The Savior Is Waiting

"The Savior Is Waiting" was written by Ralph Carmichael in 1958. The composer, Ralph Carmichael (1927 – ), is the son of a Pentecostal minister who allowed his son to play the violin and listen to the radio. As a teenager, he played violin with the San Jose Civic Symphony. At 17 he enrolled at Southern California Bible College, now Vanguard University, to become a preacher like his father, grandfather, 3 uncles and 5 cousins.

He started a campus men’s quartet, ensembles and mixed groups of all kinds, blending jazz and classical music techniques with gospel songs and hymns. His musical “experiments” proved instantly controversial. His bands were unwelcome at many churches, and he was not allowed to store the baritone saxophone on campus because of its worldly associations with big band music.

After college, reaction to his band was mixed from the Christian community. One church made them hide the drums behind a curtain; a pastor in Oakland stopped the band mid-song because the music sounded too worldly. But, after a performance at a men’s fellowship in Pasadena, Ralph’s band was invited to audition for television. This program drew so much hate mail from Christians that the station asked for more shows!

In 1951, Ralph was invited to score a film for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; in all, he wrote the musical score for 20 of their films. For BGEA, he made the funky urban soundtrack for the 1970 film The Cross and the Switchblade.

By the late 1950s, secular producers had taken notice of Carmichael’s radio and film work. He was invited to assist the composer at the television sitcom I Love Lucy and was soon arranging music for that show as well as Bonanza and The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show and for singers Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Rosemary Clooney. He scored the movie The Blob. But, when he arranged and composed music for a Bing Crosby Christmas special television program, his denomination strongly suggested he not apply for renewal of his ordination.

When it came to writing his autobiography, he decided the best title would be his testimony, so he called it, “He’s Everthing To Me”. He is considered a pioneer of contemporary Christian music and the “father of Christian rock”.

This song, “The Savior Is Waiting”, is one of Ralph’s earlier songs. It was written when his pastor asked him for a hymn to be used at evangelistic services.

My oldest and favorite memory of this hymn was it being sung during the invitation… almost every night… at Camp Formosa Church Camp when I was a teenager.  When this hymn is sung, you can almost picture the Savior waiting for you to come to Him.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics: 

The Savior is waiting to enter your heart,

why don’t you let Him come in?
There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart;
what is your answer to Him?

Chorus:
Time after time He has waited before,
and now He is waiting again
to see if you are willing to open the door;
Oh, how He wants to come in.

If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend,
you’ll find His arms open wide.
Receive Him, and all of your darkness will end;

within your heart He’ll abide. (Chorus)

Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In Me

"Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In Me" is a song which encourages us to follow the example that Jesus left for us is "Let The Beauty of Jesus Be Seen" (#454 in Hymns for Worship Revised, and #230 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text of stanza 1 was written by Albert W. T. Orsborn (1886-1967). No other information is available, except that it is dated around 1916. Orsborn is identified as an early Salvation Army leader; some sources refer to him as the "6th General."  A Salvation Army collectable website lists an e-book entitled The Poet General–Albert W. T. Orsborn C. B. E., by Bernard Watson, and Kingsgate Publishing has a compact disc of Salvation Army hymns by Herbert Booth and Orsborn. The original text read as follows:

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All his wonderful passion and purity.
O thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine, Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."
The text of stanzas 2-4 was added by George L. Johnson in 1934. The tune (Bridlington) was composed by Tom M. Jones (1891-1978). It was published in 1927. The composer is identified as "Rev." Tom Jones in some books.  Older books say, "Copyright property of Rev. Tom Jones," while newer ones say, "Copyright–the estate of Tom Jones."

     Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 edited by E. L. Jorgenson, using only the original stanza 1 with an arrangement of the tune made by Edwin E. Young in 1930; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater, in a version of two stanzas with both words and music arranged by the editor.  Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard, with an arrangement made in 1971 by Ben Cumnock; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand. Hymns for Worship and Sacred Selections both have an arrangement made in 1934 by Cleavant Derricks and copyrighted by the Stamps-Baxter Music and Ptg. Co.

     The song exhorts us to live in such a way that the influence of Christ can be seen in us. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All His wonderful passion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, May I truly be Thine Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Let my wonderful Saviour be seen in me, His amazing compassion and constancy; His great love is my goal, By His Spirit’s control Till me wonderful Saviour be seen in me. Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me, Grant me grace all sufficient that I may be True and faithful each day, Ev’ry step of the way. Pointing souls to the Saviour on Calvary.

Fill My Cup, Lord

 "Fill My Cup, Lord" was written by Richard Blanchard, (Mar. 14, 1925 – April 19, 2004) he was a songwriter who was widely known for writing the popular "Fill My Cup, Lord" (gospel song). 

