Behind the Hymn: Majesty

This is Mama’s favorite song.  In honor of her birthday this week, I thought I would cover the history of this song of praise. The song was written by Jack William Hayford, who is a pastor.  Rev. Hayford is said to have composed over 400 songs, hymns and musical works. The inspiration for this song came from a 1977 vacation […]

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Behind the Song: The King is Coming

  Recently, I heard a sermon relating the first days of the church of Christ to the uncertainty of our future as Christians in this world.  The sermon ended by assuring us that although we live in an uncertain world today, one thing is for sure.  Jesus Christ will return again one day just the way he promised. When I […]

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Behind the Song: The Savior is Waiting

This hymn was written by Ralph Carmichael in the mid-1950s. Mr. Carmichael shares that his pastor, Lester Harnish, requested he write a new hymn to be used as an invitation each night for the upcoming revival.  This revival was scheduled to last for two weeks and would be sung at the end of the sermon. At the beginning of the […]

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Behind the Song: Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary

  This hymn was written in 1952 by Rev. John M. Moore.   Rev. Moore was born in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland on September 1, 1925.  He shares that he was raised by godly parents and accepted Christ when he was sixteen years old.  He studied the ministry in Glasgow, Scotland and served several churches in the area.  Before immigrating to […]

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Behind the Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

Edward Perronet was born in 1726 England, the grandson of a French immigrant.  He followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the ministry. He became close friends with John and Charles Wesley, eventually leaving the Church of England and becoming a traveling Methodist minister. One story about Perronet says that Wesley encouraged him {Perronet} to preach, but he was resistant.  […]

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Behind the Hymn: Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

This popular hymn was written by Fanny Crosby, author of over 8,000 hymns and songs. She often collaborated with composer William Doane.  Doane wrote the music and then the melody was played for Crosby.  Upon hearing the melody she said she felt it said, “Jesus, Keep me near the cross.”  She said down and wrote the words for this hymn. […]

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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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Music Review: The Ball Brothers

If you watch the Gaither’s Homecoming Series, you may recognize the Ball Brothers.  For me their performance at church on Sunday was my introduction to this amazing group.   The group started out with four brothers.  As of this time two of the brothers, Stephen and Joshua,  have left the group to pursue other ministry opportunities.  The remaining two Ball brothers […]

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Rebel to Redeemed: A Great Loss

Yesterday, was Father’s Day.   This is always a bittersweet day.  Fifteen years ago, life was finally getting back on track.  I was moving forward and putting my divorce behind me.  I’d returned to college and was obtaining my basic courses.  I would be moving to a nearby university that fall to pursue my music degree. I’d questioned whether or not […]

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