"There is a History marker at the entrance [of Cracker Barrel off Exit 6] about Thomas Chisholm 1866-1960. He was a church song writer from Simpson County. He has 6 songs in our church song book. All Things Work Together for Good., Be with Me Lord., Bring Christ your Broken Heart., Buried with Christ., Great is Thy Faithfulness., Living with Jesus., Oh, To be like Thee., One Blessed Hour with Jesus. My Dad told me he wrote hundreds of church songs."
Thomas Chisholm was born in a small log cabin in Franklin, KY (in the Lake Springs Community) in 1866. At the time of his birth no one would have thought that this baby boy would set the Christian world to singing and leave behind such a great legacy of song. He is best remembered for giving us that great hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, written after his study of Lamentations 3: 22-23, and the compelling truth of God’s mercy and faithfulness. Before this hymns was written in 1923, Thomas wrote a song that expressed so well the life of a man surrendered to God.
(Lake Springs Community, Simpson County)
Thomas described the day his mother died as, “the darkest day of his life”, and caused him to realize his own mortality, and needy condition. Two years later at a revival meeting in his hometown, he was born again under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and God’s word. At the age of sixteen, Thomas began teaching at the one room schoolhouse where he had attended. Five years later at the age of twenty-one, he began work as an editor of the local newspaper, “The Franklin Favorite.” Soon his talent of writing would advance his career to a larger publication, "The Pentecostal Herald” in Louisville, KY. He received the invitation for the job from the evangelist, Rev. H. C. Morrison who had led him to the Lord. Ten years later he was ordained as a Methodist minister, he served a congregation for one year, but health problems forced him to resign. Thomas moved his family to Winona Lake, Indiana where he sold life insurance. In 1916, they moved to Vineland, NJ, where he continued to sell insurance. In 1915, Harold Lowder a preacher who had also been a life insurance salesman wrote a gospel song to be sung by children. The song became popular because of the music, but many felt the text needed improvement. It was at this time that Pastor Lowder sent the music to Thomas Chisholm with a suggested title, “Living for Jesus”, and asked him to provide the rest of the lyrics. Thomas returned the music to Rev. Lowder saying that he didn’t have the slightest idea as to the methods used in writing words for existing music. Rev. Lowder immediately sent the material back to Thomas telling him that God had led him to select him to furnish the text for this hymn.
Since Thomas could not read music. (He was a newspaper publisher, not a musician.). He had his daughter hum the melody over and over until he was able to write the text for this hymn that reminds us how we should live our lives surrendered to God. This is probably the second most popular hymn written by Thomas Chisholm.
Living for Jesus
(Taken at Whitehall Mansion in Louisville, KY)
(Taken at Whitehall Mansion in Louisville, KY)
Verse 1
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do,
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me
Chorus
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee,
For Thou in Thine atonement Didst give Thyself for me,
I own no other master, My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give henceforth to live, O Christ for Thee alone.
Verse 2
Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace,
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Chorus
Verse 3
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
(Taken in Adairville, KY)
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