I love Christmas Music!

It is Well with My Soul

Over the last years I have faced some hardships, and I am sure most people have...
This hymn and it's story is one that often comes to mind during difficult times, and I thought
I would post it today.

It is Well with My Soul, the Song and the Story

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived.

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul.. 

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul. 

Here are the words:
It Is Well With My Soul


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) 

This is my Father's World

These words have been very meaningful to me of late...hope they bless you too
(You can click on the picture to enlarge it)
Photo taken in my backyard :)

The Sound of (Christmas) Music!

Just letting you know that if you usually view my blog with your sound off...I loaded some beautiful Christmas music on my blog for you to listen to! The music player is at the bottom of the page.

So, turn your volume up...&

ENJOY!

Music to My Ears

I am so thankful for music!

It is something that truly refreshes my soul.

This is a biblical fact as seen in 1 Sam. 16:23

 

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

 

There are many days that I put on some good

hymn cd's to lift my mood.

 

 

Music can bring back memories too, remind you of another

place and time, or a person.

But I particularly like the words of hymns because

they remind me of the goodness, strength, and faithfulness of God.

 

I am glad that God created music, and gave me ears to hear it!

 

Here are the words to my favorite hymn:

 

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

 

 

 

Be Thou My Vision

Anyone who knows me really well, knows that my favorite hymn is

Be Thou My Vision.

I never heard it until we attended Community Fellowship Church a few years back.

But once I heard it, it touched my heart deeply, and I've loved it ever since.

It's a very old Irish hymn, with lyrics dating back to the 8th century.

The music was published in 1909.

Here are the lyrics:

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

In church today, the men were speaking of the importance of our music in worship. And, how the Christian faith (believers in Jesus Christ) have the absolute best and melodious music, because it glorifies GOD.

This song sprang to my mind, and, I thought I'd do a little post on it this Lord's Day.

Here's a link to a lovely instrumental of it.

(just turn my music off at the bottom of the page first)

Blessings to you and yours!

Concert at the Park

Last week we had the opportunity to go and listen to the Diamond State Concert Band at the park. It was a lovely evening!
It was great to relax and listen to the music while sitting along the Delaware River.

Chippy enjoyed it too! He even brought his chewy along!
Other listeners brought their canine companions too.
Lots of little tots came as well...

The kids rode their scooters during intermission along the trail.

They played some marches, and also did a set of Patriotic songs as it was almost July 4th.

They also played all of the songs from the different branches of the armed forces, and the veterans stood while their branch was being played, and the crowd applauded them. :)

Below is a video of the band playing God Bless America if you want to listen.

Angel Music!

Wednesday night, Bri and I went to hear our dear friend Heidi and her group of harpists do a concert at one of our local libraries.

She is pictured above with her harp. Isn't she lovely? Her music is too!

They did such a lovely job! Their music sounded like what I imagine angel music to be like. :)

They did several Celtic numbers (which Bri and I both love!)

And then, they also did some Patriotic selections as well. It was just beautiful!

Here's the website of the group if you want to check it out.

Great job Heidi!

Music To My Ears....

How many of you have children that play instruments? Isn't it the best music you ever heard? (Not that I am biased!) Well, the only instrument my children play at this point is the piano... here they are working on a duet!

I must say, hearing them play is a great blessing to Phil and I! We can gather around the piano and do our own hymn sing, or Christmas carols! It is also a great ministry to visiting guests, or at the nursing home, or church etc...

If you have children, I highly recommend having them learn an instrument! You'll be glad you did--and so will they! They can really use this talent for the Lord!

I wish we had learned this earlier, and had them each learn 2 instruments! But, am thankful for the one!

Thanks Linda and Amy for teaching them--your investment is paying off!