Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #90

Welcome to the 90th Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing!

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 featured hymn is "Thou My Everlasting Portion" written by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915) & composed by Silas J. Vail (1818-1884).    

This author is one of the most well known American hymn writers of all time.  Fanny Crosby became blind at the age of 6 weeks from the mistreatment of her eyes during an illness.  She received a good education at the New York Institution for the Blind and later became a music teacher.  She was married in 1858 and didn't begin writing hymns until 1864 (when she was 44 years old!).  Because of her blindness she knew many portions of the Bible by memory!

"But as for me, it is good to be near God.

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

    I will tell of all your deeds." 

Psalm 73:28

I have included 2 versions of this lovely hymn (below the lyrics).  Enjoy!

Turn with me to number 410 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Thou My Everlasting Portion

written by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)   composed by Silas J. Vail (1818-1884)

1. Thou my everlasting portion, More than friend or life to me, All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.  Close to Thee, close to Thee, Close to Thee, close to Thee; All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee. 

2.   Not for ease or worldly pleasure, Not for fame my prayer shall be;  Gladly will I toil and suffer, Only let me walk with Thee.  Close to Thee, close to Thee, Close to Thee, close to Thee;  Gladly will I toil and suffer, Only let me walk with Thee.

3.   Lead me through the vale of shadows, Bear me o'er life's fitful sea;  Then the gate of life eternal, May I enter, Lord with Thee.  Close to Thee, close to Thee, Close to Thee, close to Thee;  Then the gate of life eternal, May I enter, Lord, with Thee.

A special thanks to "SE Samonte" for sharing this with us!

A special thanks to "Ebenezer Newton-Mensah" for sharing this with us!

Other Hymns on this blog:

Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower

Open My Eyes That I May See
He Is Able To Deliver Thee
Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy
I Know Whom I Have Believed
His Way With Thee
The Haven of Rest
Unto the Hills Around Do I Lift Up
For the Beauty of the Earth
My Times Are In Thy Hand
Rescue the Perishing


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Wisdom from Heaven #3 - PURE

Wisdom From Heaven #3 - PURE

This is the third post in the series called "Wisdom from Heaven".  In this series we will be studying James chapter 3, which details how to put wisdom into practice in our everyday lives.

Today we are focusing on the first type of heavenly wisdom - PURE.

Let's begin by defining:

pure - spotless, stainless, absolute, refined.  Free from moral fault or guilt.  Marked by chastity.  Free from what violates, weakens or pollutes.

I believe that living a pure life starts with our thoughts.  Does an action follow a thought?  Or does a thought follow an action?  I believe that thoughts come first, which is why it is vital to make sure that our minds are pure.  Read through the passage below:
 

 

You can see how pure thinking will create a good action.  It is impossible to lie, cheat, steal (etc) if you are only thinking about noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things.

This "pure" wisdom from heaven starts in our minds but what is a pure heart? 

A pure heart is mind, action and motive combined.  When our wants and desires are as pure as our thoughts and actions, then that is a pure heart.

It is not an easy feat, but it can be achieved.  We should pray for a pure heart, just like David did in the Psalm below:

".....love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

1 Timothy 1:5

Let's try our best to think, live and desire God's PURE wisdom from heaven everyday.

"Keep yourself pure!"

1 Timothy 5:22

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

Wisdom From Heaven #2 - UNSPIRITUAL EARTHLY WISDOM

Wisdom From Heaven #2 - UNSPIRITUAL EARTHLY WISDOM

This is the second post in the series called "Wisdom from Heaven".  In this series we will be studying James chapter 3, which details how to put wisdom into practice in our everyday lives.

Today we are focusing on the opposite of Heavenly Wisdom.  Sometimes it is easier to understand a concept when learning about the opposite.

Unspiritual earthly wisdom is summed up in this small portion of James 3:16 - 

"envy and selfish ambition."

Let's begin by defining all three words: envy, selfish and ambition:

envy - a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities or looks.

selfish - lacking consideration of others;  concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.

ambition - a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.

Obviously, ambition is a good characteristic and something to work towards.  However, ambition is not always positive.  Look at the featured Bible verses above - problematic ambition happens when it is selfish.

If "Selfish-Ambition" was one word, then this is how it would be defined:

Selfish-Ambition - a strong desire to do or achieve something which lacks consideration of others;  typically requiring determination and hard work towards one's own personal profit or pleasure.

Reread James 3:16 - you will notice that when these two characeristics (selfishness and ambition) are combined, the result is catastrophic.  Verse 16 is very specific - selfish ambition and envy will result in disorder and every evil practice.

Finally, you might be wondering how ambition could be a good characteristic.  Ambition is something to strive for only when it is Godly-ambition.
 

If your daily life (through actions), wins the respect of outsiders, then that is a good example of being "Godly-ambitious" (see Scripture passage above).

Avoid unspiritual earthly wisdom by leading a quiet life and acting in a manner that wins the respect of strangers (thereby glorifying God).

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

Wisdom From Heaven #1 - WISE UNDERSTANDING

Wisdom From Heaven #1 - WISE UNDERSTANDING

We are starting a new series today called "Wisdom from Heaven".  In this series we will be studying James chapter 3, which details how to put wisdom into practice in our everyday lives.

