~I Gave My Life For Thee

       Frances Ridley Havergal wrote one of her most famous poems while she was in Dusseldorf, Germany.

       She had gone to Germany to do some specialized study. While there, she saw a copy of Sternburg’s great painting: The CRUCIFIXION. The title above the picture was, All this I did for thee; what has thou done for Me?

       Inspired by the probing question, she wrote her famous poem, I Gave My Life for Thee. But she was not happy with the poem and threw it into the fire, but a draft blew the paper out of the fire and onto the hearth. Feeling that this might have been Providential, Miss Havergal took the slightly-scorched paper, folded it, and sent it to her father in England.

       He composed a tune to match the words and had it published. However, the tune we now use with this superb poem was written years later by P. P. Bliss, an associate of D. L. Moody.

       ++++++++++

I Gave My Life

(1) I gave My life for Thee,

My precious blood I shed,

That thou might'st ransomed be,

And quickened from the head;

I gave, I gave My life for thee-

What hast thou giv'n for Me?

I gave, I gave My life for thee-

What hast thou giv'n for Me?

(2) My father's house of light,

My glory circled throne,

I left, for earthly night,

For wand'rings sad and lone;

I left, I left it all for thee-

Hast thou left aught for Me?

I left, I left it all for thee-

Hast Thou left aught for Me?

(3) I suffered much for thee,

More than the tongue can tell,

Of bitt'rest agony,

To rescue thee from hell;

I've borne, I've borne it all for thee-

What hast thou borne for Me?

I've borne, I've borne it all for thee-

What hast thou borne for Me?

(4) And I have brought to thee,

Down from My home above,

Salvation full and free,

My pardon and My love;

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee-

What hast thou brought to Me?

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee-

What hast thou brought to Me?