February 21, 2005

When Love Shines In

Carrie Ellis Breck, 1855-1934

    You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16.

    Carrie’s family moved from Vermont to Vineland, New Jersey, and she spent most of her life in southern New Jersey. She married Frank Breck, and they moved to Oregon between 1910 and 1920. A devout Christian, she was devoted to her husband and five daughters. She had no sense of pitch, and could not carry a tune, but she had the gift of poetic rhythm, and wrote more than 2,000 poems. She was not particularly robust in health, and had to take frequent rests while doing chores. At such times, she would sit in her favorite rocking chair, take up a notebook, and write poetry, often with a baby on her knee, or playing at her feet.
    Other hymns by Carrie Breck include:

• All the World for Jesus
• At Mother’s Grave
• Be Strong
• Columbia’s Song
• Face to Face with Christ, My Savior
• Go to the Deeps of God's Promise
• Have You Found the Savior Precious?
• He Did Not Die in Vain
• Help Somebody Today
• I Cannot Get Beyond His Love
• I Want Everybody to Know
• I'll Count My Blessings
• It Is Not Fair
• Make Him Known
• Nailed to the Cross
• Savior for You, The
• Some One Who Knows
• Step in Anywhere
• Tell Thy Life-Story to Jesus
• Valley of Peace, The
• When Love Shines In
• You Mean to Be Saved—But When?

Jesus comes with power to gladden, when love shines in,
Every life that woe can sadden, when love shines in.
Love will teach us how to pray, love will drive the gloom away,
Turn our darkness into day, when love shines in.

How the world will grow with beauty, when love shines in,
And the heart rejoice in duty, when love shines in.
Trials may be sanctified, and the soul in peace abide,
Life will all be glorified, when love shines in.

Darkest sorrow will grow brighter, when love shines in,
And the heaviest burden lighter, when love shines in.
’Tis the glory that will throw light to show us where to go;
O, the heart shall blessing know, when love shines in.

We may have unfading splendor, when love shines in,
And a friendship true and tender, when love shines in.
When earth’s vict’ries shall be won, and our life in Heav’n begun,
There will be no need of sun, when love shines in.

Chorus:
When love shines in, when love shines in,
How the heart is tuned to singing, when love shines in,
When love shines in, when love shines in,
Joy and peace to others bringing, when love shines in.