The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25–26
Words: Fanny Crosby, in Songs of Joy and Gladness No. 2 (Boston, Massachusetts & Chicago, Illinois: McDonald & Gill, 1890). Some hymnals give the author as Henrietta E. Blair, one of Fanny’s pseudonyms.
Music: Herbert D. Lothrop (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Lothrop (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
We are building in sorrow,
And building in joy,
A temple the world cannot see;
But we know it will stand
If we found it on a rock,
Thro’ the ages of eternity.
Refrain
We are building day by day
As the moments glide away,
Our temple which the world may not see;
Every victory won by grace
Will be sure to find its place,
In our building for eternity.
Every deed forms a part
In this building of ours,
That is done in the name of the Lord;
For the love that we show
And the kindness we bestow,
He has promised us a bright reward.
Refrain
Then be watchful and wise,
Let the temple we rear
Be one that no tempest can shock
For the Master has said,
And He taught us in His Word,
We must build upon the solid rock.
Refrain