From God Can Nothing Move Me

Today in church, we sang hymn #713 from the Lutheran Service Book......"From God Can Nothing Move Me". Only the melody notes were printed; I'm in the dark as to why that is done with some of the hymns in that book.

One line stood out to me, from verse 5:

"Each day finds its vocation,

Responding to His voice."

That was a refreshing thought to ponder-----each day having its own vocation, its own purpose in God's plan. Usually, a vocation is thought of as a person's calling in life.

This hymn was written by Ludwig Helmbold, 1532-1598. The words we sang today must be from an alternate translation, for my older Lutheran hymnals here at home have different words, from a translation by Catherine Winkworth, and, obviously, it doesn't include the words above that caught my attention:

************************************

Verse 1:

********

From God can nothing move me;

He will not step aside

But always will reprove me

And be my constant guide.

He stretches out His hand

In evening and in morning,

Providing His forewarning

Wherever I may stand.

*******

Verse 2:

*******
When those whom I regarded

As trustworthy and sure

Have long from me departed,

God's grace shall still endure.

He cares for all my needs,

From sin and shame corrects me,

From Satan's bonds protects me;

Not even death succeeds.

*******

Verse 3:

*******

When in my darkest hour.....

I can on Him rely;

I have from Him the power

All evil to defy.

For God alone has might,

And I shall never fear it;

My body, soul, and spirit

Belong to Him by right.

********

Verse 4:

********

Praise God with hearts and voices,

For both are gifts from Him;

A troubled world rejoices

Each time we worship Him.

The days we spend on earth

Without our God are wasted,

For we shall not have tasted

His joy in endless birth.
*******

Verse 5:

*******

Yet even though I suffer

The world's unpleasantness,

And though the days grow rougher

And bring me great distress,

That day of bliss divine,

Which know no end or measure,

And Christ, who is my pleasure,

Forever shall be mine.

*******

Verse 6:

*******

We were by God created

In His own time and place

And by His Son persuaded

To follow truth and grace.

The Spirit guides our ways

And faithfully will lead us

That nothing can impede us.

To God be all our praise!

AMEN

*************************************************************

Cyberhymnal link: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/r/fromgods.htm

Compassion Pop & Rock

This post isn't about church hymns or contemporary Christian music. Instead, I was trying to remember popular secular songs that projected a message of compassion.......love one another.......love thy neighbor........instead of romantic love. Songs I used to hear on the radio years ago in the Top-40 or Nifty-Top-50, or even compassionate rock or pop songs of today. People need to hear more of this type of message in their everyday lives.

Here are the few that came to mind this morning as I did barn chores:

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"

by The Hollies

*********

"Love Is The Answer"

by England Dan & John Ford Coley

*********

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"

by Simon & Garfunkel

**********

"Give A Little Bit"

by the Yardbirds (remade recently by the Goo Goo Dolls)

***********

When more come to mind, I'll add them to the list on this post.

Love one another.........Love your neighbor as yourself..........Just do it!!

Sing A Song Of The Saints

While perusing the pages of the UCC hymnal, this one also caught my eye: "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God", words by Lesbia Scott, 1929, and melody by John H. Hopkins, 1940.

***********************************

Verse 1:

********

I sing a song of the saints of God,

Patient and brave and true,

Who toiled and fought

And lived and died

For the Lord they loved and knew.

And one was a doctor,

And one was a queen,

And one was a shepherdess on the green:

They were all of them saints of God,

and I mean,

God helping,

To be one, too.

*********

Verse 2:

*********

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,

And His love made them strong;

And they followed the right,

For Jesus' sake,

The whole of their good lives long.

And one was a soldier,

And one was a priest,

And one was slain by a fierce wild beast:

And there's not any reason,

No, no the least,

Why I shouldn't be one, too.

*********

Verse 3:

*********

They lived not only in ages past,

There are hundreds of thousands still;

The world is bright with the joyful saints

Who love to do Jesus' will.

You can meet them in school,

Or in lanes,

Or at sea,

In church,

Or in trains,

Or in shops,

Or at tea;

For the saints of God are just folk

Like me,

And I mean to be one, too.

AMEN

***********************************************

Sooner Or Later

This being All Souls Day, here is a reminder of what awaits the souls of all, "Sooner Or Later", a miniscule hymn found in a United Church of Christ hymnal. The words are from poet Christina Rosetti, 1881. The tune is Dunfermline from the Scottish Psalter, 1615:

***********************************

Sooner or later:

Yet at last

The Jordan must be past.

Sooner or later:

Yet one day

We all must pass that way.

*************

When mysteries shall be revealed,

All secrets be unsealed:

Lord God of mercy

and of men,

Show mercy on us then.

AMEN

**********************************************

Behold A Host Arrayed In White

For All Saints Day, one of my favorite hymns, although I can't get through it without tears. It is rather long and plodding and we rarely we sing it at Sunday services, but occasionally it is a funeral hymn. "Behold A Host Arrayed In White" was written by Hans A. Brorson who lived 1694-1764. His name sounds Norwegian, doesn't it? And indeed, the tune to this hymn is listed as a Norwegian folk melody, arranged by Edvard Grieg.....was he Norwegian, too?

I'm intrigued by the lines in Verse 3: "You harvest seeds once cast abroad in tears and sighs. See with new eyes the pattern in the seed." Troubles and trials come for a reason.

********************************************

Verse 1:

Behold a host arrayed in white

Like thousand snowclad mountains bright.

They stand with palms

And sing their psalms

Before the throne of light.

These are the saints who kept God's Word;

They are the honored of the Lord.

He is their prince

Who drowned their sins,

So they were cleansed, restored.

They now serve God both day and night;

They sing their songs in endless light.

Their anthems ring

When they all sing

With angels shining bright.

***********************

Verse 2:

On earth their work was not thought wise,

But see them now in heaven's eyes;

Before God's throne

Of precious stone

They shout their victory cries.

On earth they wept through bitter years;

Now God has wiped away their tears,

Transformed their strife

To heavenly life,

And freed them from their fears.

For now they have the best at last;

They keep their sweet eternal feast.

At God's right hand

Our Lord commands;

He is both host and guest.

********************

Verse 3:

O blessed saints, now take your rest;

A thousand times shall you be blest

For keeping faith

Firm unto death

And scorning worldly trust.

For now you live at home with God;

You harvest seeds once cast abroad

In tears and sighs.

See with new eyes

The pattern in the seed.

The myriad angels raise their song.

O saints, sing with that happy throng;

Lift up one voice;

Let heaven rejoice

In our Redeemer's song!

AMEN

**********************************************

Click HERE for more info.