A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God

A trusty shield and weapon

He helps us free from every need

That hath us now o'ertaken

The old evil foe

Now means deadly woe

Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight

On earth is not his equal

With might of ours can naught be done

Soon were our loss effected

But for us fights the valiant One

Whom God himself elected

Ask ye, Who is this

Jesus Christ it is

Of sabaoth Lord

And there's none other God

He holds the field forever

Though devils all the world should fill

All eager to devour us

We tremble not

We fear no ill

They shall not overpow'r us

This world's prince may still

Scowl fierce as he will

He can harm us none

He's judged, the deed is done

One little word can fell him

The Word they still shall let remain

Nor any thanks have for it

He's by our side upon the plain

With his good gifts and Spirit

And take they our life

Goods, fame, child, and wife

Though these all be gone

Our vict'ry has been won

The Kingdom ours remaineth

This is the version we sing in the Lutheran church I attend.  

Click HERE to read more.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God

A bulwark never failing

Our helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe

His craft and power are great

And armed with cruel hate

On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide

Our striving would be losing

Were not the right Man on our side

The Man of God's own choosing

Dost ask who that may be

Christ Jesus it is He

Lord Sabaoth His name

From age to age the same

And He must win the battle

And though this world with devils filled

Should threaten to undo us

We will not fear for God hath willed 

His truth to triumph through us

The prince of darkness grim

We tremble not for him

His rage we can endure

For lo his doom is sure

One little word shall fell him

That word above all earthly powers

No thanks to them abideth

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth

Let goods and kindred go

This mortal life also

The body they may kill

God's truth abideth still

His Kingdom is forever

Reformation Day is almost here so its fitting to post Martin Luther's famous hymn.  This is the version we sang in the non-Lutheran church I grew up in.  Click HERE for more info.     

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful

All creatures great and small

All things wise and wonderful

The Lord God made them all

Each little flower that opens

Each little bird that sings

He made their glowing colors

He made their tiny wings

The purple-headed mountain 

The river running by

The sunset and the morning

That brightens up the sky

The cold wind in the winter

The pleasant summer sun

The ripe fruits in the garden

He made them every one

The tall trees in the greenwood

The meadows where we play

The rushes by the water

We gather every day

He gave us eyes to see them

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty

Who has made all things well

The first four lines (the refrain) might sound familiar for another reason.  They are the names of four books written by James Herriot, a British veterinarian.  I read them quite a few years ago.  Click HERE to read more about this hymn.

God of Concrete, God of Steel

God of concrete, God of steel

God of piston and of wheel

God of pylon, God of steam

God of girder and of beam

God of atom, God of mine

All the world of power is Thine

Lord of science, Lord of art

God of map and graph and chart

Lord of physics and research

Word of Bible, faith of church

Lord of sequence and design

All the world of truth is Thine

God whose glory fills the earth

Gave the universe its birth

Loosed the Christ with Easter's might

Saves the world from evil's blight

Claims mankind by grace divine

All the world of love is Thine

This hymn would be a good to sing around Labor Day perhaps.
Click HERE to read more.

Behold Us, Lord, a Little Space

Behold us, Lord, a little space

From daily tasks set free

And met within Thy holy place

To rest awhile with Thee

Around us roils the ceaseless tide

Of business, toil, and care

And scarcely can we turn aside

For one brief hour of prayer

Yet these are not the only walls

Wherein Thou mayst be sought

On homeliest work Thy blessing falls

In truth and patience wrought

Thine is the loom, the forge, the mart

The wealth of land and sea

The world of science and of art

Revealed and ruled by Thee

Then let us prove our heavenly birth

In all we do and know

And claim the kingdom of the earth

For Thee and not Thy foe

Work shall be prayer, if all be wrought

As Thou wouldst have it done

And prayer by Thee inspired and taught

Itself with work be one


I was looking in hymnals for hymns about harvesttime and saw this one on a page and decided to use it. The words were written in 1870 by John Ellerton.
Click HERE to read more.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense

But trust Him for His grace

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face

His purposes will ripen fast

Unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste

But sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan His work in vain

God is His own interpreter

And He will make it plain

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Click HERE to read the story of the writing on this hymn.

I see its been over three years since I last blogged here.  My other blog on which I post photos gets more of my attention, but I haven't entirely forgotten about this one.