Sunday, April 3, 2016

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand
By: Thomas Andrew Dorsey
Precious Lord, take me hand, lead me on, help me stand; 
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on to the light, 
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. 
When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near; 
When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall;
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. 
Thomas Dorsey, who is known as the "Father of Gospel Music", was born in a small town in Georgia in 1899. When he was eleven, the Dorseys moved to Atlanta where Thomas was quickly enamored with the blues and began playing piano at a vaudeville theater. Later the family moved to Chicago where he attended classes at the College of Composition and Arranging. Soon he was on stage under the name "Georgia Tom," playing barrelhouse piano in one of Al Capone's Chicago speakeasies and leading jazz bands. 
Thomas was converted at the National Baptist Convention in Chicago in 1921, and began writing gospel songs and trying to get them published. It was discouraging at first. He later said, "I borrowed five dollars and sent out 500 copies of my song, 'If You See My Savior', to churches throughout the country...It was three years before I got a single order. I felt like going back to the blues." He didn't, though, and gradually his reputation grew and his work became known. 
In August, 1932, while leading music in St. Louis, he was handed a telegram bearing the words, "Your wife just died." He rushed to a phone to call home, but all he could hear over the line was "Nettie is dead! Nettie is dead!" A friend drove him through the night, and he arrived home to learn that his baby boy had also died. "I began to feel that God had done me an injustice," Thomas later said. "I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write any more gospel songs." But the next Saturday, while alone in a friend's music room, he had a "strange feeling" inside-a sudden calm and a quiet stillness. "As my fingers began to manipulate over the keys, words began to fall in place on the melody like drops of water falling from the crevice of the rock:
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn..."
Taken from "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J. Morgan
 I hope you all enjoyed learning about this hymn. Here's a video of the song.
As you may remember, my last post was about coffee. So I decided to have a "surprise giveaway," and I entered everyone who left a comment on that post.
I've picked the winner, and am happy to announce that Mehrll from Sharing Simple Things is the winner!  Congratulations, Mehrll!!!! Please email me using the contact form on the right sidebar, or leave a comment with your email. (It won't be published.) 

I hope you all have a good and godly week. Remember to walk with the King and be a blessing
Sincerely yours and eternally His,
Ashley

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

8 comments:

  1. Good morning Ashley,
    What an inspiring post. I always enjoy learning the story behind hymns and this was a new story for me, very encouraging to my heart as I realize anew that God has a plan and that even the most heartbreaking times of life can be used for great good as God flows through our wounds and helps others heal.
    Have a glorious week dear one,
    Shirley

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  2. Love that hymn, I have it on a Tennessee Ernie Ford CD and I play it often.

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  3. As usual your post is gorgeous. This song is such a comfort when we go through the hard times that we all have. He is the only one who knows the way and can lead us. I love Him and trust Him. Thanks for this wonderful reminder that beauty comes out of trials when we lean on the Lord. And thanks for the prize! Hugs and love.

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  4. Hello dear Ashley, thank you so much for the 'thank you' card. I am glad you liked the package. It was a joy sending it to you!

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  5. I haven't thought of this hymn in a long time, but the Lord must have wanted to remind me of it this morning. My heart has been touched as I have read these words and recalled a few a the many promises from our God. Always near...never forsaking the broken hearted...

    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comment.

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  6. I love the pictures and hymn you picked, Ashley! Such an inspiration, as always!
    Abigail

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  7. Thank you for another wonderful post, sweet Ashley! And a big congratulations Merhll for winning the giveaway!!

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  8. Precious Lord Take my Hand, Lead me on Let me Stand, is what I get from Jesus every day. Thanks for the background history, it's touching and adds interest. Love Aunt Sharon (Uncle Don too)

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