Silent Night! Holy Night
Author --Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848
English Translation --John F. Young, 1820-1885
Composer --Franz Grueber, 1787-1863
Tune Name --"Stille Nacht"
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
Joseph Mohr was born in the lovely city of Salzburg, Austria, in 1792. As a boy he was an active cho ...read
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Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Author --Johann J. Schuetz, 1640-1690
English Translation --Frances E. Cox, 1812-1897
Music --From the Bohemian Brethren's Hymnal Kirchengesaenge of 1566
Tune Name --"Mit Freuden Zart" ("With Great Personal Gladness")
"The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.... The heavens declare his righteousne ...read
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Stand Up and Bless the Lord
James Montgomery, 1771-1854
"Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." (Nehemiah 9:5)
Many excellent opportunities to witness for the Lord are lost each day simply because of our timidity. Or perhaps we are with a group of colleagues when the Lord's name is blasphemed, the gospel derided, the church's ...read
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Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
"Tell them to stand up for Jesus."
These were the final words of a twenty-nine-year-old Episcopalian minister, Dudley Tyng, as he spoke from his deathbed to a group of sorrowing friends and fellow ministers.
A grea ...read
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Sweeter As the Years Go By
"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The LORD is upright--he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him'" -Psalm 92:12-15
For ...read
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The Solid Rock
Author --Edward Mote, 1797-1874
Composer --William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868
Tune Name --"Solid Rock"
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11
Many of our gospel hymns are criticized by theologians as being too subjective and experiential, or for stating one's assurance of salva ...read
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There's a Wideness in God's Mercy
Author --Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
Composer --Lizzie S. Tourjee, 1858-1913
Tune Name -- "Wellesley"
"But Thou, 0 Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm 86:15
Frederick William Faber was born on June 28, 1814, in Calverley, Yorkshire, England. He was raised as a strict Ca ...read
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This Is My Father's World
Author --Maltbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901
Composer --Franklin L. Sheppard, 1852-1930
Tune Name --"Terra Beata"
"He loveth righteousness and judgment: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." Psalm 33:5
This hymn is taken from a sixteen-verse poem written by the Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock and published posthumously in 1901. The first line o ...read
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Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Author and Composer --Helen H. Lemmel, 1864-1961
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
The Scriptures abound in teachings concerning the importance of living our lives with ...read
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What a Friend We Have in Jesus
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" -Philippians 4:6
Perhaps no other hymn has ministered so much comfort and consolation as this simple but meaningful message of hope and cheer. As with many of our hymns, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was a result of m ...read
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When We All Get to Heaven
"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." --1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
Learning to sing praise to God now is an excellent way of preparing ourselves for heaven. The Scrip ...read
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Whiter Than Snow
James Nicholson, c. 1828-1876
"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7)
God's people have been placed in their particular circle of influence so they can demonstrate purity and a concern for righteousness. If we do not fulfill this role, who will? It is easy, however, to become so a ...read