Softly and Tenderly - story behind the hymn
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- A talented songwriter and musician wrote this beautiful song, which DL Moody said he would have loved to have written! Many lives have been touched by these special words. Has yours?
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Sources used for for today's video:
- John Mclelland. The Ambassador Book of Great Hymn Stories. 1994. Ambassador Productions Ltd: Belfast
- Kenneth W. Osbeck. 101 Hymn Stories. 1982. Kregal Publications: Grand Rapids
- www.hymnary.org
- clydesburn.blogspot.com/2020/0...
LYRICS:
1 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]
3 Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]
4 O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]
This song is so precious to me because, before my brother came home and repented, before he died, I had a dream I was singing this song with a choir behind me. I saw my brother in a coffin, but I was happy. Later I understood the dream when I heard from my niece, who gave me the news, and told me how he repented.. Praise God!
❤
Praise God
@najazattoni Oh! That just catches my heart! …so very precious ….and so very close to the testimony of my own brother ….who was caught in terrible bondage, and after much substance abuse died of heart failure…The Lord always had me sing this song in prayer over him…from 100’s of miles away…One day the Lord showed me the deposit of light that an angel was able to make into his mind with this “offering of Light”…I had a miraculous affirmation too, from someone who didn’t even know him, the day after his death, that he was safely at Home with the LORD! Our God is so very merciful and tender….His GREAT Love for us unfathomable Joy Blessings to you!
Thanks for sharing this heart-touching account. God is so kind and merciful.
My neither. Just before he died had become saved. I thank God.
I clearly remember this song. Out of 12 foster homes I was blessed to be in a Baptist minister’s home from 4-8 years old. I met a gentle savior in that home and scriptures and songs in my heart. I had no more safe and good homes after that. The verses from the Bible and and the precious hymns helped remind me Jesus loved me.
What you went through is heart braking specially at such tender age!
There is a song entitled "I just want to thank you lord" by Angie Sutherland
In one of the lines of the song it says;
...He's made good times out number the bad
Been the best friend that I've ever had...
May God make the good things that happend to you to out number the bad things that come in your life!
God bless you dear ❤
It’s heart breaking to know so many children go through this 🙏
I was raised Catholic. My grandma took me to the Free Methodist. This is where I first heard the song. It was my first invitational song I had ever heard. In the Catholic Church we never sang any songs. This occured about 1966 and the Lord started to draw me at the age of 10. The song was easy to sing, like I had known it forever. God has been home to me for over 50 years. Thank you for sharing this story.
I was raised in an Italian Evangelical church … my parents immigrated to the US and landed in St Louis on The Hill … where Italian immigrants found a home. But Peter Ottelini evangelized the area receiving the Holy Spirit and a small group left the Catholic Church and started the only non-Catholic church on The Hill. At the end of our services we kneeled to pray and they would sing this song for anyone who wanted to receive or return to Jesus privately. So many times as a wild 60’s teenager I sang that song to Jesus with constant forgiveness and acceptance back from my sweet Jesus!! ❤❤❤
I love the way Luke Powell uses hymns to preach God's love to us. The Holy Spirit shines through you Luke. Thank you.
I've sung this from a young child in church. When as an older adult I was diagnosed with a rare brain degeneration disease this song hit me with greater understanding. I am more than my disease so I try to use my condition as a witness and for God's glory. Yes, like you I see it as a song of good news. Thanks for your work, Luke.
This song is so God !!!!❤❤❤ Thank God for your ministry.
21years and jesus has delivered me from bitterness and unforgivness ... and he has rescued me from hell and he has called me to spread his grace in love.
Thank you Jesus.
Amen. Glory be to GOD!
What a beautiful song. How it is
That was so nice. Thank you. I grew up with this song but the older I get, the words become more meaningful and consoling.
