Noteworthy Blog

This is another one of my favorite hymns. It was originally written by Helen Lemmel in 1922. Recently, in 2019, a group of writers (George Romanacce, Nathan Stiff, Nic Trout, Kevin Winebarger) from Sovereign Grace Music added some new lyrics and a chorus. The story of how this hymn came about is inspiring. Lemmel, born in 1863, immigrated to the United States from England in 1876 as the child daughter of a Methodist minister. In 1907, her strong musical talent led her to Germany for 4 years of intensive study. In 1911 she returned to the states with her husband whom she’d met and married in Germany. Upon returning she devoted herself to writing and arranging music for the church. But a few years into their marriage, she became very ill which resulted in her loss of sight. Unwilling to care for a blind wife, her husband left her. Tragically blind and alone, she struggled to deal with her sorrow. At this point, a woman named Lilias Trotter enters the story. Lilias Trotter had the makings...

“Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinketh of you? But let not all of you feel discouraged. For if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate and if He casts none out that come to Him, why should you fear? Our sins are many, but His mercies are more: our sins are great, but His righteousness is greater; we are weak, but He is power. Most of our complaints are owing to unbelief and the remainder of a legal spirit. And these evils are not removed in a day.”  John Newton. The song  “His Mercy Is More” was written by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell in 2016 and has quickly become a favorite of congregations all over the world. The idea for the hymn came from the sermon excerpt by John Newton quoted above. Matt Boswell contacted his writing partner Matt Papa and the two finished the hymn together. This hymn is rich with scriptural truth. It’s the kind of hymn that lasts far into the future. In M...

This is a wonderfully simple yet rich song about the grace of our God. It comes to us from CityAlight (Nikki Shepherd, Jonny Robinson, and Rich Thompson) on their “Only A Holy God” album from 2016. Verse 1 Your grace that leads this sinner home From death to life forever And sings this song of righteousness By blood and not by merit   I love how the first verse goes right to the heart of the matter for Christians. We’re sinners. And we’re brought from “death to life forever” because and only because of the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Verse 2 Your grace that reaches far and wide To every tribe and nation Has called my heart to enter in The joy of Your salvation Psalm 51:12-13: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”...