry part

 

Yea, more with His own hand He seemed

Intent to aggravate my woe

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed

Humbled my heart and laid me low

"Lord, why is this," I trembling cried,

"Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?"

"'Tis in this way," the Lord replied,

"I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free

And break the schemes of earthly joy

That thou mayest find thy all in Me."

 

And break the schemes of

 earthly joy

That thou mayest find

          thy all in Me."

  

For the sake of readers who are viewing on equipment too small to read the inscription on the final image and cannot magnify it either, it reads: "IN HONOR OF ALL THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD WHO HAVE CALLED MISSIONARY ACRES THEIR HOME. I THESSALONIANS 5:24. I wonder what that verse is? Lemme go read it.