San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

<< Back | Music Ministry | Index to Grace Notes >>

15 My Maker and My King

My Maker and My King, to Thee my all I owe! Thy sovereign bounty is the spring from which my blessings flow! This old, but well-known and still popular hymn by Anne Steele, was written in 1760, before the American Revolution. Anne Steele was an invalid all her life due to an accident suffered in childhood, and she suffered further tragedy when her fianc� drowned on the eve of their wedding! Despite this, she led a life devoutly consecrated to God, and published nearly 200 hymns and a number of Christian poems.

In 1869 the first official SDA Hymnal, Hymns and Tunes for Those Who Keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, incorporated this hymn with its present tune, EL KADER. Who chose this tune for the hymn is not certain, since EL KADER is not found in conjunction with these words in any of the standard current hymnals of other churches.

My Maker and my King,
To Thee my all I owe;
Thy sovereign bounty is the spring
Whence all my blessings flow;
Thy sovereign bounty is the spring
Whence all my blessings flow.

The creature of Thy hand,
On Thee alone I live;
My God, Thy benefits demand
More praise than I can give.
My God, Thy benefits demand
More praise than I can give.

Lord, what can I impart
When all is Thine before?
Thy love demands a thankful heart;
The gift, alas! how poor.
Thy love demands a thankful heart;
The gift, alas! how poor.

O! let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine;
Let every word each desire
And all my days be Thine.
Let every word each desire
And all my days be Thine.