We will begin by defining these two words: wise and understanding.

wise - having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgement.

understanding - the power of comprehending;  the power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories;  sympathetically aware of other's people's feelings - forgiving.
I noticed that the synonyms for "understanding" list both nouns and adjectives - I joined the listed adjective to the nouns and they are perfect descriptions of the "wise understanding" that we are studying:
Compassionate Discernment
Sympathetic Perception
Considerate Interpretation

You will notice that James 3:13 explains that wise understanding is shown through our actions (our good deeds) (see verse above).
You might be asking: "How do we become wise?  Where does it come from?" 
Look at the verse below.  Wisdom comes from God but it's not just an instant happening.  Even though wisdom comes from God we must still do our part - it takes work.  We must study the Bible, pray and put God's Word into action in our everyday life.



Finally, you will notice that in James 3:13 the word HUMILITY was used.  Since wisdom comes from God, then we can NOT be arrogant about our actions.  If we are showing Godly wisdom through our actions, then it is God who must get the glory - we have no understanding and wisdom without Him.



Study the verses above and you will see that even after a lifetime of growing in God and putting the Bible into practice, we must continue to submit to God and trust Him constantly.

Wise understanding from heaven will create a good person who strives to always do good.

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #89

Welcome to the 89th Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing!

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 featured hymn is "Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower" written by Joh. Scheffler (1624-1677) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)   
I could only find history on the translator and not the author.  Catherine Winkworth was born in London, England but was educated in Dresden, Germany.  She was well known for her translation of German hymns into English.  Her translations were very close to the original German meaning.  She was also a pioneer in promoting women's rights.

    "The name of the Lord is a strong tower;  the righteous run to it and are safe."
Proverbs 18:10

I have included 2 versions of this lovely hymn (below the lyrics).  The second has a more modern tune.  Enjoy!

Turn with me to number 351 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower

written by Joh. Scheffler (1624-1677) & translated by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)
from "Harmonischer Liederschatz" Frankfurt, 1738

1. Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower;  Thee will I love, my Hope, my Joy;  Thee will I love with all my power, With ardor time shall ne'er destroy.  Thee will I love, O Light Divine, As long as life and breath are mine, As long as life and breath are mine.

2.   Thee will I love, my Life, my Savior, Who art my best and truest Friend, Thee will I love and praise forever For never will Thy kindness end;  Thee will I love with all my heart, For Thou my great Redeemer art, For Thou my great Redeemer art.

3.   Oh, teach me, Lord, to love Thee truly With soul and body, head and heart, And grant me grace that I may duly Learn well ere long love's sacred art.  Grant that my every thought may be Directed only unto Thee.  Directed only unto Thee.

4.   Thee will I love, my Crown of gladness;  Thee will I love, my God and Lord, Amid the darkest depths of sadness, Nor for the hope of high reward, For Thine own sake, O light Divine, As long as life and breath are mine, As long as life and breath are mine.

A special thanks to "The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir" for sharing this with us!

A special thanks to "Chris & Denny Garner - Topic" for sharing this with us!


Other Hymns on this blog:
From Every Stormy Wind That Blows
Sunshine in the Soul
Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
He Giveth More Grace
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
The Solid Rock
One Day
Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Troubled

Lead Us, O Father, in the Paths of Peace
Come Unto Me, Ye Weary
Peace, Perfect Peace Sound the Battle Cry


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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

How To Find (& Understand) Answers To Prayer

How To Find (& Understand) Answers To Prayer

I have a couple true prayer stories to share with you before we learn how to find answers to prayer.
A.  My Great Grandmother was a "Prayer Warrior".  During WWII she was able to save her entire family from being blown up by landmines by listening to God through prayer.  (click HERE to read that true story)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" 

Proverbs 3: 5&6

B.  The second true prayer story is from my Grandmother.  This also happened during WWII but the moral of this real-life happening has to do with persistence and never giving up in prayer.  My Grandmother was separated from her parents for weeks & weeks - she could not rely on mail, instead she had to rely on prayer.  (click HERE to read how she was reunited with her parents).

"Pray continually" 
1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Seek and you will find"  
Matthew 7:7

The following are 8 ways to find and understand God's answers to our prayers:

There have been many times when I have been praying intently and decide to read my Bible.  I'll take my Bible in hand and just open it without looking for any certain verse or book and then I'll read wherever my eyes land  - and lo & behold that place where my eyes landed is the answer to my prayer!!  This has happened a few times but most of the time I need to meditate on God's word  - a little bit each day before finding an answer.

This is that "gut feeling" found deep down in our being.  You might find yourself at a crossroads in your life and pray about what direction to turn.  You decide upon a pathway but when you start down that road you get a very uneasy feeling that can't be ignored - this is the kind of urging that I'm talking about - this is the Holy Spirit telling you that you've made the wrong decision.  When something like this happens - STOP and PRAY some more before you turn around and go back the way you came.  (This "pathway", of course, is a symbol for whatever it is that you're praying for - it might be guidance on a job or decision on where to move etc). 

