COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

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.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com

WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO MY GOD

WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO MY GOD

Author: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Scripture Reference: What can I offer the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will bring a wine-offering to the Lord to thank Him for saving me”.-Psalm 116 : 12 & 13.

Introduction:

This thought provoking Hymn was written by Charles Wesley and has been listed under “Dedication” in the Methodist Hymn Book.

Charles Wesley was born just before Christmas in 1707. He was premature and neither cried nor opened his eyes. His mother Susanna kept him tightly wrapped in wool until the actual date where upon he opened his eyes and cried.

At thirteen he became a King’s scholar at Westminister and upon graduating, Charles enrolled at Oxford at age 19. Charles said about himself “My first year at College I lost in diversions”. During his second year at Oxford he grew serious about spiritual things. On Sunday, May 21, 1738, Charles at 31, (after ill health brought him back from his missionary journeys to England) wrote, “I now found myself at peace with God and rejoice in hope of loving Christ. I saw that by faith I stood”.

Charles was reputed to have written over 6,000 Hymns after this event. “What shall I render to my God” is one of the popular ones. He took stock of his life and was overwhelmed by God’s goodness to him.

Let us join in singing this Hymn in offering God a sacrifice of Praise.

EMHB 399

What shall I render to my God
For all His mercy’s store?
I’ll take the gifts He hath bestowed,
And humbly ask for more.

The sacred cup of saving grace
I will with thanks receive,
And all His promises embrace,
And to His glory live.

My vows I will to His great name
Before His people pay,
And all I have, and all I am,
Upon His altar lay.

Thy lawful servant, Lord, I owe
To Thee whate’er is mine,
Born in Thy family below
And by redemption Thine.

Thy hands created me, Thy hands
From sin have set me free,
Thy mercy that hath loosed my bands
Hath bound me fast to Thee.

The God of all-redeeming grace
My God I will proclaim,
Offer the sacrifice of praise,
And call upon His name.

Praise Him, ye saints, the God of love,
Who hath my sins forgiven,
Till, gathered to the church above,
We sing the songs of heaven.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR – EMHB 525

Author: Mary Peters (1813-1856)

Tune: South Gate

Introduction

Mary Bowley was born in Cirencester in 1813 and married John McWilliams Peters, Rector of Quennington Glorcestershire. Mary Peters first published her Hymn in Hymns intended to help the Communion of Saints in 1847 under the title “Security in Christ”. Mary Peters has to her credit, a collection of Hymns Twenty-Six of which are quite noteworthy. Also her prose “The world’s History from the creation to the Ascension of Queen Victoria “ in Seven Volumes.

The Hymn “Through the love of God our Saviour all will be well” is listed under “Trustfulness and Peace” in the Methodist Hymn Book and emphasises the fact that although we will pass through trials and tribulations, we should continue to have faith and confidence in God whose favour is free and changeless and “all will be well” with us. She concludes that once we rely on our Father’s love, Jesus will supply our every need. This is no doubt is also the strong conviction of many of us who are facing trials and tribulations.

Mary Peters died at Clifton on 29th July, 1856 aged 43.

EMHB 525


1.Through the love of God our Saviour,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favour,
All, all is well:
Precious is the blood that healed us,
Perfect is the grace that sealed us;
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
All must be well.

2. Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Christ hath purchased full salvation,
All, all is well:
Happy still in God confiding;
Fruitful, if in Christ abiding;
Holy, through the Spirit’s guiding;
All must be well.

3. We expect a bright to-morrow,
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well:
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
Then in living or in dying,
All must be well.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com

BLESSED ASSURANCE JESUS IS MINE

BLESSED ASSURANCE JESUS IS MINE – EMHB 422

Author: Frances Jane Van Alstyne (1820-1915)

Tune: Phobe P. Knapp (1839-1880)

Scripture Reference: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” – Hebrews 10:22

Introduction:

Frances Jane Van Alstyne (or Mrs. Fanny Crosby) was born in 1820. She lived in the Manhattan Slums and worked in rescue missions. One day in 1873 while Fanny was staying with her friend Phobe Knapp in her palatial residence in Brooklyn, her friend sat at the Piano and played a new composition of her own while the blind Hymnist Fanny listened.

Fanny immediately clapped her hands and exclaimed “Why, that says, Blessed Assurance!” she quickly composed the words and a great Hymn was born.

Many years later, D. L. Moody was preaching in New York and the Church was filled to the brim. On this occasion Fanny Cosby attended the service and could not find a seat, while Moody’s son offered to find her a seat but to her bewilderment, she was led on to the platform just as the crowd was singing “Blessed Assurance”.

Moody Snr., jumped to his feet, raised his hand and interrupted the singing. “Praise the Lord!” He shouted “Here comes the Authoress!”

Fanny took her seat amidst a thunderous ovation, humbly thanking God for making her a blessing to so many.

One of Fanny’s friends (A Pew Pal) because they never met. Francis Ridely Harvegal who was one of the most famous Hymnist in England wrote these words about her friend “Sweet blind singer over the sea, tuneful and jubilant! How can it be, that the songs of gladness which float so far as if they fell from the evening star, are the notes of one who may never see visible music of flower and tree. Oh her heart can see, her heart can see and its sight is strong and swift and free”.

