December 12, 2005

Have faith in God –
His sevenfold truth obey;
Have faith in God –
No more thy soul delay;
Have faith in God –
And walk the narrow way.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Away in the Manger

Stanzas 1 and 2:   Source Unknown
Stanza 3:  John Thomas McFarland, 1851-1913

    While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6, 7.

    For some time Away in a Manger was titled Luther's Cradle Hymn. It was thought to have been written by Martin Luther for his own children and then passed on by German mothers. Modern research discounts this claim however. Stanzas one and two first appeared in the Little Children's Book, published in Philadelphia in 1885. The third verse was written by a Methodist minister, Dr. John T. McFarland, in the early 1900's when an additional stanza for this carol was desired for use at a church children's day program.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission