I couldn't find any trace of this on the internet; I suspect that the only place it exists in print is in a hymn book I have. This book was actually published as a Sunday School hymn book, but we used it as a hymnal in our church when I was a kid. Copyright date is 1928, so I'd say that's pretty safe. The only reference I could find on the internet of the song writer was of an endowment to Seattle Pacific University. If any one is interested in the music, I could copy and post that also.
In the Manger of Bethlehem
One night long ago over Bethlehem’s plian
The stars shone with radiant light;
The shepherds were watching their flocks where they lay,
When suddenly burst on their sight
A vision of angels, who sang a sweet song
Of peace and good-will unto men:
“A Saviour is born,” cried the heavenly throng,
“In a manger in Bethlehem.”
Chorus:
Seeking, they sought till they found Him,
Jesus, the Saviour of men;
Humbly they knelt and adored Him,
In the manger of Bethlehem.
Three wise men beheld a most wonderful star,
Announcing the birth of a King;
It showed them the way from their countries afar,
Their presence and homage to bring;
In great kingly palace they sought Him, but then
The star’s light was hidden from them;
They found Him, at last, in the sweet virgin’s care,
In a manger in Bethlehem.
(Chorus)
So still we must seek Him with longing untold,
With purpose unchanging and true;
We cannot bring off’rings of incense and gold,
His infant face we cannot view;
But we may His glorious gospel adorn,
Give glory unto His great name;
To all we may tell of the Christ who was born
In a manger in Bethlehem.
(Chorus)
My sister Lil and I sang this in a school Christmas program once, and the teacher asked us where we found it.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Where They Grow
I posted this some time ago on my blog, but it was incomplete. Since then, I found it on the internet. I will post it first as I found it on the internet:
WHERE THEY GROW.
DOWN in the valley, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses hiding low —
There's where the dear little violets grow.
Out in the meadow, bright, bright, bright,
Close by the clovers red and white,
With heart of gold, and a fringe of snow —
There's where the dear little daisies grow.
Up in the sycamore tree, tree, tree.
Peep — and a tiny nest you'll see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro,
There's where the dear little birdlings grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat.
Hear the patter of wee, wee feet —
Hear little voices chirp and crow —
There's where the dear little babies grow.
Here is a slightly changed version that more closely reflects the way I learned it, and makes it flow more smoothly:
WHERE THEY GROW.
DOWN in the valley, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses hiding low —
There's where the dear little violets grow.
Out in the meadow, bright, bright, bright,
Close by the clovers red and white,
With heart of gold, and fringe of snow —
There's where the dear little daisies grow.
Up in the alder tree, tree, tree.
Peep — and a tiny nest you will see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro,
There's where the dear little birdies grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat.
I hear the sound of wee, wee feet —
Sweet little voices chirp and crow —
There's where the dear little babies grow.
WHERE THEY GROW.
DOWN in the valley, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses hiding low —
There's where the dear little violets grow.
Out in the meadow, bright, bright, bright,
Close by the clovers red and white,
With heart of gold, and a fringe of snow —
There's where the dear little daisies grow.
Up in the sycamore tree, tree, tree.
Peep — and a tiny nest you'll see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro,
There's where the dear little birdlings grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat.
Hear the patter of wee, wee feet —
Hear little voices chirp and crow —
There's where the dear little babies grow.
Here is a slightly changed version that more closely reflects the way I learned it, and makes it flow more smoothly:
WHERE THEY GROW.
DOWN in the valley, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses hiding low —
There's where the dear little violets grow.
Out in the meadow, bright, bright, bright,
Close by the clovers red and white,
With heart of gold, and fringe of snow —
There's where the dear little daisies grow.
Up in the alder tree, tree, tree.
Peep — and a tiny nest you will see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro,
There's where the dear little birdies grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat.
I hear the sound of wee, wee feet —
Sweet little voices chirp and crow —
There's where the dear little babies grow.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Repentance and Revival
The Bible never uses the term “revival;” however, it frequently uses the term “revive.” We often think of “revival” as a series of meetings, held to inspire and lift us up and encourage us.
Psalm 85:6 – Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalm 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Hosea 6:2 – After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hosea 14:7 – They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Habakkuk 3:2 – O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Most of these passages follow a description of a returning – or repentance.
