Shall We Gather at the River

Hymn of the day:

Words & Music: Robert Lowry, 1864; first published in Happy Voices, 1865, number 220 (MIDI, score):

One afternoon in July, 1864, when I was pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was lying on a lounge in a state of physical exhaustion…My imagination began to take itself wings. Visions of the future passed before me with startling vividness. The imagery of the apocalypse took the form of a tableau. Brightest of all were the throne, the heavenly river, and the gathering of the saints…I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the “river of death” and so little about the “pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.” As I mused, the words began to construct themselves. They came first as a question of Christian inquiry, “Shall we gather?” Then they broke in chorus, “Yes, we’ll gather.” On this question and answer the hymn developed itself. The music came with the hymn.

Part of this hymn was sung in the Academy Award winning movie, Trip to Bountiful
(1985). It was also sung at the funeral of American Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

Refrain

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Refrain

At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior’s face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.

Refrain

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

Refrain

I can't wait for the day that I meet my Savior in paradise. To spend eternity with God....WOW! Hard to wrap my head around how awesome that is going to be.

Do you know the one true God? Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? If you have questions about your salvation or wish to accept Christ email me with them.

Sweet Jesus,

We dance in the rain under the umbrella of Your love. We sing praises to You and lay prostrate before You. We humbly seek Your face in all we do.

Go with us and help us to keep our eyes You. Guide us and provide us opportunities to spread the "Good News". May we be Your hands and feet in this fallen world.

Forgive us of our sins and we gladly accept Your Sweet Grace.

In Your Son's Name,

Amen

Onward Christian Soldiers

Baring-Gould wrote about this hymn:

Whit-Monday is a great day for school festivals in Yorkshire. One Whit-Monday, thirty years ago, it was arranged that our school should join forces with that of a neighboring village. I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to another, but couldn’t think of anything quite suitable; so I sat up at night, resolved that I would write something myself. “Onward, Christian Soldiers” was the result. It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty. Certainly nothing has surprised me more than its popularity. I don’t remember how it got printed first, but I know that very soon it found its way into several collections. I have written a few other hymns since then, but only two or three have become at all well-known.

This hymn was sung at the funeral of American president Dwight Eisenhower at the National Cathedral, Washington, DC, March 1969.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King.
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain

I have heard this song most of my life but never really listened to the words, until
now. Read them and then reread them. I find this hymn very inspirational.

As Christians we are to ban together doing the work God has laid out for us. We are fighting a war...a war against Satan and his demons. We are to stand on God's promises.

Would you like to join God's army? If so, please, email me and we can discuss any questions you may have.

Sweet Prince of Light,

Lead the march we have undertaken in Your name. Give us strength to fight the good fight. Give us the words to tell others about You. Bring us the multitudes so that we may be light and serve them as You did.

Bless us, guide us, and love us in all our inequities.

Love You bunches,

Amen

Greater is He

Hymn of the day:

I took the challenge when I said that I would stand
I knew it wouldn't be an easy thing cause it messed up Satan's plan
God gives me daily strength to stand in victory
Though the powers of Hell may come my way
Greater is He in me

Chorus:
Greater, Greater, Greater is He in me.
I'm singing, I'm shouting, I'm happy and I'm free.
I'm a soldier in an army that never has known defeat.
Greater, Greater, Greater is He in me.

Verse II:
For so long I wondered in this cold, cruel world alone.
Heartbreak and much failure was just about all I'd ever known.
Then I met God's only Son who listened to my plea.
Now life has a brand new chapter,
Greater is He in me.

Yesterday I took a virtual tour of the Tabernacle and the Holy Spirit stirred me...what people had to do to be in the presence of God before Christ. Now with the death and resurrection God is in Me. So I must be sure what music I listen to, movies I watch, books I read, words I speak or think, are worthy of God.

Don't take it lightly that the one High God resides in you...so you can never be separated from Him...He is a part of you. Do you find this as comforting as I do?
Would you like to? If you have questions about salvation, please, email me.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for taken up residence in this pitiful shell. You love me and find me worthy when I am not. You sent Your son to live and die for us.

We lift up all those sick, alone, scared, or lost to You. We ask that You lay Your loving hands on each and may they feel Your presence in a powerful way.

Go with us through this holiday season keeping the reason for the celebration upper most in our minds.

Bless us and protect us,

Amen

I Will Enter His Gates

Scripture Verses of Thanksgiving in the Old Testament
1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:35
Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."

