Welcome to our special weekend edition of Hackberry House, in which we share the classic poetry of God's people over the centuries of the church. These poems were originally set to music. They became the classic hymns of the church. But remember that in the singing, you've got to remember that it's the message, not just the music. I'll not be singing these songs. I'm just going to be reading some old poetry. Listen to the words or sing along if you know the melody and be blessed. We start with When You're Young. This was a song that came out, or at least that I heard about in the 70s, I think. When you're young, the world is waiting for you. Every day is bright and new. Starting now, there's lots of living to do when you're young. There are mountains to conquer and castles to build. It may just be a dream now. but tomorrow fulfilled. When you're young and filled with high hopes and plans, put your life into His hands. Trust in Him, for only He understands when you're young. Well, we gotta back up a few years to get this next one. Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford. Striving alone to face temptations sore, where could I go but to the Lord? Neighbors are kind, I love them every one. We get along in sweet accord, but when my soul needs manna from above, where could I go but to the Lord? Life here is grand, with friends I love so dear. Comfort I get from God's own word. Yet when I face the chilling hand of death, where can I go but to the Lord? The chorus, where could I go? Oh, where could I go? Seeking a refuge for my soul. needing a friend to help me in the end. Where could I go but to the Lord? And then where he leads I'll follow. Sweet are the promises, kind is the word, dearer far than any message man ever heard. Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see. He the great example is and pattern for me. Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown, Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known, Kind to the erring one, faithful is he, He the great example is, and pattern for me. List to his loving words, come unto me, Weary, heavy-laden, there is sweet rest for thee. Trust in his promises, faithful and sure. Lean upon the Savior and thy soul is secure. The chorus, where he leads, I'll follow. Follow all the way. Where he leads, I'll follow. Follow Jesus every day. In a similar title, where he leads me, I can hear my Savior calling. I can hear my Savior calling. I can hear my Savior calling. Take thy cross. and follow, follow me. I'll go with him through the garden. I'll go with him through the garden. I'll go with him through the garden. I'll go with him, with him all the way. I'll go with him through the judgment. I'll go with him through the judgment. I'll go with him through the judgment. I'll go with him, with him all the way. He will give me grace and glory. He will give me grace and glory. He will give me grace and glory and go with me. with me all the way. The chorus, where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me, I will follow. I'll go with him, with him all the way. This is an old one. I think the Gaither group, Gaither Vocal Band, has made this one more popular again today. But this goes back. Once I stood in the night, with my head bowed low, in the darkness as black as could be, and my heart felt alone, and I cried, oh Lord, don't hide your face from me. Like a king, I may live in a palace so tall, with great riches to call my own, but I don't know a thing in this whole wide world that's worse than being alone. The chorus hold my hand all the way, Every hour, every day, from here to the great unknown, take my hand, let me stand where no one stands alone. Then where the roses never fade, that goes back a ways, I'm going to a city where the streets are golden-laid, where the tree of life is blooming and the roses never fade. In this world we have our troubles, Satan's snares we must evade, We'll be free from all temptation, Where the roses never fade. Loved ones gone to be with Jesus, In their robes of white arrayed, They're waiting for my coming, Where the roses never fade. Chorus, here they bloom, but for a season, Soon their beauty is decayed, But I'm going to a city, Where the roses never fade. Wherever he leads, I'll go. Take up thy cross and follow me, I heard my master say. I gave my life to ransom thee. Surrender your all today. He drew me closer to his side. I sought his will to know, and in that will I now abide. Wherever he leads, I'll go. It may be through the shadows dim or the stormy sea. I take my cross and follow him wherever he leadeth me. My heart, my life, my all I bring to Christ, who loves me so. He is my master, Lord, and King. Wherever he leads, I'll go. And the refrain, wherever he leads, I'll go. Wherever he leads, I'll go. I'll follow my Christ, who loves me so. Wherever he leads, I'll go. And you all know the chorus, whisper a prayer. Whisper a prayer in the morning and noon and evening to keep your heart in tune. God answers prayer in the morning and noon and evening to keep your heart in tune. Jesus may come in the morning or at the noon or the evening. You know that little chorus, beautiful one. Whispering hope, soft as the voice of an angel. Breathing a lesson unheard. Hope, with a gentle persuasion, whispers her comforting word. Wait till the darkness is over. Wait till the tempest is done. Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone. If in the dusk of the twilight dim be the region afar, Will not the deepening darkness brighten the glimmering star? Then, when the night is upon us, why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over, watch for the breaking of day. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, rends the dark veil for the soul, whither the master has entered, robbing the grave of its goal. Come then, O come, glad fruition, come to my sad, weary heart, come, O thou blessed hope of glory, never, O never, depart, refrain, whispering, O how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. Whiter than Snow. Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole. I want thee forever to ransom my soul, break down every idol, cast out every foe. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat. I wait, blessed Lord, at thy crucified feet. By faith, for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Lord Jesus, thou knowest I patiently wait. Come now, and within me a new heart create. To those who have sought thee, thou never said no. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Whiter than snow? Yes, whiter than snow. