by Luther B Bridgers

There’s within my heart a melody;
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,”
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

[Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my ev’ry longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.]

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus wept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumb’ring chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace,
Resting ‘neath His shelt’ring wing,
Always looking on His smiling face,
That is why I shout and sing.

Tho’ sometimes He leads thro’ waters deep,
Trials fall across the way;
Tho’ sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.

Soon He’s coming back to welcome me
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my ev’ry longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.

——-

Psalm 40:3

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.”

——-

The Story:

This song is written by Luther B Bridgers, 1884-1948. He met and married his wife, Sarah Vetch, in 1903. They had 3 sons and while he was preaching a revival about 7 years later, she and the boys stayed at her parents’ house. Luther got a call late that night that there was a fire and his wife and sons were all killed.  Out of the grief and tragedy, he wrote the lyrics and melody for this song.

For whatever reason, the song was playing on repeat in my mind tonight. Though our hearts make poor instruments, the Master Musician can make sweet music from the broken strings and even repair them. That healing love is wonderful.

Source: The Gaffney Ledger. http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2008-03-28/columns/045.html