1 Once I was wayward and lone and sad,
Greater each day grew my need;
Now the Lord’s grace keeps me pure and glad
And is a blessing indeed.
Refrain:
Grace is God’s gift that cheers me along,
Grace is God’s gift that fills me with song;
Day after day ‘tis supplying my need,
O Grace is a blessing indeed.
2 Life was so dreary ere grace divine,
Banished the night from my soul;
Caused all my path as the sun to shine,
Made me so happy and whole. [Refrain]
3 Hopeless the future appeared to me,
Ere to my spirit He came;
Now a tomorrow of joy I see,
Praise His all-glorious name! [Refrain]
4 Some day when I shall behold His face,
There on that beautiful shore;
How I shall sing of His saving grace,
And my redeemer adore. [Refrain]
Source: The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 3 #19
Pseudonym: James S. Apple.
James Rowe was born in England in 1865. He served four years in the Government Survey Office, Dublin Ireland as a young man. He came to America in 1890 where he worked for ten years for the New York Central & Hudson R.R. Co., then served for twelve years as superintendent of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. He began writing songs and hymns about 1896 and was a prolific writer of gospel verse with more than 9,000 published hymns, poems, recitations, and other works.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
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