We sang this in the little Baptist church that I grew up in. I thank God for saving my grandparents, who then started taking my mom to church when she was in about 8th or 9th grade. Then praise God, He saved her, & she & my father took my brother & I to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, & Wednesday night. I was saved at the tender age of 7, but I remember how this song used to stir my soul to its depths! Even as a babe I could feel the Holy Spirit move during this song and a few others that I hold dear to my heart. My father later left us when I was 11 for a much younger woman, completely left my brother & I as well & adopted her children. We had been a "Leave it to Beaver" family until then (I'm much too young to have seen the show, but that's what everyone called us), so I didn't understand. My mom still took us to church every time the doors were opened & my brother received Christ when He was 13. So, I just praise God for her dedication in making sure her children came to know Him, which could've only come through Him! I knew that I had a Father who would never leave me nor forsake me & loved me more than I could ever imagine because my parents made sure I knew Him, then my mom continued to keep us in church & teach us about His love. I have a Heavenly Father who loved me so much that He sent His only begotten Son, knowing the horrors He would endure, to this earth to live a perfect, sinless life, then He took on MY sin on the cross of Calvary, enduring the separation from the Father as He was tortured & died. Jesus, my Savior, went into Sheol for 3 days & nights, taking captivity captive & the keys to Death & Hell & rose again to everlasting life on the 3rd day. Praise God! My Father loved me so much that He created this plan of redemption before He even created Adam, knowing there would be a fall. He knew all of the sins I would commit in my life & still offered me eternal life through Jesus that I took as a free gift at the age of 7. Just thinking that the Creator of Heaven & earth, the Alpha & the Omega, God Almighty, cared about me, wanted me as His daughter called to me, "Softly & Tenderly," He was waiting & watching as the Holy Spirit drew my heart to Him, just blows my mind. He knew how much I would need Him in my life as I have a genetic neutrophil defect that will take my life perhaps before my 12-year-old son graduates. That's ok because "time is now fleeting, moments are passing from me... shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, coming for you and me," I will not fear. This song just has so much comfort for every time I've been so close to death & miserable, & I'm sure that's true for so many people!
Beautiful. Thanks for the song and the history
Amen I love this hymn and always listen to it. It give me inspiration.
Thanks for sharing. Always great to watch Luke's videos. This song we sang when we were young at school..... 50 years ago....
I learned this and almost all of our beautiful hymns as an adult also. I was not raised in church and was saved in my early 30s. Worshipping God in hymn/song is such a delight to my soul. Softly and Tenderly is one of the first I learned when I began studying as part of my daily worship. Great Channel 🙏🏼
Breathless………….❤
Jesus 👑 I make a decision to come home.
You say the words so easily and loving to all of us who are listening. 😢
Luke, good morning from a showery Lagos!
This is another CLASSIC across many, many Baptist Churches. I sang this from very young, and the words still resonate ever so clearly... but I really like the way you link the central theme in this amazing hymn to the story of the prodigal son… who despite his plight CHOOSE by himself to come back to his father… The rest of the story I think illustrates the unconceivable love of our Father, His Grace and the redemption of MANKIND through Jesus Christ His son who speaks… in a soft, earnest and tender voice... calling…
So, so powerful!!!
This song has always resonated with me..I never knew exactly why. I’m Dutch and I used to sing it as a child, phonetically. Because of you and your explanation, now I know what it is: it is almost too tender to sing it…..touched within…thank you ❤
Bless you, I love this beautiful song...
My parents love to sing it whilst mom was playing the piano ❤❤
I'm absolutely sure I've heard this song at funerals or in church a child and this song was in the movie Urban Cowboy in the early 80s and I believe that's when it truly had an impact on me as we watched that movie a lot as kids. And probably like many is my personal go to song in times of grief
So beautiful. Reminds me so much of church as a youngster with my parents who are now home with The Lord. ❤️🙏
Lovely! I would sometimes sing the first verse and chorus to my chidren at bedtime whilst trying to reinforce the message of Salvation. One died at 16 but he went home to Jesus. Its a powerful hymn,makes me cry.
I want to compliment you @mirgaretha907 and pray those seeds you planted have grown into well planted people bearing great fruit. Be a blessing.
@@mikenixon2401 thank you but its only by God's Grace!
Amen @@margaretha907
My daughter recorded so beautifully 9 sacred hymns and she titled her cd, “Softly and Tenderly”.
yes it does resonate
It is sad that most churches don’t sing these much. Some of the new are ok but can’t compare. The night I was saved this song seemed to take me to the altar. We repent and call on Him and He is there. I’m 77 now and it was a lifetime ago. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Sometime, somewhere I heard this melody. Then it disappeared. I never knew the lyrics until just now. And, out of the blue it seems the „soft and tender“ invitation of Jesus cannot be overheard. It is so beautiful a hymn that the lyrics would melt even the hardest of hearts. Thank you Luke for sharing this timeless gem!!🙏
Very nice performance of a sweet hymn.
Sent this song for a couple that came from Ohio to Florida, they became believers, since the pastor of our church moved on the pandemic, they stopped going to church, now are used on not going to worship on Sundays…
Thanks for the video. I miss the old hymns.
