He Lifted Me

Words and music by Charles H. Gabriel
Click the arrow above to play video. If you see no arrow, click the song title to view online.

In loving-kindness Jesus came,
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me.

Refrain:
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me;
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His Name, He lifted me!

He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv’n, He lifted me.

His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love He lifted me.

Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know ’tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me.

Public Domain. Recorded by The Nickel Family Singers on LP365 (except verse three).
Sheet music available here.

I Have a Great Savior, I Do, Don't You?

Words by Melville W. Miller. Music by Edwin O. Excell, 1907
Click the arrow above to play. If you see no video play arrow, click the song title to view online.

I know a great Saviour, I do; don’t you? 
I live by His favor, I do; don’t you?
For grace I implore Him, I worship before Him,
I love and adore Him, I do; don’t you?

I need Him to lead me, I do; don’t you?
Heav’n’s manna to feed me, I do; don’t you?
What ever betide me, I need Him beside me,
In mercy to hide me, I do; don’t you?

I love to be near Him, I do; don’t you?
He speaks and I hear Him, I do; don’t you?
For me He is caring, the cross I am bearing,
I love Him for sharing, I do; don’t you?

I want Him to use me, I do; don’t you?
For service to choose me, I do; don’t you?
I want Him to bless me, to own and confess me,
completely possess me, I do; don’t you?

Public Domain. Sheet music available here.
Published as Song #2 in Sing and Give Thanks
Recorded on LP 365: My Sheep Know My Voice (verses 1 and 4 only)

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

Words by Fanny J. Crosby, Music by Robert Lowry, 1875 
Click the arrow above to play. If you see no video play arrow, click the song title to view online.

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Public Domain.
Recorded by The Nickel Family Singers on LP365: My Sheep Know My Voice
Sheet Music available here.

My Sheep Know My Voice

Words and music by Herbert Buffum, 1905 (Verse 1 and Refrain); Verse 2 and 3, author unknown. 
Click the arrow above to play. If you see no video play arrow, click the song title to view online.

Verse 1
My sheep know My voice and the path that I take,
They follow wherever I go;
My sheep know My voice and come at my call,
But a stranger’s voice do they not know.

Refrain:
My sheep know My voice, and day by day
They abide in the fold and go not astray;
They love Me because I have made them My choice,
And they follow My call for My sheep know My voice.

Verse 2
My sheep know My voice and the pastures of green,
Where I lead them so often to feed;
My sheep know My voice and the cool, sparkling stream
Where beside its still waters I lead.

Verse 3*
My sheep know My voice and the valley of death
Through which I shall lead them someday;
But no danger nor harm can touch one of them,
For I will be with them alway.

Public Domain
Recorded by The Nickel Family Singers as the title track on LP365: My Sheep Know My Voice.
*Verse 3 is not included on recording. For the sheet music, click here.

Oh, To Be Like Thee

It seems most appropriate as we approach the new year, that we re-tune our hearts to desire nothing more than to be like Jesus. This hymn was a favorite of Frank's and is being reposted with an added video which includes audio from The Nickel Family Singers. Thank you for journeying along with us this year. We pray you will continue to be encouraged by these 200+ of my father's poems. May you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Click the arrow above to play. If you see no video play button, click on the song title to view online.

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897, Public Domain
Recorded on LP365: My Sheep Know My Voice, side two
Sheet music available here

In Memory, Fifteen Years Later

Fifteen years ago today, November 22, 2002, Frank P. Nickel was promoted to glory. I woke with this song on my mind. In it, he reminds us that heaven is our true country of citizenship. I like to think of Dad perhaps collaborating with King David to compose and sing new songs of praise to our God. I don't know if that sort of thing happens in heaven, but I'm guessing we'll be using our God-given creativity in some fulfilling, joy-filled manner. It boggles the mind.

We sang this song often during the later years of our family ministry, and I've already posted it twice in this blog project. Yet as I meditate on these words, inspired by Psalm 103:2, it seems fitting to share them again, this time courtesy of a video taken during the memorial service for our brother, Bob, this past July. Not our finest moment, musically or emotionally, as you can understand, but it is a tender mercy that we can be together and remember our beloved ones who have gone before, and realize they are in that place where God wipes all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more sadness. Please enjoy the video and the lyrics below.


Forget not all His benefits, my soul, bless thou the Lord.
Review His tender mercies and the comfort of His word.
Remember well the greatest of the gifts that He has given:
Eternal life through Christ our Lord and citizenship in heaven.

Forget not all His benefits, for friends and loved ones dear;
For those who share our joys with us, who in our grief stand near.
Thank God for courage and for strength when past endurance driven.
Yet keep in mind that gift supreme: your citizenship in heaven.

Forget not all His benefits within the walls called home.
For peace and for protection as the paths of life we roam.
For healing of these bodies and for sins, now all forgiven.
For hope beyond this vale of tears and citizenship in heaven.

Refrain:
Oh bless the Lord for Jesus' blood and for his side once riven
Eternal life through Christ is mine, and citizenship in heaven.

fpn/undated

Originally posted Jan. 25, 2014 and May 5, 2017
Video credit: Jay Holden, via Facebook Live, July 19, 2017
Contact Joyce if you would like a copy of the printed music.

How Do I Know

words and melody by Eva Mae Withaus, harmony by Frank P. Nickel

How do I know that the Father above 
watches o’er me with His tenderest love?
He sees the fall of each little bird,
I read it in God’s Holy Word. 

How do I know that He’ll answer my prayer 
when I am sad and there’s no one to care?
Somehow I know my cry will be heard,
I read it in God’s Holy Word.

Just like the shepherd He leads us;
He seeks for the sheep gone astray;
He carries the lambs in His bosom,
and keeps them from danger always.

How do I know that He died in my place,
giving me life through His marvelous grace?
Sweetest of stories ever heard,
I read it in God’s Holy Word.

©1965, Radiant Light Enterprises.
Published as song #12 in Sing and Give Thanks , and recorded on LP 365: My Sheep Know My Voice, side one, by the Junior Trio: John, Steve, and Paul. Video design by Joyce Rempel on animoto.com using the recorded song and photos from the family collection.

It Took a Miracle

Words and Music by John W. Peterson

My Father is omnipotent,
and that you can’t deny;
a God of might and miracles,
’tis written in the sky.

Chorus:
It took a miracle to put the stars in place;
It took a miracle to hang the world in space.
But when He saved my soul,
Cleansed and made me whole,
It took a miracle of love and grace.

Though here His glory has been shown,
we still can’t fully see
The wonders of His might, His throne,
’twill take eternity.

The Bible tells us of His power
and wisdom all way through;
and every little bird and flower
are testimonies too.

The greatness of the Lord is seen
in everything he made,
but greater far the work He did
when on Him my sin was laid.

© 1948. Renewed 1976 by John W. Peterson Music Company
Recorded with permission on LP 161: Songs of Faith and Promise, side one

Oh, To Be Like Thee

Today, I am diverging from my father's poems to a song our family often sang. It came to mind as I prayed through this morning's reading and prayer guide "for growth in holiness." It is written by Thomas O. Chisholm (author of "Great is Thy Faithfulness"). I'll share the text with you here, as I believe (based on the number of times we sang it), this was one of Dad's favorites.

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

(c) 1897, now Public Domain
Recorded on LP365: My Sheep Know My Voice, side two
Sheet music available here