Sunday, November 18, 2012

Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #3


I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.



Today's feature song is "Count Your Blessings" by hymnist Johnson Oatman, 1856-1926 and composed by Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921.  Johnson Oatman was a Methodist minister but he also had a mercantile business and was the administrator for a large insurance company.  Johnson Oatman also wrote the lyrics for 5,000 hymns in his lifetime!

Please listen to the "YouTube" video below - this version of this hymn only plays the first 2 verses but the tune is the same as I remember.

In this Thanksgiving season - let's take time to truly count our blessings - I think we will all be surprised at how blessed we are!


Turn with me to number 556 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Count Your Blessings
by Johnson Oatman (1856-1926)
1.  When upon life's billows you are tempest, tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
CHORUS
2.  Are you ever burrdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?  Count your many blessings every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.
CHORUS
3.  When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;  Count your many blessings, money cannot buy Your reward in heaven , Nor your home on high.
CHORUS

4.  So, amid the confict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all;  Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
CHORUS
Chorus
Count your blessings, Name them one by one;  Count your blessings, See what God hath done;  Count your blessings.  Name them one by one;  Count your many blessings See that God hath done.


Special thanks to "Michael Curb Congregation" for posting this song on YouTube.

5 comments:

  1. I actually know this one by heart! My sisters and I used to have to sing it when we visited different churches when we were younger.

    Helen
    Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the old hymns too. I love going to church but the newer synthesizer pop music isn't anywhere near as appealing to me.

    I'm visiting from the Weekend Blog Walk.

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  3. I love this one and actually remember all the verses! Thanks for posting. Funny thing in "Modern church" this morning we sang "Be Thou My Vision"!

    Cindy

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  4. Love It! I did not grow up attending a "modern" church. So wonderful to hear this hymn!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for stopping by! I sang in my church's choir when I was growing up and I loved it!

    ♥ Duckie.

    ReplyDelete

Please feel free to leave comments or questions (no question is ever stupid) - They will show up on the blog once I have read through them.
Thank You.

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