COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Author: Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr.
Introduction:
The Author Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr. was one of the important and prolific gospel song writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born near Medford, New Jersey on April 21, 1856. At the age of nineteen, Oatman joined the Methodist Church and several years later was granted license to preach in local Methodist congregations. Although Oatman wrote over 5,000 Hymn texts. He was gainfully engaged in mercantile business and later as an administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey.
“Count your blessings” is generally considered to be Oatman’s finest Hymn. It first appeared in “Songs for young people” compiled and published by Edwin O. Excell in 1897. It is said that no American Hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in Great Britain as this Hymn. The London Daily reported that in South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it and the women rock their babies to sleep on this Hymn. During the great revival in Wales it was one of the Hymns sung at every Service.
The composer of the Music, E. O. Excell was born in Ohio on December 13, 1851. At the age of twenty, he became a singing teacher, travelling the country and establishing singing schools. For twenty years, he was associated with Sam Jones a well known Southern revivalist.
Excell was recognized as one of the finest song leaders of his day. In addition to writing and composing 2,000 Gospel Songs, publishing about fifty song books, he also administered a successful music publishing business in Chicago.
He died suddenly at the age of seventy during an evangelistic campaign in Louisville, Kentucky in 1921.
Let us begin to retrospect on God’s faithfulness as we sing this Hymn.
Count your Blessings
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings name them one by one;
Count your blessings see what God hath done;
Count your blessings name them one by one;
Count your many blessings see what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings ev-‘ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged God is over all;
Count your many blessings angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Author: Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr.
Introduction:
The Author Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr. was one of the important and prolific gospel song writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born near Medford, New Jersey on April 21, 1856. At the age of nineteen, Oatman joined the Methodist Church and several years later was granted license to preach in local Methodist congregations. Although Oatman wrote over 5,000 Hymn texts. He was gainfully engaged in mercantile business and later as an administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey.
“Count your blessings” is generally considered to be Oatman’s finest Hymn. It first appeared in “Songs for young people” compiled and published by Edwin O. Excell in 1897. It is said that no American Hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in Great Britain as this Hymn. The London Daily reported that in South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it and the women rock their babies to sleep on this Hymn. During the great revival in Wales it was one of the Hymns sung at every Service.
The composer of the Music, E. O. Excell was born in Ohio on December 13, 1851. At the age of twenty, he became a singing teacher, travelling the country and establishing singing schools. For twenty years, he was associated with Sam Jones a well known Southern revivalist.
Excell was recognized as one of the finest song leaders of his day. In addition to writing and composing 2,000 Gospel Songs, publishing about fifty song books, he also administered a successful music publishing business in Chicago.
He died suddenly at the age of seventy during an evangelistic campaign in Louisville, Kentucky in 1921.
Let us begin to retrospect on God’s faithfulness as we sing this Hymn.
Count your Blessings
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings name them one by one;
Count your blessings see what God hath done;
Count your blessings name them one by one;
Count your many blessings see what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings ev-‘ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged God is over all;
Count your many blessings angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Adesegun Akitoye
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