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Who at my door is standing? Who at my door is standing, patiently drawing near? Entrance within demanding? Whose is the voice I hear? Lonely without, he's staying. Lonely within, am I. While I am still delaying, will he not pass me by? All through the dark hours dreary, knocking again is he. Jesus, art thou not weary, waiting so long for me? Door of my heart, I hasten, thee will I open wide. Though he rebuke and chasten, he shall with me abide. The refrain sweetly, the tones are falling. Open the door for me. If thou wilt heed my calling, I will abide with thee. Who is on the Lord's side? Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the king? Who will be his helpers, other lives to bring? Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord's side? Who for him will go? By thy call of mercy, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side, Savior. We are thine. Not for weight of glory, not for crown and palm, enter we the army, raise the warrior song, but for love that claimeth lives for whom he died. He whom Jesus nameth must be on his side. By thy love constraining, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are thine. Jesus, thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem, but with thine own lifeblood for thy diadem. With thy blessing filling each who comes to thee, thou hast made us willing, thou hast made us free. By thy grand redemption, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side. Savior, we are thine. Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the king's own army none can overthrow. Round his standard ranging, victory is secure, for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. Joyfully enlisting, by thy grace divine, We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are thine. Chosen to be soldiers in an alien land, chosen, called, and faithful for our captain's band. In the service royal, let us not grow cold. Let us be right, loyal, noble, true, and bold. Master, thou wilt keep us by thy grace divine. We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are thine. whosoever meaneth me. I am happy today, and the sun shines bright. The clouds have been rolled away, for the Savior said, whosoever will may come with him to stay. All my hopes have been raised. Oh, his name be praised. His glory has filled my soul. I've been lifted up, and from sin set free. His blood has made me whole. Oh, what wonderful love, oh, what grace divine, that Jesus should die for me. I was lost in sin, for the world I pined, but now I am set free. The refrain, whosoever surely meaneth me. Surely meaneth me, oh, surely meaneth me. Whosoever surely meaneth me, whosoever meaneth me. And the next one is a whosoever song too, whosoever will. Whosoever heareth, shout, shout the sound. Spread the blessed tidings all the world around. Tell the joyful news wherever man is found. Whosoever will, may come. Whosoever cometh, need not delay. Now the door is open, enter while you may. Jesus is the true, the only living way. Whosoever will, may come. Whosoever will, the promise is secure. Whosoever will, forever just endure. Whosoever will, tis life forevermore. Whosoever will, may come. Chorus. Whosoever will, whosoever will. Send the proclamation over vale and hill. Tis a loving father calls the wanderer home. Whosoever will, may come. The next one is called simply, Why. Why did they nail him to Calvary's tree? Why? Tell me, why was he there? Jesus, the helper, the healer, the friend, why? Tell me, why was he there? Why should he love me, a sinner, undone? Why? Tell me, why should he care? I do not merit the love he has shown. Why? Tell me, why should he care? Why should I linger far from His love? Why? Tell me, why should I fear? Somehow I know I should venture and prove why. Tell me, why should I fear? For as all my iniquities on Him were laid, He nailed them all to the tree. Jesus, the debt of my sin fully paid, He paid the ransom for me. This is an old timer, kind of a Western, Southern Western type flavor. Will the circle be unbroken? I was standing by my window on one cold and cloudy day when I saw that hearse come rolling for to carry my mother away. I said to that undertaker, undertaker, please drive slow for this lady you're carrying, Lord, I hate to see her go. Oh, I followed close behind her, tried to hold up and be brave, but I could not hide my sorrow when they laid her in the grave. I went back home, Lord, my home was lonesome. I missed my mother, she was gone. All of my brothers, sisters, crying. What a home, so sad and lone, chorus. Will a circle be unbroken? Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye. There's a better home awaiting in the sky, Lord, in the sky. I wish we'd all been ready. I think it was Larry Norman that sang this one. Life was filled with guns and war and all of us got trampled on the floor. I wish we'd all been ready. Children died, the days grew cold. A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold. I wish we'd all been ready. A man and wife asleep in bed, she hears a noise, turns her head, he's gone. I wish we'd all been ready. Two men walking up a hill, one disappears, one's left standing still. I wish we'd all been ready. There's no time to change your mind. The sun has come, and you've been left behind. The Father spoke, the demons died. How could you have been so blind? There's no time to change your mind. The sun has come, and you've been left behind. A chorus that's come up recently within the veil I now would come into the holy place to look upon thy face. I see such beauty there no other can compare. I worship thee, my Lord, within the veil. and without him. Without him, I could do nothing. Without him, I'd surely fail. Without him, I would be drifting like a ship without a sail. Without him, I would be dying. Without him, I'd be enslaved. Without him, life would be worthless. But with Jesus, thank God I'm saved. Chorus, oh Jesus, oh Jesus, do you know him today? Please don't turn him away. Oh, Jesus, my Jesus. Without him, how lost I would be. Amen, amen. That's it for this time. Hey, we've only got one time left. One time that you can tell we're in the W's, right? That was the, in fact, the end of the W's? No, there's some more W's and then a few Y's and we're gonna be done. 1,100 songs, we'll be finishing it up next time. I hope you can join me for that time. And this is the hackberry house of chosen. Lord willing, we will talk soon. Bye bye.