A Homemaker Who Knew She Needed The Lord!

A Homemaker Who Knew She Needed The Lord!

I'd like to introduce you to a rather amazing lady who has made a tremendous impact on my life, and I'm quite sure she has impacted your life as well without you even being aware of it!

I can't say I know her personally!

I really don't know much about her!

I've never even met her!

Okay, wait, I know exactly what you're thinking.

"Barb, how is it even remotely possible for you to introduce us to a woman whom you never met, yet claim has had a huge impact on your life?"

"And how in the world can you tell us that she has influenced us as well?"

Okay, well, let me introduce you to her!

Her name is Annie Sherwood Hawks!

Annie Sherwood was born on May 28, 1835, in Hoosick, New York. Now you know why I never met her considering the fact that she was born in 1835!   

From an early age, Annie was an avid reader and wrote poetry.

At the young age of fourteen, she had a poem published in a newspaper in Troy, New York, and more poems followed in several local papers.

At the age of twenty-four, Annie married Charles Hawks and they moved to Brooklyn, New York, and thus began her life as a dedicated homemaker, and later a devoted mother to their three children.

However, the most important relationship in her life was the one she shared with her Saviour.

Annie Hawks
loved the Lord!

She thought about the Lord a lot, and on occasion she wrote those thoughts down on paper and sometimes they just "happened" to rhyme!

Dr. Robert Lowry, a prominent writer of gospel songs, was Mr. and Mrs. Hawk's pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Lowry immediately recognized Annie's talent for writing. He encouraged her in her gift of poetry, and promised to write the music for her poems.

Mrs. Hawks continued writing, but she wasn't writing to become famous or well-known. That was the last thing on her mind. She was just following Jesus and expressing her simple faith in Him.

There is a recorded account in which Mrs. Hawks states,

“One day as a young wife and mother of thirty-seven years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me"

So Mrs. Hawks sat by an open window on that bright June morning

and began to jot down the following words

"I need Thee every hour,
most gracious Lord;

No tender voice
like Thine
can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour,
stay Thou nearby;
Temptations
lose their pow’r
when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour,
in joy or pain;

Come quickly
and abide,
or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour;
teach me Thy will;

And Thy
rich promises
in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour,
most Holy One;
Oh, make me
Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son."

See, I told you that more than likely you had been influenced by Mrs. Annie Hawks but was never aware of it!

Mrs. Hawks took her poem to her pastor, Dr. Lowry, who kept his word, just like he had promised, and added music to the poem, as well as writing the following refrain:

"I need Thee,
oh, I need Thee;
Every hour
I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now,
my Savior,
I come to Thee."

Somewhere along the way, Evangelist Dwight L. Moody and his song leader, Ira Sankey, discovered the song, and, needless to say, the hymn became quite famous, much to Mrs. Annie Hawk’s surprise.

When all five verses, along with the refrain, are sung, the phrase, "I need Thee", is repeated twenty times throughout the hymn!

WOW!

That right there just confirms the TRUTH of how desperately we truly DO need the Lord!

Sixteen years after writing this hymn, Mrs. Annie Hawks was widowed and understood her hymn in a whole new way.

She reflected on the power of her song,

“I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace.”

Mrs. Annie Hawks in no way set out to be famous.

She was a homemaker and a mother who simply loved the Lord. She was simply using the talents which the Lord gave to her. Using those talents for the honor and glory of the Lord.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
Colossians 3:23-24

She had no idea that the words which she wrote on that bright and beautiful June morning back in 1872 would still be comforting, encouraging and blessing others to this day, and still being sung in churches around the world!

I LOVE the fact that she not only used her talents for the Lord, but she also put into practice my all time favorite saying,

"Bloom where 

you're planted"

www.castingyourcare.org

"I Need Thee" is not only one of my favorite hymns, it also has become a prayer "of sorts" for me.

There are days when my symptoms are in full force and all I can manage to get out of my mouth are the words, "I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee."

Some days it's simply, "I need You, Lord"!  

Thanks to Annie Sherwood Hawks for allowing the Lord to use her to give to us such a rich and meaningful hymn which was penned straight from the innermost depths of her heart.

A homemaker and mother who KNEW her utter and total need of her Saviour!

"For The Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100:5

 


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May God Bless You,

Barb

6 Comments

  • Linda

    May 4, 2017 at 4:51 am Reply

    I didn't know the story behind this hymn, Barb - it is so encouraging. God can use what we do to impact others far beyond what we can imagine!
    "I need thee, oh I need thee, every hour I need thee" - amen to those words.
    Praying the coming days will be less difficult for you. Sending love ang hugs from across the seas. ❤️

    • Barb

      May 8, 2017 at 11:08 pm Reply

      Linda, I wasn't aware of the background of this song either until I read about it in a book I have which gives the stories behind some of the most famous hymns. And once I read it in that book, I knew I needed to do some more research on Annie Hawks! Yes, my favorite quote and right now the anthem of my life, "Bloom Where You're Planted!"
      So very thankful that when I say, "I need You, Lord", He always hears and is always right here with me ... AMEN!
      Love you my precious friend across the seas❤❤❤

  • Zebra4Jesus

    May 5, 2017 at 9:49 am Reply

    WOW! That's amazing! I pray the world can see Jesus in my life like that as I go about my daily life and relationship with Jesus! Not in a famous way like that But that Jesus radiates from my life. Jesus is my very breath! What would we do without Him???? Esp on the foggiest darkest days? When I feel to low to properly care for myself, let alone take care of my family's needs and the basics. Days like today when I have a deadline to meet but woke up with worse symptoms. I need Thee every hour, sweet Jesus! Today and the next couple look impossible. But with You everything is possible.I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! Praying you soon feel better also and can rest in Jesus and His will for your life! ♥Your fellow Zebra

    • Barb

      May 7, 2017 at 2:47 pm Reply

      My fellow Zebra, you nailed it when you said. "What would we do without Him?" What do people do without the Lord?
      And I LOVED when you said, "Jesus is my very breath" AMEN to that!
      Keeping on living for the Lord my friend. Your light IS shining brightly pointing others to HIM!
      Love and appreciate you ♡♡♡

  • BAC

    May 8, 2017 at 2:27 pm Reply

    Barb, What a Blessing! "I Need Thee Every Hour" is so timing for me and is so true for all believers. I really need this. I went back to a blog on November 16, 2016 about Music and is also was an encouragement. Praise God for the talent He has given you. Thank you for sharing. BAC

    • Barb

      May 8, 2017 at 9:22 pm Reply

      Mom, what a GREAT blessing to see your comment on here ❤ I'm so very thankful that the Lord used the words which He gave to me to encourage you. I love and appreciate you ❤❤

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