Welcome to the 151st 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 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 "Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing" and the author is James Allen. This author has a very odd history. He began by attending St. John's College in Cambridge (England). He left university to become an "Inghamite" (a follower of Benjamin Ingham who was the founder of the Moravian church in England). He then switched to a different Christian sect called "Sandemanian" (this sect was first known as being a Glassite or a follower of Jon Glas. The sect was then led by Robert Sandeman - known as "Sandemania"). In the end, he built a chapel on his estate and ministered there until his death (he also published a few hymnal books).
I have included two videos of this hymn (after the lyrics below). The second version is more modern.
Enjoy!
Turn with me to number 145 in your hymnals and let's sing:
Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing
written by James Allen (1734-1804) & adapted from "Ringe recht wenn Gottes Gnade"
1. Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross we spend; Life and health, and peace possessing, From the sinner's dying Friend.
2. Here we rest in wonder, viewing All our sins on Jesus laid; Here we see redemption flowing From the sacrifice He made.
3. Here we find the dawn of heaven, While upon the cross we gaze; See our trespasses forgiven, And our songs of triumph raise.
4. O that near the cross abiding, We may to the Savior cleave; Naught with Him our hearts dividing, All for Him content to leave.
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A special thanks to "Diane Gibbs - Topic" for sharing this with us!
Other Hymns on this blog:
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You might be interested in watching this video:
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Friday, July 31, 2026
Natural Ways To Get Rid of Squash Bugs
Natural Ways To Get Rid of Squash Bugs
These pests can totally destroy a squash crop - this includes both zucchini and winter squash varieties. More than ten years ago I did a post showing the massive destruction to my squash crop that year. (click HERE to read “Creepy Squash Crawlers“) Since then I have learned of three organic/natural ways to get rid of squash bugs.
3 Ways To Get Rid of Squash Bugs:
1. Destroy the bugs & their eggs (I smash the bugs between two rocks or sticks and then I cut off and burn the leaves where they have laid eggs)
(see pictures of the eggs below - they are usually on the underside of the leaf).
2. Diatomaceous Earth is a naturally occurring, soft siliceous sedimentary rock that comes in powdered form. It dehydrates the bugs (that is the white substance seen on the cover picture of this post).
3. Neem Oil is taken from seeds of the Neem tree. It comes in liquid concentrate form and is mixed with water and then sprayed on the plant.
ENJOY!
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You might be interested in watching this video:
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Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop #692
Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #692!
ENJOY!
Before we get to the blog hop today -
During the month of July, I will be featuring a zucchini post from the past:
Checkout wonderful seeds at Mary's Heirloom Seeds
click HERE to shop for the best seeds
Or click picture below:
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Also, checkout one of my Bags/Purses available at Zazzle:
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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!
My Features this Week are:
1. "Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cookies" by Cindy's On-Line Recipe Box
2. "Simply Grand! A Summer Dessert - 3 Ways" by Our Grand Lives
3. "Hemp Heart Breakfast in a Jar" by Esme Salon
If you've been featured I'd love for you to grab a button.
The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm. Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites. Please visit other blogs if you have a moment.
Share older posts as well as new ones. No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own*
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
(with proper link backs) in our features. And now for the party!
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Grow your own!
Many wonderful garden products from
"Mary's Heirloom Seeds"!!
click to view
Grow your own!
Many wonderful garden products from
"Mary's Heirloom Seeds"!!
click to view
Monday, July 27, 2026
You're the STAR - Week#4 HOME (July 2026)
Can it really be the end of July? This summer is flying by so quickly.
Thank you again for joining us!
There are many ways to follow me:
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
___________________________________________________________________Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:
WELCOME to Week#4 of the July 2026 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!
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WELCOME to HOME feature week of the July 2026 "You're the STAR" blog hop!
Meet your hosts
This week is HOME feature week
Swing by the hosts' Blogs:
This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!
There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories. Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)
(All features were chosen from the June 2026 "You're the Star" blog hop)
If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:
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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.
Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!
It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog. We might also share your fantastic posts on social media. Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though} Thank You & ENJOY! )
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Sunday, July 26, 2026
By YOUR FAITH #3 - Faith, Deeds & Waiting
By Your FAITH #3 - Faith, Deeds & Waiting
This post is the third part in a new series called: "By Your Faith". Eventually in this series we will be going through Hebrews chapter 11; studying the faith of many prophets and other important Old Testament people.