1 Chronicles 29:13
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Daniel 2:23
"I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."

Jonah 2:9
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

Thanksgiving Verses in the Book of Psalm
Psalms of Thanksgiving (NIV)
Psalm 7:17
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 30:12
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 118:19
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm 118:21
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

Keep A Gratitude Journal
A Personal Log of Thanksgivings

One way to deepen your relationship with God, and give yourself a happier life, is to keep a journal of all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for. Taking the time to write down your blessings is a great way to show yourself the reasons to be happy, and it gives you something to look back on in times of sadness or weariness so that you may see that even when you feel lonely, God is with you.

Songs of Thanksgiving
For The Fruits of This Creation

I Will Enter His Gates
Let All Things Now Living
My Gratitude Now Accept, O God
We Gather Together
We Thank You, Lord
more songs of thanksgiving...

Enter His Gates Lyrics

Verse
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and enter His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him for He's worthy

and bless His holy name.

Bridge
When I come in the house of the Lord,
I will serve Him with gladness
for He's done so much for me.
I get excited every time I praise Your name,
when I think of how He set me free.

Chorus
I just can't stop clapping my hands.
I just can't stop stomping my feet.
I just can't stop shouting Your name,
praising the Lord, Lord.

Vamp

Sopranos
I can't stop it,
I can't stop it,
I can't stop it,
praising the Lord.

Altos
Clapping my hands,
stomping my feet,
I just can't stop praising the Lord.

Tenors
When I think about what He's done for me,
I just can't stop praising the Lord.

Chorus

Just a little help for those of you struggling with being thankful.

How Great Thou Art

Hymn of the day:

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed!

Chorus
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.


Chorus
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin!


Chorus
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!


Chorus
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Boberg wrote the poem "O Store Gud" (O Great God) in 1885 with nine verses.[4][5]

[edit] Inspiration
The inspiration for the poem came when Boberg was walking home from church near Kronobäck, Sweden, and listening to church bells. A sudden awe-inspiring storm gripped Boberg’s attention, and then just as suddenly as it had made its violent entrance, it subsided to a peaceful calm which Boberg observed over Mönsterås Bay.[6] According to J. Irving Erickson:

Carl Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck, where they had participated in an afternoon service. Nature was at its peak that radiant afternoon. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon sharp lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. The thunder pealed in loud claps. Then rain came in cool fresh showers. In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared.

When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him… From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush…the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening. It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.[7]

According to Boberg's great-nephew, Bud Boberg, "My dad's story of its origin was that it was a paraphrase of Psalm 8 and was used in the 'underground church' in Sweden in the late 1800s when the Baptists and Mission Friends were persecuted."[8] The author, Carl Boberg himself gave the following information about the inspiration behind his poem:

"It was that time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest colouring; the birds were singing in trees and everywhere. It was very warm; a thunderstorm appeared on the horizon and soon thunder and lightning. We had to hurry to shelter. But the storm was soon over and the clear sky appeared.

"When I came home I opened my window toward the sea. There evidently had been a funeral and the bells were playing the tune of 'When eternity's clock calling my saved soul to its Sabbath rest.' That evening, I wrote the song, 'O Store Gud.'"[9]

The God we serve is indeed great. I find it comforting that other religions claim to worship the same God but their God can not do what the one true God can do. God can do anything! Jesus healed the blind, lame, ill, but the most amazing He raised the dead..not the just died dead but a man who had been dead for days and entombed for at least 3 days. Do you know God? Would you like to? Email me and I can answer questions you might have.

Tonight is Thanksgiving eve and food for dinner tomorrow have been bought and the game plan set. Praying for all that have no family or friends to spend the day, eat with, or to share what they are thankful for. Please, take time tomorrow and give thanks to God for all that He provides.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We lift up praise and thanksgiving to You. Lord, I ask that You be with all those who are lost or alone...please, place Your servants in their paths. May they see Your light through them.

God, I ask that You lay Your healing hands on those who need Your touch. Give all those traveling Your mercy and keep them safe. Bless each family and show us all Your sweet grace.

May we have sweet slumber as we rest in You.

