Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

In the past several months, I have enjoyed sharing hymns or songs that I enjoy. Here I am again, sharing another hymn.

As a harpist and as someone who loves good, Godly music, music is a large part of my life. There are so many beautiful, Christian songs, both old and new, that I enjoy playing and singing. 

I grew up singing many of the old, beloved hymns. So many hymns are near and dear to my heart. 

Every year, I always love remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. And I love songs surrounding that theme. 

And every year, there seems to be a song that stands out to me in a special way. 

This year, a very familiar hymn was on my mind: 

“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” 

Last Friday, April 3rd, I paused around 3:00 p.m. that afternoon to remember our dear Savior’s enormous sacrifice for us. I spent a few minutes in prayer, thanking the Lord for the shed blood of His Son. The Lord Jesus is our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God. 

I sat down behind my large harp in our living room and played the old, beloved hymn. The words to that hymn echoed my heart. 

Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain;

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the Bright and Morning Star

Shed His beams around me. 

Near the cross! O lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,

Hoping, trusting ever;

‘Till I reach the golden strand,

Just beyond the river. 

~ Fanny Crosby 

I have been so blessed to see where our Lord Jesus died in Jerusalem, Israel. I have stood at what I believe to be the exact spot, the exact location, inside the grounds of the Garden Tomb area in Jerusalem. Naturally, my mind went to that place. I thought about what that Passover day must have been like nearly 2,000 years ago. I thought about our dear Savior hanging in agony on that old rugged cross. I thought about that cross this year. 

Like other times in the past, I wondered what kind of wood that cross was made from. Was it wood from an olive tree? Or was it wood from an almond tree? Or an oak tree? Or a cedar tree? 

And I cannot help but wonder where that tree once grew? The tree that would hold the Savior of the world upon it as He died and shed His blood for all mankind. We may never know what kind of tree it was, and that’s okay. But I thought about it. 

Even more than that, I thought a lot about the precious body of our Lord Jesus. I thought about that more than anything else this year. 

His body was beaten, whipped, scourged, and pierced for us. He gave His body for us. That is how much He loves you and me. 

The human body is very precious to God; God is the Creator of the human body. 

Yeshua willingly gave His body to be sacrificed for us. I thought about that for a long time. 

Such love! 

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross. 

I desire to stay near that cross and to remember it often because, in the shadow of that cross, is a God who loves us more than we can imagine, so much that He gave Himself for us. 

I will never get over that. 

He rose victoriously from the tomb He was laid in three days later, never to die again! 

I love the Scripture in Revelation where He says: 

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…” 

Revelation 1:18 

Last weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, we enjoyed some beautiful weather with many trees and flowers in bloom around our home and neighborhood. I enjoyed going on several walks in our neighborhood to enjoy the beauty of it all. 

Springtime is a miracle to me, a miracle that becomes normal to us every year. 

Last weekend, seeing new plant life as buds and blossoms everywhere, all of creation seemed to proclaim that Christ has risen from the dead! 

Below are some pictures I took of some trees and flowers in bloom near our home. 

I love these small, delicate, white flowers on a tree on our neighborhood. I wish I knew the name of this tree. 

New life! New buds springing forth on another tree. 

Our white lilac bush usually blossoms sometime in April every year. This year it blossomed just in time for Resurrection Day! 

Our purple lilac bushes are just beginning to bloom now - a whole month early! We have had unusually warm weather here this spring. Our lilacs decided to bloom early.

These lovely pink blossoms were on another tree in our neighborhood. All of creation praises their Creator! 

I also loved the special paper plates and napkins my mom purchased for our special meal last weekend. The flowers on them fit well with all the trees and flowers in bloom around us! 

I always love to remember and celebrate that we serve a risen Savior! 

But I also love to remember the enormous price that was paid for you and for me - the blood and body of our dear Lord. 

I want to stay near that cross every day. A verse from this beloved hymn says it well. 

Near the cross! O lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

An Irish Hymn

The month of March makes me think about Ireland and Irish things, including Irish hymns. 

During the month of March, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the United States which is why I tend to think more about Ireland and Irish things. 

Although he was not Irish, St. Patrick was a very Godly man who became a missionary to Ireland. March 17th was the date of Patrick’s death. 

I’m not someone who follows the “national day” calendar, but occasionally, it is fun to look at. 

I like the idea of having certain national days to celebrate such as: National Strawberry Day. 

I love strawberries. I’m looking forward to fresh, sweet, juicy strawberries this spring and summer. 

National Strawberry day falls on February 27 and National Strawberry month is in May. 

I admit, I find those dates a bit odd because June is peak season for strawberries in much of the United States. I’m surprised June isn’t national strawberry month with national strawberry day being on June 1st or June 27th. Perhaps whoever decides those things will consider changing those dates someday. 

