He’s Everything to Me - TSMSS

This morning the melody of an old song popped into my head. I learned this song in grade school chorus nearly 40 many years ago. Wonder of wonders, it was actually taught in public schools and sung in public schools. Imagine that! Times have changed...

The song first became popular in 1970 when the movie "The Cross and the Switchblade" was released. This was a true story about the ministry of David Wilkerson. According to Wikipedia and IMDb:

Reverend Wilkerson served as pastor in small churches...until he saw a photograph in Life Magazine in 1958 of seven New York City teenagers charged with murder. He later wrote that, as he felt the Holy Spirit move him with compassion, he was drawn to go to New York in February 1958. It was then that he began his street ministry to underprivileged inner-city youth.

David Wilkerson is well-known for these early years of his ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in New York City in the 1950s and 1960's. Wilkerson co-authored a book about his work with the New York drug addicts, The Cross and the Switchblade, which became a best-seller...The book has sold over 50 million copies in over thirty languages since it was published in 1963. In 1970, the book was also released under the same title as a Hollywood movie...and was included among the 100 most important Christian books of the 20th century.

Although the original events depicted in this classic from the drug infested, gang dominated streets happened over thirty years ago, the life-changing solution that David Wilkerson brought to desperate lives was just beginning...The change in the life of notorious gang leader Nicky Cruz, as shown in the film, proved to be wonderfully lasting and real.

Nicky continues today to reach young people around the world with the same life-changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ that delivered him from violence and despair. And what about the skinny preacher, David Wilkerson, who braved the meanest streets of New York to tell desperate and drug crazed youth that there was a better way? Now, three decades later, he is still at it with a ministry based in Times Square that is still changing lives and offering genuine hope to countless souls who had given up on life.

He's Everything to Me
Words and music by Ralph Carmichael

In the stars His handiwork I see,
On the wind He speaks with majesty.
Though He ruleth over land and sea,
What is that to me?

I will celebrate Nativity,
For it has a place in history,
Sure, He came to set His people free,
What is that to me?

Til by faith I met Him face to face,
And I felt the wonder of His grace,
Then I knew that He was more
Than just a God who didn't care,
That lived away out there
and .....
Now He walks beside me day by day,
Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,
Helping me to find that narrow way,
He's everything to me.

Please join Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders to enjoy more songs this weekend!