Amen

Down In My Heart

Hymn of the day:

"Down In My Heart," sometimes titled "I've Got the Joy" is a popular Christian song often sung around the campfire and during scouting events. It is often included in Gospel music and A cappella concerts and songbooks. The song was written by George Willis Cooke [23 April 1848-30 April 1923]. The date of authorship is as yet unknown. Cooke was born in Comstock, Michigan. He was a Unitarian minister, writer, and editor and is well known for his landmark history of the Unitarian movement in the 19th century. Though largely self-taught, he studied at Meadeville Theological School in 1872. He was ordained in June of that year, not having obtained a degree from the school. He served the parish ministry for 28 years, while writing and editing. He left the ministry in 1900 to pursue scholarship and lecturing. He authored more than 20 books on a wide range of subjects.

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart to stay
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart (down in my heart)
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
Subsequent lyrics include:

I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart...
I've got the happy hope that heckles heathens down in my heart...
I've got the far out faith that freaks out farmers down in my heart...
I've got the glorious hope of my Blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart...
I've got the mighty Messiah that manifests miracles down in the depths of my heart...
I've got the Bible Beliefs that baffle the Buddhist way down in the depths of my heart...
Well, if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack...
I've Got the Love Of Jesus Christ My Savior down in my heart...
I've got the wonderful Love of my Blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart (where)...
I've got the brightest light in the depths of my heart...


Very simplistic but it would serve us all to keep this song on "standby" daily. It is hard to be grumpy when you are singing about having joy. Try it. You will be amazed at how it changes your attitude.

I am so thankful God has given me a spirit of thankfulness. I can lift up praise and thanksgiving even during the most difficult of times. It has nothing to do with me but it is all Him. He reminds me everyday and when needed every minute of all He has done for me.

He took a sexually abused girl and held her close. He told her how special she was to Him and that no matter what happened in the world He was in control. I believed Him and still do. There has been a lot of "valleys" in my life but He was always there. Do you trust Him? If you would like to have this security then email me and I can answer your questions.

Hi Daddy,

My day has been long but You brighten it with Your love. I run to You and recline in Your presence. I rest in You.

Thank you for my brother, Jesus, how You love us. You do give me Joy..down in my heart. I pray this for everyone.

Daddy, I lift up all those who are sick and in need of Your healing touch; I lift up those who are afraid or "down trodden" and in need of Your comfort; I lift up the alone and lonely

Amazing Grace

Hymn of the day:

Although there are different versions to this beautiful hymn, these words to Amazing Grace are what we have found to be most common. In recent times, Amazing Grace seems to be a song which many of us can relate to as the United States, and the world, go through great changes. Although I have been online with this site for a few years, I am now pledging this page to the loss of those who have gone on before us, as well as to all of the families whose lives have been stricken from their losses. In addition, this page, along with this wonderful CD offer below, is extended to those who have simply lost a love one during lifes' journey or for those who are simply walking the good red road.

Perhaps from these words and the healing medicine of music we are featuring below, this song will offer you some kind of some kind of inspirational comfort when reflecting back on memories, or dealing with current times while simply getting through life on lifes' own terms. I know it does for me. It appears the words to Amazing Grace and its' melody are very powerful in many ways...and its power heavily touches so many of us around the globe today.

NAMA Nominated Recording Artist and Flutist, Charles Littleleaf, delivers an emotionally compelling performance of Amazing Grace on his Award Winning CD release, "Ancient Reflections". Littleleaf's world-renown song is by far one of the most moving renditions of Amazing Grace ever to touch your heart. Don't miss it in it's entirety.

Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.


The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.


Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.


When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.


"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

I pray for the amazing grace of God to be a reality for you. God's grace flows and covers us. We do not deserve all that He gives and does for us but He loves us enough to forgive us all the sins we have or ever will commit. Can you imagine giving your child so that a thankless lot can have the chance to love forever with the most High God. I look at my son and am totally blown away by the depths of God's
love. I really would struggle with sacrificing my son...how about you?
If you would like to know a love like this...all you have to do is ask. If you would like to accept Christ as your savior email me and I can answer your questions.

Lord,

Thank you for Your grace and unconditional love. Being Your daughter has brought me such joy and I pray this joy for all. God, please, let us be Your hands and feet. Show us how we may be light to others and to share Your grace.

Lord, help us to keep a heart of thanksgiving throughout the year. We lift the sick, lonely, orphaned, widowed, and those in dispare, to You. We ask that You lay Your hands on us and let us feel Your love and healing touch.

Go with us tomorrow and keep us safe.

In Your Son's Name,

Amen.