Beautiful ❤️Amen 🙏
This morning I played a prelude based on this tune on the big yamaha grand at church. I play every Sunday. I'm eighty and have been playing piano or organ in church since i was twelve.
I sang this song as a child. I have always loved it.
So encouraging! Thank you.
This was used a lot as an invitation song in my experience.
so appreciate hearing about the history of this song. so thankful to have the words and the meaning of this song, so deep and inspiring, sure love how you brought out the "Earnest" part.. wow Jesus is Earnestly calling us Home..
Hi Luke, thank you for yet another beautiful hymn on Classic Friday. I love this old hymn, remember it all the years growing up, have always sang it in church, but only as I got older did the words strike a cord for me....
The picture of Jesus softly calling for me, always tenderly.....it is very special, and He waits for all to come home. Beautiful, beautiful words of Jesus great love for all of us.
Blessings Luke.
I was asleep, and all of sudden l started hearing this hymnal song's lyrics o sinner come home Jesus is tenderly waiting watching tenderly pleading calling come home come home and l wake up. I have been a Christian. Why am l hearing this now? God pls show me mercy
Today March 16, 2024 at about 5.30a.m l had the above dream
I'm 73 , grew up with this Hymn ❤
thank you for your commentary ... note to self: jump to 11:00 for song only
I just found your channel today. Before my mom died 2 years ago, she loved hearing the stories behind the hymns. She got me interested in them, too. So now I feel blessed to hear this because not only do they remind me of God's love, but they also remind me of my mom and how she would have loved hearing about all these beautiful hymns.
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire, a still small voice. 1Kings 19:12
When the LORD beckons the lost sinner to salvation, it’s not in a loud scary boisterous voice, but in a still small voice.
Beautifully done. Very touching. Thank you.
The first time I remember this song was when I watched the movie "A Trip to Bountiful." The song played during the closing credits beautifully rendered by Cynthia Clawson. I was mesmerized. So lovely and heartfelt.
That's one of my favorite movies!
"Oh, Lutie, have you ever seen a sky so blue?" 😢
Some of the words to this hymn were also sung in the movie “A Case for Christ”.
Our little church still sings these precious old hymns, which to me have deep emotional meanings that the Holy Spirit can speak to your spirit. I praise God as I sing them.
Am blessed bythe history& lyrics of the song
Love the old hymns... Such deep meaning....
Amen
Thankyou for this beautiful rendition of this lovely hymn.I sang along with you.Bless you brother.
The last hymn I sang in the congregation next to my maternal grandfather, hymn number 311 Baptist Hymnal (1991) at Powell's Point Baptist Church in North Carolina in June 2017, just for him to deceased in tranquility on July 7, 2017
Yes I use to sing this when I was A little girl
Certainly one of my favorite songs. I developed more love for it when I was in the Seminary. I remember going to the Church when it was all quiet on campus, and I would play this song on the piano for several times among other hymns. I still love listening and singing it over and over again. There is indeed, the power of God's Love that flows with it. A real great song of all time!
I had a cassette tape by Christy Lane in the 80s. It was on there. I was going through a rough time and the songs on there calmed my mind. Thankyou for sharing these songs and the history.
Beautiful
Beautiful thank you
Thanks!
How kind, thank you!!
Growing up In the new apostolic church we used to sing this song all the time. Over the years we’ve sang it pianissimo and allegro depending on the choir leader. No matter how we sang it just a loved favourite ❤.
Thank you for this greetings from Canada!!!
Musical composition is one thing and must reflect the mood and understanding of the writer in order to be fully appreciated. It is obvious that the writer, composer knows exactly what he is trying to convey to you the listener. When we speak of this type of musical compilation and words hymn so to speak, the person is moved by the Spirits prompting and is intimate with the word of God. This man is certainly familiar with God's word and becomes a living musical hymn unmatched and like God's word everlasting and timeless, outside the bubble of this world.
Still praying for my twin brother to "come home" to Jesus . We will be 80 on September 1, 2023....
We were both in church from babyhood....he heard the Word and all these hymns as well...
My sister and I are both in our 80's and this morning we were talking about funerals. She said that she thought she would like to have "Softly and Tenderly" sung at her funeral. (Hopefully, not for a while yet) It is a hymn that we both remember from childhood, as is was always sung at First Communion Masses in our church. I still play the organ at church and somewhere have a handwritten copy from the 1950's. As I couldn't put my hands on it I thought I would check out the internet and was surprised to find so many renditions . From memory we only sang two verses and the words were altered, with the last line "Calling my child, come to me", making it more appropriate for a First Communion. I was particularly interested to hear the history of Will Thompson, as we also have Thompsons in our ancestors. Thank you.
