"Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" genre: Christian Easy Listening
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	Peacefully a deep cello accompanies a chorus of dark, resonate strings comforting us with the peace that can be found in trusting Him. Gently a flute shares the melody with a light piano intertwining and assuring us of the truth of God’s Word. . .He is our Friend and Provider.
	Credits: Instruments: Don Wigton. Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
	Story Behind the Song The words to this moving praise hymn was written by Louisa Stead. Even as a teenager, she felt called to become a missionary. She went to America around age 21, and lived for a while in Cincinnati, Ohio. Attending a camp meeting in Urbana, Ohio, she felt the missionary calling even more strongly, but was unable to go to China as she wanted due to her frail health. In 1875 she married her beloved husband, Mr. Stead. Louisa Stead and her husband were enjoying a relaxing day with their four-year-old daughter on a Long Island beach when they heard the cry of a desperate child. A boy was drowning. Louisas husband attempted to rescue the child, but was pulled under the water in the attempt. Both boy and Mr. Stead died as Louisa and her daughter watched. Other than the Lord Himself, Louisa had no means of support. She along with her daughter fell into dire poverty as a result. One morning, when she had neither funds nor food for he day, she opened the front door and found that someone had left food and money on her doorsteps. It was that day that she wrote this hymn. God rewarded Louisas faithful trust in Him. Around 1880, she went to South Africa, and served as a missionary there some 15 years. She remarried, to Robert Wodehouse of that country. She returned to America in 1895 to recover her health, but once again went into missions in Rhodesia in 1901. Her daughter Lily married D. A. Carson and became a missionary like her mother. The music was written by William Kirkpatrick. Son of a school teacher and musician, Kirkpatrick grew up in a musical atmosphere. In 1854, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study music and learn a trade. He spent over three years as a carpenter but was more interested in music than mechanics. So, he devoted all his leisure time to its study, hoping to become a violinist. In 1855, William joined the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. From then on he devoted himself mostly to sacred music, giving his services to the choir and Sunday school. There were few church organs in that day so his violin and cello were in constant demand for choir rehearsals, singing societies, and church programs. During this period of his life William wrote a number of unpublished hymn tunes and anthems. He studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop, then a leading oratorio and ballad singer, and became a member of the Harmonia and Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. This lead to his first published composition, When the Spark of Life Is Waning, which appeared around 1858 in the Musical Pioneer in New York. He went on to publish about 50 hymn collections, many in collaboration with John Robson Sweney. This beautiful hymn that he collaborated with Louisa Stead, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, remains a timeless reminder and comfort to all believers who have experienced the wonderful truth: Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more. Those who trust in Jesus rest in perfect peace. It was this restful mood that I desired to communicate when I resolved on an instrumental arrangement to this song. Somberly a deep cello accompanies a chorus of resonate strings introducing the soft melody played on a sweet flute. Soon, as the piano intertwines the melody, a flute and cello duet ensues creating nuances of peace for the soul that trusts in Him. As you listen to this song, think of the dire circumstances that lead to its unveiling and know that you too can trust in the Lord who will take care of your every need. Lyrics Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How Ive proved Him oer and oer! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood, Just in simple faith to plunge me Neath the healing, cleansing flood! Yes, tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just sin and self to cease, Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest and joy and peace. Im so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend, And I know that He is with me, Will be with me to the end. Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton A free chord chart to this song is available at the Wigtune Home Page @ http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/wigton/wigtune.htm

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