Morning Coffee - Praising Him!

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God"   Eph. 5:20

We once saw a man draw some black dots. We looked and could make nothing of them but an irregular assemblage of black dots. Then he drew a few lines, put in a few rests, then a clef at the beginning, and we saw these black dots were musical notes. On sounding them we were singing,

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below."

There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand why they are there or why God permitted them to come. But if we let God come into our lives, and adjust the dots in the proper way, and draw the lines He wants, and separate this from that, and put in the rests at the proper places; out of the black dots and spots in our lives He will make a glorious harmony. Let us not hinder Him in this glorious work! --C. H. P.

Streams in the Desert
Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

I think I'll sing some praises while enjoying my morning cup!  Feel free to join in!

Morning Coffee - Singing Praises!

"When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments...and they were smitten"

2 Chron. 20:22

Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that we wear as shackles which we might use as instruments with music in them, if we only knew how.

Those men that ponder, and meditate, and weigh the affairs of life, and study the mysterious developments of God's providence, and wonder why they should be burdened and thwarted and hampered--how different and how much more joyful would be their lives, if, instead of forever indulging in self-revolving and inward thinking, they would take their experiences, day by day, and lift them up, and praise God for them.

We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away. Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and birds are more without care than anything else that I know of.

Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing that robins do. When they have done their daily work; when they have flown their last flight, and picked up their last morsel of food, then on a topmost twig, they sing one song of praise.

Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, and let song touch song all the way through.

–Selected

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

I believe I'll hum a few praises while I enjoy a second cup!

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He Speaks to Me Everywhere!

“I don’t doubt that the Holy Spirit guides your decisions from within when you make them with the intention of pleasing God. The error would be to think that He speaks only within, whereas, in reality, He speaks also through Scripture, the Church, Christian friends, books et cetera.” C.S. Lewis

This reminds me of the words from This Is My Father’s World.

This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

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Lead On, O King Eternal

Yesterday I found this interesting little book at a garage sale for 25 cents. It’s called “The Story of Fifty Hymns”.

From the Preface:

“On the morning of May 7, 1934, a group of artists and musicians, headed by Joe Emerson, a nationally known figure in the radio world, started a program of morning hymns. Every faith was represented in these hymns.”

The intro goes on to explain how General Mills of Minneapolis became the sponsor of this radio program and shortly thereafter, in response to listeners’ requests, published this book of hymns. Each of the fifty hymns, representing all faiths, included a one page historical story about the hymn.

Lean On, O King Eternal

Lead on, O King Eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where'er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.

History:

“It is the custom at many schools for the graduating class to produce an original song of its won. “Lead On, O King Eternal” was written for the graduation class of Andover Theological Seminary in the spring of 1888, by Ernest W. Shurtleff, one of the members of the class. It has since become one of the most popular convention and meeting songs among young people in religious societies and orders. The hymn expresses a high standard for youth in the ideals of Christianity, encouraging them to march in paths of peace and brotherly love, drawing their strength from the power of faith. It is a battle song of our young people who go out to conquer a rather difficult world. But with God as their eternal leader, they are certain to win the contest.”

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