Our topic today is: Faith, Deeds & Waiting
Faith & Deeds
I actually wrote a portion of today's Bible study 10 years ago in a post called "Are You Living A Deedless Faith". However, my belief has changed on one important point from that original post (I will explain later in this post).
I'm sure that we have all heard the saying "actions speak louder than words." That is so true - our faith in action is so much more powerful to unbelievers than what we say. In the Scripture passage above, James said that faith is dead without deeds.
When one believes in something with all their heart, not only do their thoughts change to follow that belief but their emotions and actions also change. You are fooling yourself if you say that you have become a Christian but continue living the way you did before that change of faith. Those people around us see more of who we really are through our actions than what they hear through our words. Any non-Christian is watching you more than listening to you.
In James chapter two, the author (James) used two examples from the Old Testament (please read the entire chapter 2 in the book of James). I want to talk about Abraham & Isaac - If you recall, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham had such trust in God - not understanding why God would ever ask such a thing but trusting and believing that there was a good reason. Abraham took Isaac to the altar and there God intervened and saved Isaac. Abraham's faith was tested and he passed with flying colors - God called Abraham His friend!!!
Now, it is true that our salvation begins with us accepting God's wonderful gift of eternal life and forgiveness through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. However, what follows this acceptance should and must be repentance and a change in our actions.
"....I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds."
Acts 26:20
This next point is the one I referenced earlier. I used to believe that we cannot lose our salvation - that belief has changed. I have seen so-called believers live such a worldly, sinful life Monday through Saturday and then on Sunday they are "holy". Maybe they were never really believers to begin with but I am reminded of a passage in Matthew (see below).
I don't know about you but those words are terrifying - I will strive every day to live a life that glorifies God through my deeds so that I won't ever hear my Heavenly Father say "I never knew you."
Faith & Waiting
"Faith is not idle; it works while it waits." Ronald Dunn
Think about some of our most admirable examples of faith in the Old Testament - faith that required waiting. There is Noah - yes, he knew that there was going to be some rain event while he was building the ark but I'm sure that he had no idea what was really coming. He had to wait until the floods started and then he had to wait until all of the storms ended. (click HERE to read TREES#16a - Noah Building the Ark) Also, think about the waiting that the Israelites endured - 40 years of wandering through the desert.
What happens while we are waiting for God?
1. Peace - often, after days or weeks of waiting on the Lord (by praying and studying His Word) - suddenly you will feel this rush of peace flow through you. It doesn't matter what the subject or issue is - God's peace transcends all understanding.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phillippians 4:7
2. Courage - maybe it took that time while we are "waiting on the Lord" for God to build up our courage to do whatever it is that we were struggling with or whatever we were fearing.
3. Guidance- comes through the urgings of the Holy Spirit; God will guide you according to His plan. How else can you pay attention to those urgings unless you are quiet & listening to Him by spending time in prayer.
4. Understanding- this is a little like "guidance" but we don't always have to understand what God wants us to do- that's part of faith - believing & doing what we can't see (and what we don't always understand at the time). Sometimes God will want us to act without understanding (that's guidance). However, there are those times when "understanding" is necessary and comes before action. Again, this will come during that "wait" time.
5. Character- building character takes time and happens while we "wait upon the Lord". This "character" might be vital to whatever God's plans are for our future.
".....we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Romans 5:3 & 4
6. Repentance - While waiting on God - He might be working on our conscience and it might take us some time to admit and repent of whatever sin that might be getting in the way of doing God's Will. We won't be able to see the way through and move on until we repent and that takes time.
"but those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:31.
Are you living a deedless faith? Or performing faithless deeds? Instead strive to live a deedful faith.
By Your FAITH (Previous posts in this series)
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You might be interested in viewing this video:
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Friday, July 24, 2026
15 Favorites - TOMATOES
15 Favorites - TOMATOES
Today is the ninth post in my 2026 series called "15 Favorites". Every year I have a special feature series that is specific to each year. Since this is the 15th year of "God's Growing Garden" (the blog's) existence, I thought we'd feature 15 of my favorite posts in a specific category.
Celebrate my 15 year anniversary with me by enjoying my 15 favorite TOMATO posts!
Other "15 Favorites" posts:
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