I’m also surprised there isn’t a National Harp Day or National Harp Month. Whoever decides those dates might take those into consideration as well? 

I might suggest March as National Harp Month? 

And maybe March 17th as National Harp Day? 

Why the month of March? 

The harp is very much connected to Ireland, hence my reason for suggesting the month of March. 

The Celtic Harp, also known as the folk harp or lever harp, came from Ireland. Lever harps are the type of harp that I play. 

The harp is so connected to Ireland that the official instrument of Ireland is the harp. And Ireland’s official national emblem is also a harp. 

Ireland is the only country in the world that has its national emblem as a musical instrument. Their harp emblem appears on their passports, coins, coats of arms, and government documents.

My name Erin means: “Ireland” 

Erin is essentially another name for Ireland with various spellings for the female name Erin. 

Erin can also mean: “Peace” 

I like the latter meaning of my name a little more. 

But I do find it ironic that my name literally means Ireland, and I play the national instrument of Ireland which is the harp. 

My parents chose my name only because they liked it. It was kind of a popular name in the United States when I was born in the early 1980’s. 

My parents had no idea when they named me that I would play the harp someday. I don’t think they knew the meaning of my name either. We are primarily English, not Irish. 

Sometimes I wonder if the Lord does things like that with names and their meaning? 

My full name is: Erin Lynn

My first and middle name both end with the letter N which is special to me. In English, that makes my names rhyme. 

In Hebrew, every letter has a meaning. What is really special to me is the meaning of the Hebrew letter N. I have one in my first name and two in my middle name. But that is for another blog post.

I think about Ireland a lot during the month of March because my name and the harp are both from Ireland. 

There are many images on the internet depicting Ireland with a woman named Erin, wearing a dark green dress, and playing the harp. Those images make me smile. 

Ironically, dark green is one of the best colors on me, though blue is my favorite color.

The color green is also connected to Ireland, depicting Ireland’s lush, green, fertile land. 

I would love to visit Ireland someday.  

There are many hymns that Christians sing to the tune of Celtic or Irish melodies. 

Some of those hymns are: 

“Be Thou My Vision”  

“The King of Love” 

“Let All Things Now Living” 

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” 

Sometimes, I think of hymns like these during the month of March around St. Patrick’s Day with his connection to Ireland as a missionary. 

The hymn “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” is frequently sung to a Celtic/ Irish melody called Kingsfold. The melody is so very beautiful. 

Click here to listen to this melody on the harp. 

Recently, I read the words to this lovely hymn, one that I did not know, and I was deeply moved. 

The words are precious, so precious that I decided to share this lovely Irish hymn in a blog post. 

So many people are hurting and suffering these days. Sickness seems to be everywhere, along with sadness, anxiety, and depression. 

Just going into a local grocery store, I see sadness, brokenness, and depression in people’s eyes. People need the Lord.

Even those who know God and walk with Him need His presence, strength, and love every day. 

If you love names and the meaning of names like I do, when you see the name Jesus in this hymn, you can also use the name Yeshua, His true name. 

He loves you so much. 

Consider these precious words: 

 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Come unto Me and rest;

Lay down, O weary one, lay down

Thy head upon My breast.”

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary, and worn, and sad;

I found in him a resting place,

And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Behold, I freely give

The living water; thirsty one,

Stoop down, and drink, and live.”

I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quench'd, my soul revived,

And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am this dark world’s Light;

Look unto me, your morn shall rise,

And all your day be bright.”

I looked to Jesus, and I found

In him my Star, my Sun;

And in that Light of life I’ll walk,

Till trav'ling days are done. 

~ Horatius Bonar

The King of Love

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about hymns that I enjoy and love playing on the harp. 

In my last post here, I shared my favorite hymn: 

“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”

That made me think of another hymn I love, one that I enjoy playing as a medley with that hymn:

 “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” 

Sometimes, this hymn is just simply titled:

 “The King of Love”

I played those two hymns as a medley on my first harp recording titled:

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

The lyrics to both hymns are similar in that they are both based on Psalm 23. And although they are different, the melodies to both hymns have a similar, melodic feel to them. 

In a broken world filled with so much sadness, sorrow, and care, both hymns bring a sweet, soothing balm to the heart. 

Our God is a God of love. That is the very essence of His nature and character. That is who God is. 

“… For God is love.” 

1 John 4:8 

There is a video on YouTube of this lovely hymn played on harp and flute with orchestra and choir. 

Click the link below to listen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6ea7VFyn9to

Our God is a good Father, and a good Shepherd, One who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die so we could be brought back to Him. 

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

John 10:11 

Consider these beautiful lyrics: 

The King of love my shepherd is, 

whose goodness faileth never. 

