Saturday, May 26, 2018

TRUST AND OBEY - John H. Sammis - When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.


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Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis


 
11th track on Don Moen's newest album "Hymns of Hope."

lyrics
When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey. 
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way 
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay; 

not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. 
   [Refrain]
But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay; 

for the favor he shows, 

for the joy he bestows, 
are for them who will trust and obey.
 
   [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way; 

what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. 
   [Refrain] .
John Henry Sammis was an American pastor who played a part, along with several other people, in the writing of a familiar gospel song.
Evangelist D. L. Moody was holding meetings in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1886 or early 1887. On this particular occasion, an opportunity was given for testimonies from those whose lives had been touched through the ministry of the Word. A young man stood who clearly had little to say, because the Christian faith was so new to him. He said simply, “I am not quite sure–but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.”
Daniel Towner was the song leader that evening, and the simple statement made an immediate impression on him. Towner was struck by the way the two words trust (or faith), and obedience summarized what the child of God was to do. To walk with the Lord, day by day, involves just that, step by step faith in God and obedience to His Word. It always has, even on the far side of the cross. “By faith Abraham obeyed” (Heb. 11:8).
Towner jotted down the testimony on a slip of paper, possibly suggesting a chorus that might make use of the two words as well. These he sent to his friend John Sammis, asking if he could write the words of a gospel song along that line. The work was soon done, and the lines of verse were returned to Daniel Towner. He wrote a tune for them but, dissatisfied with the result, he crumpled the page and tossed it in the wastebasket.
The next day, his wife was dusting and tidying in his study, and she spotted the crumpled page. Out of curiosity, she took it out and had a look, singing the song to herself. Delighted with it, she placed it on the organ. When her husband saw it later, he explained that he’d thrown it away. She replied, “I know you did, Daniel, but I feel that the melody you’ve written is just what is needed to carry the message.” And it has, ever since, in the song Trust and Obey.  https://wordwisehymns.com/2010/07/06/today-in-1846-john-henry-sammis-born/ 

 









 

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