Great Is Thy Faithfulness ..... Part 4 in a hymn study

"Great is Thy Faithfulness" is another of my favorites. It's writer is actually from Kentucky!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Thomas Chisholm's Sacred and Heart-Lifting Hymn Remains a Favorite

Profiles the popular sacred song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and brief biography of text author Thomas Chisholm. Music is composed by William Runyan.

In praise of God, 'Great is Thy Faithfulness,' a hymn written by Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960), is a worship song that uplifts through trials and tough times. It was a result of a writer's daily experiences and realization of God's faithfulness.

The tune is composed by William M. Runyan (1870-1957), with scripture reference from the Bible's Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail."

This sacred song has been an all-time favorite among Christians. Popular gospel singer and songwriter Beverley Shea says that it was first introduced to audiences in Great Britain by the Billy Graham Crusades in 1954.

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in a log cabin on July 29, 1866, in Franklin, Simpson County, Kentucky. At age 16, Chisholm's career began in the same small country school house he had elementary training. He did not undergo high school or further training. At 21, he became the associate editor of his home town weekly newspaper, The Franklin Favorite.

Chisholm accepted Christ as personal Savior aged 27, during a revival meeting conducted in his hometown by Dr. H. C. Morrison. At Dr. Morrison's invitation Chisholm moved to Louisville to become office editor and business manager of Morrison's publication, the Pentecostal Herald. Later he was ordained a Methodist minister but had only a year of pastoral work due to failing health. After 1909 he became a life insurance agent in Winona Lake and later in Vineland, New Jersey.

In a heart-uplifting letter dated 1941, Thomas O. Chisholm wrote that although his income has not been enough due to his impaired health, he must record the unfailing faithfulness of God for the "wonderful displays of His providing care" and for which he is "filled with astonishing gratefulness."

In 1923 Thomas Chisholm sent several of his poems to the Rev. W. M. Runyan, a musician associated with the Moody Bible Institute and an editor with the Hope Publishing Company.

Thomas Chisholm wrote more than 1200 poems, many of these have become prominent hymn texts, but 'Great is thy Faithfulness' remains his most famous. Many of his poems have also appeared frequently in religious periodicals such as Sunday School Times, Moody Monthly, and Alliance Weekly.

Great is thy faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness
Oh God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been
Thou forever will be

Summer and Winter
Springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join in all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
(So Great)

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand aside

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

Great is thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning my morning new mercies I see
New mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
(Lord unto...)

meeee mee ee
yeah oh oh oh
Great is Thy faithfulness
(You could've chosen anyone)
Lord to me Your faithfulness
(Oh,you blessed
Oh, you blessed me)
Great is Thy faithfulness
(You gave me everything oh yes you did
That I needed and more that I needed and more)

Repeat x1

(You've been better to me, than I've ever been,
Than I've ever been to myself,
So I'm sayin thank-you, thank-you thank-you)

Great is thy Faithfulness

(Lord I thank-you)


Source: http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/great_is_thy_faithfulness