I nothing lack if I am his, 

and he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow, 

my ransomed soul he leadeth; 

and where the verdant pastures grow, 

with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, 

but yet in love he sought me; 

and on his shoulder gently laid, 

and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill, 

with thee, dear Lord, beside me; 

thy rod and staff my comfort still, 

thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight; 

thy unction grace bestoweth; 

and oh, what transport of delight 

from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days, 

thy goodness faileth never; 

Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise 

within thy house forever. 

~ Henry William Baker 

My Favorite Hymn

I remember the first time I played my favorite hymn on the harp in a public setting. It was at a church my family and I attended at the time. 

The church had stained glass windows, though the windows were nothing grand compared to other stained glass windows I have seen. 

It was November of 2001, and I was 19 years old. 

I had been playing the harp for exactly 2 years then - a year and a half on my own and about half a year with a professional harp teacher. 

That Sunday morning, I wore my favorite color, a slate blue dress with small, white flowers that I made. And I played my own arrangement of my favorite hymn: 

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

I was nervous to play in front of a crowd of about 100 people that morning at church. I was so nervous that I wasn’t sure whether my hands or my harp strings were shaking more. All went well despite my nerves, and the memories of that Sunday morning will stay with me forever. 

My harp teacher had a recital for her harp students around that same time in the music building at Colorado State University where she taught some of her harp students. The crowd there was much smaller with no more than 50 people. 

I did not take my harp lessons there, but I went there for the first time to play in my teacher’s recital. If I remember correctly, that music building also had some beautiful, old windows. The sound of my harp echoed through that room with acoustics that were heavenly. 

I was extremely nervous that day, so nervous I could hardly eat lunch at home before hand. Despite my nerves, the recital went well, although I can’t remember everything I played that day. I do remember wearing a dark rose colored dress with small, white flowers that I made. I also remember playing songs from my two harp books. I think one of the songs I played was: 

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”  

Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of my first harp performance at church or my first harp recital. 

I played at church a second time a month later. Someone took a picture of me playing, that time, wearing a dark green dress with small, white flowers that I made. 

That Sunday evening I played the familiar carol:

“What Child Is This?”

Playing “White Child Is This?” on my 31 string Gothic Harp.
Age 19. December 2001. 

Such precious memories now, enough to evoke tears. How I loved that first harp of mine, made by Marini Made Harps in natural cherry wood and with a lovely, hand carved rose on it. 

That harp was a gift to me from my parents for my 17th birthday in October of 1999. I owned and treasured that harp for over 20 years. 

One of my favorite songs to play on that harp was my favorite hymn:

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” 

For years, whenever someone would ask me to play a song on the harp, that was a song I frequently played. 

And if someone would ever ask me if I had a favorite hymn or song, I would always answer: 

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” 

The words always touch my heart, and the melody matches the words beautifully. 

~

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge -

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield thee;

Thou wilt find a solace there.

~ Joseph Scriven 

Such a comfort these words are, like a healing balm for the soul. For years, this has been my favorite hymn. 

But in more recent years, I have come to love another hymn just as much. 

“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”

Instinctively, whenever I sit down to play the harp, I usually begin playing a song that I love. 

The hymn “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” has become my new favorite. 

The words are such a comfort and the melody is so incredibly beautiful! I love to play this hymn on my large 40 string harp. 

Below is link of another harpist (ironically, named Erin) who plays this beautiful hymn on the harp. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kHDdSiYGMDo

This hymn was written by Isaac Watts and is based on Psalm 23. 

Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar and well loved Psalms out there. Psalm 23 is not just about green pastures and quiet waters. 

This Psalm also mentions very hard and painful things. Things like enemies and death. 

This Psalm mentions so many things that people face in this life - good things and hard things. Guidance. Provision. Renewal. Comfort. Death. Enemies. Goodness. Mercy. God’s Presence.

As we began the year of 2026, I asked the Lord if He had anything special He wanted me to keep in mind for the coming year? 

The simple phrase “The Lord is My Shepherd” was impressed on me once again. 

Like the past several years, God impressed on me that He is my Shepherd. He loves me. He is with me. He is guiding me. 

All I need is to stay close to Him. He will be with me through the good and the hard. 

He is our good Shepherd. 

~

My Shepherd will supply my need:

Jehovah is His Name;

In pastures fresh He makes me feed,

Beside the living stream.

He brings my wandering spirit back

When I forsake His ways,

And leads me, for His mercy's sake,

In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death

Thy presence is my stay;

One word of Thy supporting breath

Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,

Doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessings overflows,

Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God

Attend me all my days;

O may Thy house be my abode,

And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,

While others go and come;

No more a stranger, nor a guest,

But like a child at home.

~ Isaac Watts