EMHB 422

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine:
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God;
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com

SPIRIT DIVINE ATTEND OUR PRAYER

SPIRIT DIVINE ATTEND OUR PRAYER – EMHB 289

Author: Andrew Read (1787-1862)

Tune: St. Agnes J. B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Introduction:

Very little is known about the Author of this Hymn which is listed in the English Methodist Hymn Book under “The Holy Spirit, his person, mission and work”.

This is an invitation to the Holy Spirit, asking for His presence in the midst of worshipers. The Holy Spirit is invited to come in various forms. To come as the light to lead us in paths of life where all the righteous go, as fire to purge our hearts like a sacrificial flame, to come as the dew to bless the consecrated hour and so that the barren may rejoice in the Spirit’s fertilizing power. The Spirit should come as the dove and spread its wings of peaceful love to bless the Church on earth as the Church in heaven.

As we sing this Hymn, let us believe in our hearts that the Holy Spirit will accept our invitations and will descend with all His gracious powers and make His home amongst us.

EMHB 289

1. Spirit divine, attend our prayers
And make this house Thy home;
Descend with all Thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!

2. Come as the light: to us reveal
Our emptiness and woe;
And lead us in those paths of life
Where all the righteous go.

3. Come as the fire, and purge our hearts
Like sacrificial flame;
Let our whole soul an offering be
To our Redeemer’s name.

4. Come as the dew, and sweetly bless
This consecrated hour;
May barrenness rejoice to own
Thy fertilizing power.

5. Come as the dove, and spread Thy wings
The wings of peaceful love;
And let Thy Church on earth become
Blest as the Church above.

6. Come as the wind, with rushing sound
And Pentecostal grace,
That all of woman born may see
The glory of Thy face.

7. Spirit divine, attend our prayers;
Make a lost world Thy home;
Descend with all Thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichreliefcom

"T'OLORUN LAWA OSE" - NATIVE AIR

“T’OLORUN LAWA OSE” – NATIVE AIR

Author: Unknown

The name of the original composer of the tune is unknown. But the story has it that a man was said to have quarrel with his wife who packed up all her belongings and went to her father’s house. The father-in-law sent for the husband to settle the quarrel between him and his wife.

However, the husband sent a message back to his father-in-law stating that when there was a quarrel between him and his wife, the quarrel had to be settled in his own house and not in his father-in-law’s house, and for that reason he could not answer his father-in-law’s call.

This message annoyed his father-in-law. When the husband heard of this, he started to sing the following song:

“The greatest sacrifice a man can make is death. When a father-in-law is annoyed, the best he can do is to retain his daughter”.

The first Christian Pastor known to have used this tune for a religious service was the late Rev. J. J. Ransome Kuti.

His own song was:

“We shall do God’s will,
All that the devil can do
Will be of no avail,
We shall do God’s will”.

A few alterations have been made in the original verses to provide only one music for the three verses of the song and which is now rendered as a three-part song in Yoruba Language.

T’OLORUN L’AWA O SE

1. E t’Olorun l’ awa o se o,
E t’Olorun l’ awa o se o, /2ce
Esu nse sa, Oluwa,
Esu nse sa ko ri pa kan sa,
E t’Olorun l’ awa o se o.

2. Awa o juba Olorun o
Awa o juba Olorun o, /2ce
Oba t’ oni wa, t’ oda wa
Oba t’ oni wa l’ awa o maa sin,
Awa o juba Olorun o.

3. O ye ka fi yin f’Olorun o
O ye ka fi yin f’Olorun o, /2ce
Oba to naiye, to d’ orun,
Oba to naiye l’ awa o maa yin,
O ye ka fi yin f’Olorun o.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com

CHRIST IS OUR CORNER STONE

CHRIST IS OUR CORNER STONE – EMHB 702

Author: Unknown

Translator: John Chandler M.A. (1806-1876)

Tune: Harewood – Samuel S. Wesley (1810-1876)

Introduction:

The Author of this Hymn is unknown but was originally written in Latin around 6th or 7th century. However, John Chandler M. A. (1806-1876) translated the Hymn from Latin to English. He lifted it from the “PARIS BREVIARY” text of a grandly rugged Latin Hymn known as “URBS BEATA HIERUSALEM DITCH PACIS VISIO” which he first published in “Hymn of the Primitive Church in 1837.

Chandler the son of the Vicar of Witley, Surrey also became Vicar in the same Church in 1837. He was one of the earliest and most successful morden translator of Latin Hymns. He died in 1876.

The Tune “Harewood” was composed by Samuel S. Wesley – Grandson of Charles Wesley.

Please join me in confirming that Christ is indeed our Cornerstone on Him alone we Build.

EMHB 702

1. Christ is our corner stone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
The courts of heaven are filled;
On His great love our hopes we place
Of present grace and joys above.

2. O then with hymns of praise
These hallowed courts shall ring;
Our voices we will raise
The Three in One to sing,
And thus proclaim in joyful song,
Both loud and long, that glorious name.

3. Here, gracious God, do Thou
For evermore draw nigh;
Accept each faithful vow,
And mark each suppliant sigh;
In copious shower on all who pray
Each holy day Thy blessings pour.

4. Here may we gain from heaven
The grace which we implore;
And may that grace, once given,
Be with us evermore,
Until that day when all the blest
To endless rest are called away.

Adesegun Akitoye

http://www.repeatrichrelief.com