He was born in 1925 in Chungking, China, to Methodist missionary parents Ralph and Grace Kipka Blanchard. When the Blanchard family returned home to the United States, Richard grew up as a child and youth in Indiana and North Carolina. Rev. Ralph Blanchard moved from Wolcottville, Indiana, to Tryon, North Carolina, in 1942, bringing his family with him. Blanchard was a senior in high school and graduated from Tryon High School in 1943. During that year, he worked at a Tryon bank, putting his income into war bonds. This financial tactic eventually enabled him to buy lakefront property at Lake Conway, Orange County, Florida, in 1953.

There were other interests and hobbies that were consistent throughout Blanchard's life: He loved boating and dining by the water. He was an avid traveler, whether conducting tours or driving on his own, in over 75 countries. Blanchard had a fondness for fine art and art museums. He followed sports closely and often attended various spectator-sports events. A believer that a busy mind is a sharp mind, Blanchard enjoyed word games such as Scrabble as well as collecting stamps and coins. Above all, however, Blanchard enjoyed meeting, learning about, and helping people. By 2000, Blanchard's health began a serious decline. He and his wife Anne moved to Swannanoa, North Carolina, to be near their children. He lived there until his death on April 19, 2004.

After high school graduation in 1943, Blanchard attended Davidson College for one year and then enlisted in the United States Navy. Receiving a medical discharge, he entered Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947. In 1946 he married the former Anne Carlton of Oxford, Georgia, a graduate of Wesleyan College. They had three children—Richard Jr. (d. 1996), Carol Ann, and Emily (d. 2005). After graduating from Mercer University, Blanchard enrolled in Candler School of Theology at Emory University, also in Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1949.

Blanchard was ordained a deacon in 1949 and an elder in 1950, after serving two years as pastor of the four-church ("four-point")^[1] Snellville-Grayson circuit of the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. Transferring to the Florida Conference in 1950, Blanchard completed 40 years in the ministry of the Methodist Church (which became The United Methodist Church on April 23, 1968^[2]), serving the following congregations: First Methodist in Orlando as associate pastor; then as senior pastor, Wesley, Coral Gables; First Methodist in Fort Lauderdale; Trinity Methodist in Miami; Palma Ceia in Tampa; First Methodist in Jacksonville; Riviera Beach Methodist; Community Methodist in Holiday; and Conway Methodist in Orlando. Retiring in 1988, Blanchard later renewed his participation in First United Methodist in Orlando and became a member of the Pendergrass Sunday School Class. 

During the late-1980s, Blanchard wrote a beautiful musical, “Francis of Assisi,” which was produced by Glenn Longacre of Conway for an audience of 600 people. During this period, he was also named “Minister Emeritus” of the Conway Church. In addition to writing numerous gospel songs—many of which were published and recorded—Blanchard also wrote other things. While at Snellville as a young theolog, he wrote a column called Between You and Me every week for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, the Methodist paper for North and South Georgia. He also wrote a story called “The Little Star” which was published in Ideals magazine. Blanchard was selected to write an official biography of Bishop John Branscomb. Blanchard completed “We Remember John” in time for the dedication of the Branscomb Memorial Auditorium in Lakeland, Florida.

Certainly Blanchard's most famous song was "Fill My Cup, Lord" (which became a classic). During the 1970s the song was popularized throughout much of the United States by Blanchard's close friend, musician and evangelist Rev. Ray Vaughn.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy! 

Lyrics: 

1	Like the woman at the well, I was seeking For things that could not satisfy. And then I heard my Savior speaking— “Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”
	Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
2	There are millions in this world who are seeking For pleasures earthly goods afford. But none can match the wondrous treasure That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
3	So my brother if the things that this world gives you Leave hungers that won’t pass away, My blessed Lord will come and save you If you kneel to Him and humbly pray—

Shepherd of Love

 Shepherd of Love is composed by John W. Peterson and was sung and recorded by varies Christian singers such as George Beverly Shea, Evie etc. At present there is not much more information the at is available. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords, look here. Enjoy!

Verse 1

Shepherd of love
You knew I had lost my way
Shepherd of love
You cared that I'd gone astray
You sought and found me placed around me
Strong arms that carried me home
No foe can harm me or alarm me
Never again will I roam
Shepherd of love
Savior and Lord and Guide
Shepherd of love
Forever I'll stay by Your side

Verse 2

Shepherd of love
Contentment at last is mine
Deep in my heart
There's peace and a joy divine
The future's brighter burden's lighter
My cup runs over each day
Your grace supplied me now provides me
All that I need for the way
Shepherd of love
Savior and Lord and Guide
Shepherd of love
Forever I'll stay by Your side