Wednesday, July 29, 2009

O Worship the King

O Worship the King
Robert Grant
O worship the King, All glorious above,
And gratefully sing His power and His love:
Our Shield and Defender, The Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, And girded with praise.
O tell of His might, And sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath, The deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path On the wings of the storm.
Thy bountiful care, What tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; It shines in the light.
It streams from the hills; It descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills In the dew and the rain.F
rail children of dust, And feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, Nor find Thee to fail.
Thy mercies how tender! How firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
Charles Grant was the director of the East India Company and a prominent British statesman. He was also a devout Christian who used his position in India to encourage missions there. He had a son, Robert, who also grew up to be as devout as his father. In the early 1840's Robert studied Psalm 104 and wrote this well known hymn based on those verses. When he was 50 he returned to the land of his childhood, India and became the Governor of Bombay
*Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Kate

From Kate

This is Kate - isn't she beautiful...

On Monday, June 29, 2009 Kate's parents took her to the doctor for some hand tremors she was having and found out she had a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor that is wrapped around the major blood vessels that feed the brain. Their life has been completely changed since this day.

She has had one surgery already. The doctors could not remove all of the tumor because of where the tumor is located. She is to begin chemotherapy today.

I have been following her "story" since June 30th. This is a sweet family who is crying out to God to heal their daughter. Please join me in praying with this family for complete healing of Kate.

This link will introduce you to Kate's mom and dad. As a parent, you can feel their pain in this video. (just copy and past the link to watch the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ese3zYZ-NA4


You can follow her story and find out specific needs to pray for at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Please Say a Pray for this Family...

Gary and Cindy Hogman of Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus PA

Gary is serving in Iraq while his young wife is fighting cancer here. See his
request below.

My name is Gary Hogman. Some of you receiving this know me, some do not.
My wife, Cindy, is 32 years old and has just been diagnosed with stage 4
cervical cancer and her chances for survival are very slim.

She was pregnant with our second child and had miscarried recently at 3
months, and now we know why. This is a request for your prayers. The more people that pray for her to be healed, the better.

Please pray and ask everyone you know to pray for the HEALING of
Cindy and the removal of all cancer in her body, so she may enjoy all that
life has to offer, and to continue to be the wonderful mother to our
5-year-old son Michael. The power of Prayer is unsurpassed. I want the whole
world to have her in their prayers the next few weeks. God will hear our cry.
Please do not be offended by my plea. This is only a request for your help.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and helping with our
request for healing! No words can express the power we have when we each do
a little to come together.

Regards, Cindy's husband - Gary

Thank you and let God hear our prayers

O for a Thousand Tongues To Sing


O for a Thousand Tongues To Sing
Charles Wesley
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!Jesus!
The name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;'
Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.
Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap ye lame for joy.
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honors of Thy name.

After Charles Wesley's conversion his life changed. He no longer had a temper problem or a drinking problem. He ministered to men in prison and often locked himself in their cell for the night before their execution so he could comfort them and witness to them. On the first anniversary of his conversion he wrote an eighteen stanza hymn known today as "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing". Today, churches usually sing verses seven, eight, nine and ten. In 1780 when John Wesley complied his Collection of Hymns he chose this hymn to be the first one in the book.
*Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Clean House, Quiet Home

Everyone has left me. Jody has gone to San Diego to work this week. The girls are gone for a few days of fun. I have been left at home. I have been cleaning house tonight. Now what to do? I really am happiest in a not so clean, busy and noisy home!!

Monday, July 20, 2009

"I Then Shall Live"

I heard this song for the first time today. I wanted to share it with you, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Church

From Drop Box


This morning we got to hear from Kirk Cameron in our AM worship service!! This morning he shared his testimony and it was awesome. Kirk Cameron held two Fireproof Marriage Conferences yesterday at our church. Have you seen the movie Fireproof yet? If not, you must go out today and rent it. It is a powerful tool God is using to bless and restore marriages.

Warren Barfield was also in our AM worship service!! He sings the song "Love is Not a Fight" in the Fireproof movie.

Picnic Lunch in the Moutains

Yesterday was a beautiful day. We spent the afternoon and evening in the mountains. It was so much fun, a little cool for a July picnic but great!!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

more swimming!!

Here are pictures from another day of swimming!!

Swimming

Lots of summer days are spent swimming and having fun with friends. Here the girls are swimming, dancing at the pool, dressing up in formal dresses, and just having a great time!!

4th of July

Here are pictures from the 4th of July. We went to Jody's aunt and uncle's house to celebrate. There were 4 wheelers to ride, swimming, lots of play, food, fireworks and fun with family!! It was a great time!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow


Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Thomas Ken
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.Amen.
Thomas Ken was born in 1637 on the outskirts of England. He has been called "England's first hymnist." After he was ordained he became the chaplain at Winchester. He wrote three hymns in 1674. This was remarkable because hymns were unheard of in England. One hymn was to be sung at sunrise, another at bedtime and the third at midnight if you couldn't sleep. All three ended with the same stanza. The stanza that we sing today. Thomas Ken died on March 11, 1711 and he was buried at sunrise with this hymn sung at his funeral.
*Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Granny

Today is my mother in laws birthday. I would like to wish her a Happy Birthday!! I hope she has a blessed day.

We celebrated my mother in law and father in law's birthday (who also has a birthday this week) on Saturday night. We had a great dinner, cake and ice cream. It was a fun night with family.

The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power

This is one of my favorite songs and I think it is beautifully done in this arrangement by Selah. I hope you enjoy. Happy Monday!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Charles Wesley
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply: Alleluia!
Lives, again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Charles Wesley wrote this hymn in 1739 and titled it, "Hymn for Easter Day." *Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July weekend.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

America, the Beautiful


America, the Beautiful
Katherine Lee Bates

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountains majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw.
Confirm thy soul in self control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness And every grain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

Katherine Lee Bates was a professor from Wellesley College and decided to visit Pike's Peak after a visit to the Chicago's World's Fair in 1893. While at the top, enjoying the view, the first lines of the hymn entered her mind. She wrote the four stanzas in a notebook and later copied them and sent them to The Congregationalist where they appeared in print for the first time on July 4, 1895. It was later re-written by Bates in 1904 in a more simple style.