The message of all the Old Testament prophets was “Repent!” Whenever God’s people had turned their backs on Him and disobeyed His commands, the message was “Repent!”
In the New Testament, the first prophet was John the Baptist. And what was his message? “Repent!”
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s message was “Repent!”
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Then after Peter & John healed the lame man at the Temple gate, he spoke these words:
Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
In this last passage, Peter says that if we repent, our sins will be blotted out – and that times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
In other words, repentance always precedes revival. It can be summed up in II Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Repentance is always required for salvation – but there are other times to repent – whenever we fall, whenever we sin, whenever we realize that we have not been walking in all the light that God gives us. But in the book of Daniel, there is a unique prayer of repentance – Daniel is repenting on behalf of the nation of Israel, as well as on his own behalf.
Daniel 9:3-19 – And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Daniel made “my” confession to God; he said “we” have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled. He said “we” have not hearkened to thy servants, the prophets. He said “we” have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. Then “All Israel have transgressed thy law.”
Then he recounts all the things God has done or allowed, to cause his people to acknowledge their sins and repent – which Daniel has been doing on their behalf. Once again he says, “We have sinned, we have done wickedly.”
Then he throws himself and Israel upon the mercy of God and asks for forgiveness.
Note once again that everyone is required to repent in order to be saved. But in II Chronicles 7:14, it says “If my people” – not the pagans, not the unbelievers, not those who profess nothing, but “my people” – in the specific instance, he was referring to Israel, God’s chosen people, but in this day, we can say it refers to everyone who claims the name of Christ, who claims to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “shall humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways” – yep, that’s what it says – “then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Just as Daniel repented on behalf of Israel, I believe we Christians must all repent on behalf of America. If we do, he will heal our land, and we will truly know what it means to be revived.
Psalm 85:6 – Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalm 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Hosea 6:2 – After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hosea 14:7 – They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Habakkuk 3:2 – O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Most of these passages follow a description of a returning – or repentance.
The message of all the Old Testament prophets was “Repent!” Whenever God’s people had turned their backs on Him and disobeyed His commands, the message was “Repent!”
In the New Testament, the first prophet was John the Baptist. And what was his message? “Repent!”
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s message was “Repent!”
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Then after Peter & John healed the lame man at the Temple gate, he spoke these words:
Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
In this last passage, Peter says that if we repent, our sins will be blotted out – and that times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
In other words, repentance always precedes revival. It can be summed up in II Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Repentance is always required for salvation – but there are other times to repent – whenever we fall, whenever we sin, whenever we realize that we have not been walking in all the light that God gives us. But in the book of Daniel, there is a unique prayer of repentance – Daniel is repenting on behalf of the nation of Israel, as well as on his own behalf.
Daniel 9:3-19 – And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Daniel made “my” confession to God; he said “we” have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled. He said “we” have not hearkened to thy servants, the prophets. He said “we” have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. Then “All Israel have transgressed thy law.”
Then he recounts all the things God has done or allowed, to cause his people to acknowledge their sins and repent – which Daniel has been doing on their behalf. Once again he says, “We have sinned, we have done wickedly.”
Then he throws himself and Israel upon the mercy of God and asks for forgiveness.
Note once again that everyone is required to repent in order to be saved. But in II Chronicles 7:14, it says “If my people” – not the pagans, not the unbelievers, not those who profess nothing, but “my people” – in the specific instance, he was referring to Israel, God’s chosen people, but in this day, we can say it refers to everyone who claims the name of Christ, who claims to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “shall humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways” – yep, that’s what it says – “then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Just as Daniel repented on behalf of Israel, I believe we Christians must all repent on behalf of America. If we do, he will heal our land, and we will truly know what it means to be revived.
Monday, December 1, 2008
December Already?!
All I posted in November were the birthdays. Because of the election, the political site I post on was extremely busy, and I tended to forget about my blog.
So, for December birthdays - the 14th, my oldest (full) sister Leora will be 77. On the 27th, I will be 73. I am getting so old! My nephew, Philip's, birthday is also the 27th. He is a young 45. On the 31st is his brother, Rich's, 43rd birthday. Happy birthday to all!
So, for December birthdays - the 14th, my oldest (full) sister Leora will be 77. On the 27th, I will be 73. I am getting so old! My nephew, Philip's, birthday is also the 27th. He is a young 45. On the 31st is his brother, Rich's, 43rd birthday. Happy birthday to all!
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