Behind the Hymn: Whispering Hope

No known story of the writing of this hymn is available, but the life of the author is very interesting. Septimus Winner was born in 1827 Philadelphia to a violin maker father.  He was the seventh child in the family, which is why they named him Septimus.  By the age of twenty he was running his own music shop and […]

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Behind the Hymn: A Child of the King

This is a song I’ve always loved.  Daddy and I performed this song together several times. Harriett Buell wrote the song one Sunday morning walking home from the church service at her local Methodist church. Harriett Eugenia Peck Buell was born in 1834 Ca­ze­no­via, New York.  She contributed numerous poems to the Northern Christian Advocate.  She died February 6, 1910 […]

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Behind the Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth

Folliott Sandford Pierpoint was born in Bath, England in 1835.  After being educated at Queens College in Cambridge, he taught at Somersetshire College.  He contributed hymns to various publications and published at least two song books. He wrote numerous poems, but For the Beauty of the Earth is the only one he is remembered for today.  The hymn was originally […]

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Behind the Hymn: I Stand Amazed in the Presence

The other day my grandmother asked me about the song, I Stand Amazed In the Presence. This hymn, which is also known as How Marvelous or My Savior’s Love, was written by Charles Gabriel. Charles Hutchinson Gabriel was born in 1856 Iowa.  From a young age he showed a talent and love for music.  In 1912 he moved to Chicago […]

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Behind the Hymn: I Must Tell Jesus

I was recently discussing this beloved hymn with a family member.  However, I can so relate to the story.  There have been times when I had no one to tell my sorrows except Jesus. I must tell Jesus was written by Elisha Hoffman.  He was born in 1839 Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. His love of God and music were both learned from […]

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Behind the Song: Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

I had never heard this hymn until recently when I attended the funeral of a dear man of God.  He had served as pastor for several churches before being called to the mission field, where he ministered for more than three decades. The point I found interesting in researching this story was how this song has ministered to other missionaries. […]

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Behind the Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness

God wants to show us His faithfulness, but sometimes we have to surrender all before He can prove that He is faithful to us. Great is Thy Faithfulness was written by Thomas Obadiah Chisholm as a “testament to God’s faithfulness through his very ordinary life.” Chisholm was born in 1866 in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky to James Washington […]

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Behind the Hymn: My Country Tis of Thee

  In honor of the 4th of July yesterday, I wanted to share the story behind one of our beloved Patriotic hymns. My Country Tis of Thee is a popular Patriotic hymn, after our national anthem and God Bless America. Samuel Francis Smith wanted to write a song to bring the nation of the United States to God.  In 1831, […]

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Behind the Hymn: I Surrender All

Surrendering it all to God is not easy.   As I’m sharing my Rebel to Redeemed story, I am sharing my struggle to surrender it all to God over the course of my life. Many of us have struggled with this same decision.  The author of this beautiful hymn, Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter, definitely struggled.  However, from his struggles came a […]

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Behind the Song: I Can Only Imagine

I recently heard someone publicly say they did not like the song, “I Can Only Imagine.”  Their reason was that they could not imagine dancing when we get to heaven. The scriptures include several references of dancing before the Lord.  These include: “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” […]

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Behind the Song: I Choose

On Tuesday, I shared how this song had impacted my weight loss journey. I first heard this song several years ago in a church service.  I was working my way through a very difficult time in my life.  This song spoke to me and I realized I HAVE to sing this song. I remember sitting in my seat with tears […]

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Behind the Song: His Kind of Love

Have you wondered where I got my tag, “Sharing HIS Kind of Love” from? The phrase comes from the song by the same title.  His Kind of Love was written by Marijohn Wilkin.   For 15 years I was Daddy’s accompanists on the piano.  This was a song we performed on a regular basis.  After his death, I took the Easter […]

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Behind the Song: One Day at a Time

Many times it is difficult to see the path ahead.  All we can do is take things one day at a time. The song “One Day at a Time” was written by Marijohn Wilkin when she was fifty-three years old.  By this point she’d known considerable success as a songwriter of country music. However, she’d also suffered extreme heartache and […]

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Behind the Song: Touch of the Master’s Hand

I first heard and loved this song more than 20 years ago when released.  However, lately this song keeps returning in my life. As I transform with my weight loss and other areas of my life, I’m seeing the difference the touch of the Master’s Hand can make. So, how did the song originate? The song, sung by Wayne Watson, […]

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Behind the Hymn Sunday: The Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross is often requested during hymn sings. The message seems to be one that everyone can cling onto. Three different sites claim to be the home of this well loved hymn. The hymn was written by George Barnard, a minister ordained by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Bernard began his ministry in the Salvation Army. While going […]

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Behind the Hymn Sunday: How Firm A Foundation

How Firm A Foundation was published in 1787 by John Rippon. When it appeared in Rippon’s ‘A Selection of Hymns,’ it was signed simply “K”. All efforts to identify this mysterious “K”, have been fruitless; and the mystery remains to this day. Some reprints show the author was Kenne. Dr. Rippon’s musical director was R. Keene and it’s believed he […]

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Profile of a Hymn Composer: Fanny Crosby

Frances Jane Crosby was born on March 24, 1820 in Brewster, New York. She is best known as Fanny. At the age of six weeks, Fanny caught a cold that caused inflammation in her eyes. Mustard poultices were applied to treat the inflammation, damaging her optic nerves and blinding her. Her father died the same year she was born and […]

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