HYMN WRITER: Ira Wilson
MUSIC BY: George Schuler
HYMN
HISTORY: George Shuler and Ira Wilson were roommates at Moody
Bible Institute in 1924. At the Institute, they combined their talents and gave
the world a beautiful song of consecration, “Make Me A Blessing.” Wilson wrote
the lyrics and Shuler the music. At first the song was rejected by music
publishers, so Shuler had one thousand copies printed to distribute on his own.
One fell into the hands of
George Dibble, an outstanding singer who was at that time music director for
the International Sunday School Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Dibble asked for
permission to use the song and it was granted. Soon people everywhere were
singing the song, and publishers were wanting to distribute copies.
Between the time Ira Wilson
wrote the lyrics and the time the song began to be so well known, Wilson
apparently forgot that he was the author! Until he died, he never remembered
that he had written these famous words.
BIBLE VERSE: Proverbs 11:11 – “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
HYMN LYRICS:
Out in the high-ways and
by-ways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where
darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
CHORUS:
Make
me a blessing, Make me a blessing --
Out
of my life May Jesus shine;
Make
me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make
me a blessing to someone today.
Tell the sweet story of
Christ and His love,
Tell of His power to
forgive;
Others will trust Him if
only you prove
True, every moment you
live.
CHORUS:
Give as 'twas given to you
in your need,
Love as the Master loved
you;
Be to the helpless a helper
indeed,
Unto your mission be true.
CHORUS:
I LOVE this hymn! Learned it as a teen in the 1970s at Miracle Camp in Ringgold, Louisiana. I was looking up another hymn by Schuler, "Overshadowed"-also as beautiful work for the Lord!
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Myra
Mr. Boutot, can you tell me where you found the information concerning Ira B. Wilson's loss of memory concerning the authorship of Make Me a Blessing? Thank you.
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