After praying about a certain concern or question - go to your clergy, family member, friend and ask their opinion.  Sometimes God might even send you an answer through a neighbor or even a stranger.

"Quiet time" can be different for all of us - it might be sitting on a beach watching the waves, or sitting in your house watching the traffic go by or maybe a walk around the neighborhood at night with nobody else around.  During these "quiet times" you are not praying but just listening - God might pop an idea in your head or even speak to you through your thoughts.  Try it - you might be surprised at the result!

This verse talks more about judging others but the other point of this verse is to clear up your own sin and change your ways.  Sin is blinding - you can pray and seek until you are blue in the face but if there is still an area of sin in your life then you won't be able to see or hear what God is telling you.  Clean up your life first.

God's thoughts & ways are not the same as ours and His timing is also different.  We might feel that we need the answer right away or else.......or else what?  What if you are waiting to hear if your loan went through to be able to buy that dream house - you wait so long and eventually lose that house to a different buyer.  Maybe through that wait and loss God was saying that you were not supposed to buy that house.  God's timing is the only clock by which to live. 

We might not understand why the answer is "no" at the time - but later (maybe even years later) - something will happen and then you'll say to yourself: "That's why the answer was 'no' ".  God knows better than we do - just trust Him.

This verse, of course, is talking about drifting away from our Christian walk but I also believe that it applies here.  When we are waiting for an answer to prayer, we must pay attention to everything until we receive that answer.  It might take longer than we are comfortable with but there is a reason even for that wait.

pray Pray PRAY everyday & everywhere! 

 

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

Recipe for the Christian Life - HARDSHIP

Recipe for the Christian Life - HARDSHIP
Today is the final post in the series on growing in our Christian Walk.  Developing a Christian life is kind of like baking a recipe - good ingredients create a perfect treat.  Adding good characteristics to our faith produces good Christians.

If you recall, a few months ago we started with an empty mixing bowl - our FAITH.  And then we've been adding to our faith, we combined: GOODNESS , KNOWLEDGE , SELF-CONTROL , PERSEVERANCE , GODLINESS , KINDNESS and LOVE.  We will increase these qualities in measure so that we will always be EFFECTIVE.
Today, we are going to learn that HARDSHIPS are a part of being a Christian and these trials will actually make us stronger through Christ.

It's always good to start with the very basic definition of "hardship" (from online dictionaries):

hardship - something that causes suffering.  Adversity, privation, trials, suffering, difficulty.

Since I have been comparing this series to that of baking a recipe, I realized that "hardships/trials" are kind of like baking.  We suffer through the heat but are better Christians after enduring hardships - just like cookie dough becomes a scrumptious dessert after baking in the oven.
Notice the wording in the above verse: "suffered a little while."  I know that what we experience during difficult times seems unbearable - like it will never end, but compared to eternity it really is just for a little while.
Afterwards, we will be made strong, firm and steadfast! (see last sentence in the verse above).

I don't know about you, but during trials in my life I always try to figure it out by myself - all alone and then I fail miserably.  Victory over hardships only comes when I totally put everything into God's hands and trust Him.  I can get up and endure ONLY because of His strength and power.  In 2 Corinthians 12:10 that's what "when I am weak, then I am strong" means.  When I am down and have spent all my energy alone, then God picks me up and carries me through the darkness.

Having patience when we are suffering is probably the most difficult thing.  We don't know how long we will have to endure that hardship but while we are suffering, let's concentrate on being hopeful for the future and let's pray continually!


"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 
(2 Peter 1:8-11)

Let us live this Christian life so that we will receive a rich welcome in heaven!

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

Recipe for the Christian Life - EFFECTIVE

Recipe for the Christian Life - EFFECTIVE

Today is the ninth post in the series on growing in our Christian Walk.  Developing a Christian life is kind of like baking a recipe - good ingredients create a perfect treat.  Adding good characteristics to our faith produces good Christians.

If you recall, a few months ago we started with an empty mixing bowl - our FAITH.  And then we've been adding to our faith, we combined: GOODNESS , KNOWLEDGE , SELF-CONTROL , PERSEVERANCE , GODLINESS , KINDNESS and LOVE.
Today we are going to make sure that all of those ingredients are EFFECTIVE.

It's always good to start with the very basic definition of "effective" (from online dictionaries):

effective - successful in producing a desired or intended result.

By "effective" we are talking about putting all of those characteristics into action.  Since I used a "recipe" as a symbol for this entire series I will use "salt" as a symbol for being effective.  You see, in a culinary recipe, salt always enhances the flavor of other ingredients.  As an example, coffee and/or chocolate are always more flavorful if there's even a pinch of salt in the recipe.  Being "effective" or "productive" is sincerely and continuously using all of those characteristics in our everyday life.
The Bible passage above is a perfect example of how we could use those characteristics from this series.  When we have added all of the ingredients for a Christian Life, then our life becomes a witness to anyone around us.

Let's not forget about prayer.  The verse above describes how prayer from someone who has added all of these characteristics to their life is vital -
Their prayer is POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE!


"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." 
(Colossians 3:23)

Next week will be the final part in this series.   ( 2 Peter 1:3-11).

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.