The comments you made on the second verse were exactly what I needed to hear. I have been struggling with that exact thing for many years but just recently realized what it was that I was doing.
I just love this Hymn. Growing up in an Methodist Church that had older member. Thanks Luke I love Friday classics
Our Lord is not willing that any should perish ✝️
Lovely
Love this! Greatly done. Thank you.
Wow the week before last that song was laid on my heart. How do one come what do you say to Jesus will he truly welcome me. I said the sinners prayer but not sure if Jesus came in. I do want to come home to jesus.i long to be in heaven with Jesus
In order for Jesus to come in, you must first get off the throne of your life where you are sitting in charge and you must open the door. When you do, Jesus comes in and sits on that very throne. He is now the boss of your life, you you have chosen to let Him direct your life. You have chosen that your will is no longer to be done, but Gods will to be done in your life. He directs you, leads you and guides you. Surrender all to Him and you will experience this.
@@paracleo7wow 😢thank you I not sure how to let go but I want to I like what you are saying and I believe it's 💯 percent true. Can I ask Jesus to help me to get off the throne of my life.
I was sitting next to an inner city kid in church who was being very disruptive. I took him out into the foyer and asked him what was wrong. He said he didn’t want to be there and wanted to be taken home. I told him that the bus would take him home after the service. That only increased his hostilities. I asked him if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart. He said “many times.! In fact, he said “I asked Jesus into my heart this morning during Sunday school.” I asked him “did Jesus come in?” He said “I don’t know. I asked him to.”
We walked out to the back entrance, a glass door that leads to the alley. Since this is an inner city church the door automatically locks when it’s closed. I walked out of the door and it closed behind me. I knocked on the door and he told me to come on in. I said I can’t! the doors locked! He had a smile on his face. It was winter. It was cold outside. I said, “come on! Please! It’s cold out here! Open the door! “He got up off the chair and opened the door. I walked in the door and sat in his chair and said, “see? “If you want Jesus to come into your heart, you have to get up and open the door and then he comes and He sits in your chair. He becomes your loving boss and you will let Him guide your life. “
He thought for a moment and said, “I want to ask Jesus into my heart again only this time I want to open the door for him, so he can come in to my heart. “He prayed that prayer and breathed a sigh of relief. He had peace because he surrendered. As soon as the prayer was over, he said, can we go back into church? We did and I was amazed how attentive he was. Towards the end of the sermon, I asked him if when the pastor gives an altar call, if he would like to get up and walk down the aisle, as a testimony that he has surrendered his life to Christ. He said, “no! I don’t want to do that! “
At first I was very disappointed and didn’t think anything had really happened to him. But then I rephrased the question and asked, “does Jesus want you to get up and walk down the aisle?” He responded, “yes he does!” He got up and walked down the aisle. His friend followed him, wondering where he was going. I followed his friend, and this young man, and I led his friend to the Lord there at the altar.
So, how do you ask Jesus into your heart? You surrender. You give up control of your life To Him. You trust him that he will be with you and he will never leave you or forsake you. He will comfort you when you’re going through difficult times. He will guide you to make wise decisions for your life.
The secret to this whole experience is humility. You must have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. How does one get a broken heart? Ask God to open your eyes to see what your heart is really like. That you are more capable of cruelty than you ever thought you were. You’re more capable of pettiness than you ever thought you were. You’re capable of more wickedness than you ever thought you were. That point you begin to see that there is nothing good in you, and that even your sincere desires to be a good person are self-serving so people will think well of you. When you get to that point where you see yourself as total depraved and that you do not deserve forgiveness for your sins because you’re so evil. That’s when Christ explodes into your life. That’s when you experience that Jesus loves you in spite of your sin. And that He not only loves you but he’s nuts about you. That’s when you surrender and receive his love for you. That’s called Grace and it is amazing! You will find Life when you die to your Self. That is how the upside-down Kingdom of God works.😊
I grew up in a church that sung Softly and Tenderly almost every Sunday. One of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.
I love this song. It touches my heart and brings me peace.
