I
know I told you some time back that our Church we would be in the habit of getting up in the morning and starting our day
with Proverbs, if time permits I would like to build on on-line presence dedicated to the discipline. It is more than just
reading verves or getting through the chapter, it is about finding application in your walk, it is about helping others find
peace in a fast paced, bent on destruction world. You see when we set aside our path, When we stop following God sure there
is to be destruction. James called it the mature sin leads to death full-grown.
Only fear the Lord , and serve Him
in truth with all your heart; for consider
what great things He has done for you. --1
Samuel 12:24 *NKJV
In this busy world it is far too easy to forget all of the things
that God has done for us lately. Often-times we take Him Blessing fro granted,
I remember in my bed I though Lord God how easy it is to step from the bed not realizing it is you, who gives us the breath
we breath. It is you that provides the food that we have to eat. It is you that allow us to flourish in our fields of dreams.
Often we forget to thank Him for those blessings, we take for granted, the simplest of things. .
It is written;
The Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless
you.
--Deuteronomy 7:12-13
Therefore, never forget to thank Him for His great Love, Thank Him for the blessings
that He has given to
you already! Wake up in a grateful manner you are not one of the 25000 that did not wake-up
today. In fact, a great way to start each day is to spend time thanking God for
those that will walk today, those who will be able to see with the eyes today, those who will have the ability to stand on
their own today. two minutes ago some one went to the grave were they ready to meet their creator? “Count You Blessings, Count Them One By One.” "Count your Blessings" has always been a best-loved
thanksgiving song. It was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., and composed by Edwin Excell who created the tune for the hymn.
American
Hymn-writer Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Rev.
Johnson Oatman, Jr., born on 21st April 1856, near Medford, New Jersey, was one of the important and prolific gospel song
writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a child Oatman Junior became acquainted with the hymns of the church
through the singing talents of his father.
Aged
19, Oatman joined the Methodist Church and years later, granted a license to preach in local Methodist congregations. His
mainstream career was in a mercantile business and later as administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey. At
the same time, he wrote over 5,000 hymn texts.
"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 has been sung all over the world. One writer has stated, "Like a beam of sunlight
it has brightened up the dark places of the earth."
Other
Hymns by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
"Higher
Ground"
"No,
Not One!"
American
composer E.O. Excell
E.
O. Excell, the composer, is well-known in early gospel hymnody. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, on December 13, 1851. At
20, he became a singing teacher, traveling around the country establishing singing schools. For many years, Excell was associated
with Sam Jones, a well-known Southern revivalist. In his time, he was one of the finest song leaders. In addition to writing
and composing more than 2,000 gospel songs as well as publishing about 50 songbooks, Excell managed a successful music publishing
business in Chicago. While assisting Gypsy Smith in an evangelistic campaign in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1921, he was suddenly
stricken at the age of 70 and passed away.
You
even get a little history story with this devotion counting all of your blessings, and then try to have only loving
thoughts thought-out all your day. For when we do our hearts become merry and we are walking in the Light of
God’s Love…
Also remember, when counting all of your blessings,
to count the biggest blessing of them all, and
that is having such a loving, caring Heavenly Father as we
do! Amen!
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