I remember singing this song in church ever since I was a child. (I am now almost 70.) As you described, it was often sung during the altar call, or "invitation." Coming home is such a powerful image. When we are weary and need to rest, we want to go HOME. And when we reach the end of life, we are eager to GO HOME to be with Jesus. It's one of the most beautiful songs ever, and I want it to be played at my funeral. I also love that it was used as the opening theme song of the wonderful movie "The Trip to Bountiful" in 1985, sung by the wonderful gospel vocalist, Cynthia Clawson.
I think I've sung this song at all the churches I've attended. It's a great invitational song. Live it
Love
Thank you Brother for reminding us of such. Beautiful and Great Hynms of WORSHIP and PRAISES to our JESUS ✝️. AND FATHER GOD ✝️ ❤️🙏🏻👏🏻🙌🥹
This beautiful and meaningful song was one of the songs we sang in our Baptist church during invitation after the Pastor’s message. Brings unforgettable memories. Thank you for taking the time to tell us of it’s precious history and for your biblical teachings.
My experience exactly. I second that thank you.
watching live from Ghana, God bless you. #Come Home yee who are weary.
I grew up in a Church with its own hymns. I first learned this beautiful hymn when I began attending Charismatic meetings in the 1970’s.
This song was played and sang as the invitation hymn at my home church on July 7, 1963. That day I was baptized into Christ and made a commitment to serve God throughout my life.
A beautiful old hymn and totally timeless. It meant a lot to me when I was born again at 16. It was used regularly as an invitation hymn in the little Baptist church that I attended. It has always moved me deeply.
Thank you brother
I loved singing this hymn in church when I was young. I miss singing these classic beautiful hymns. They aren't done in many churches any longer. This was a standard in the rotation of invitation hymns at the end of the service. Such a beautiful melody!
I was 40 when I believed, and didn't know any hymns. I learned them and now my church with a new pastor does three old hymns and four newer praise songs without much melody to them. With the internet one can keep learning new songs. I can't say I have a favorite.
I grew up singing this song in a Nazarene Church in Kansas City, KS. It has been a favorite and it’s interesting to hear this.
Lovely. Thank you. ❤
"Death bed" reminds me that we aren't going to get out of here alive. Because of Jesus we have no fear of death because He gives us life forever.
I have sang this song my whole life, and it never fails to touch my heart. ❤
I have fond memories of this hymn. The words are powerful and touch me in a special way. The melody is very singable, and goes with the words perfectly. Thank you for your videos!
There is Freedom in the truth. Universal truth of God. Through Jesus.
II Peter 3:9 explains why the Lord tarries, why the second comming has not occured yet. This beautiful song captures that theme better than any other song, no wonder D L Moody used it in his evangelistic service.
Yes beautifully sung.
Beautifully played! Thank you.
My mom played this at "the call to alter" in the little Nazarene Church in Halfway, OR in early 2950's
Thank you so much for showing this song. At 13 I was to be baptised and I had to choose a song for the congregation to sing. Yes I chose this song because I longed for God to give me comfort as I drew closer to Him, desiring to follow God and see His care for me even though I was nervous of getting closer to God.
I love this hymn. I remember it from my childhood and my Moma sang it. We went to a rural Baptis hymn!! I am so joy filled with sweet memories when I hear them! They are still full of power!!!
I fell away from grace a year ago and listening to this song reminds me of God's mercy and calling for me. Thank you for the ministry.
I hope you run back into his waiting arms. He loves us more than we know.
That was beautiful Luke and came from your heart.Thank you for your encouraging ministry. I really appreciate your channel. God bless you and yours.Hugs from British Columbia Canada.
I really love this song! Since I was a little girl, my daddy would sing the hymns with us three girls. We would sing in harmony with each other. We had such joy singing them together, we could not stop laughing from the joy overflowing. I have fond memories of many hymns and this one always touches my heart. Thank you for this ministry of song you are sharing on RUclips! Blessings and peace to you!
love this beautiful song..🙏🎶
Lovely Luke thank you
Love that beautiful story I love that hymn
Yes, I used to listen to the hymn when I used to go to church as a kid I am now 74 years old, and I still love listening to it
Oh, what a joy to start my morning with this song, Luke. I so appreciate your heart and your musical skills. These song actually describes you, like Jesus are softly and tenderly drawing people to him. It was my dads favourite so we had it at his funeral and what words for people to be singing and hopefully taking to heart! Bless this ministry!
Another lovely old hymn that sadly isn't in our new hymnbooks (I just had a look). It amazes me how you can have nearly 800 hymns in a book and miss a beauty like this. It also doesn't have some of the best modern hymns either.