Connie is a long-time teacher of college academics, Bible, drama and music. She has been involved in worship ministry for more than 20 years. As an inspirational musician, speaker and author, her desire is to motivate members of the Body of Christ to their true destiny: Healthy, vibrant, free to worship, confident to share their unique gifts within the church, and bold to actively share their faith with a world that so desperately needs to experience the love of God.
To provide feedback on Connie's articles or to contact her, write to: beautyforashes@live.com.
|
Abide With Me, the Song and the Story
|
<br/><i>Abide With Me</i> made its debut at the composers memorial service. As He often does, God took the sad ending of a life and made something lasting and beautiful<br/>
|
|
Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, the Song and the Story
|
Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, written in 1707 by Isaac Watts (who wrote 600 hymns), was the song being sung at a revival meeting when Fannie Crosby gave her heart to Jesus in 1851. Fanny went on to write more than 8,000 hymns.
|
|
All Creatures of Our God and King, the Song and the Story
|
<br/>Written in 1225, the words of <i>All Creatures of Our God and King</i> still ring true with believers around the world who share Brother Francis' heart for animals and nature; and who believe that the heavens and earth truly do show and sound forth the glory and praise of God.
|
|
All Hail the Power of Jesus, the Song and the Story
|
Written in 1779, <i>All Hail the Power of Jesus Name</i> has been called the "National Anthem of Christendom," and has been translated into nearly every existing language.
|
|
Almost Persuaded, the Song and the Story
|
The final words of a Sunday morning sermon in 1871, "He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost", inspired Composer Philip Paul Bliss to write a song with the same sentiment -- Almost Persuaded.
|
|
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?, the Song and the Story
|
<br/>Isaac Watts wrote this hymn to accompany a sermon regarding spiritual warfare, and based on the scriptural text I Corinthians 16:13.<br/>
|
|
Angels From the Realms of Glory, the Song and the Story
|
<i>Angels From the Realms of Glory</i> first appeared in print on Christmas Eve, 1816, in a political activist newspaper.<br/>
|
|
At Calvary, the Song and the Story
|
William R. Newell (1868-1956) is remembered fondly as a pastor, evangelist, Bible teacher, author, conference speaker and writer of the beloved hymn <i>At Calvary</i>. And he is remembered as a humble man who recognized that it was only by the grace of God that he was able to accomplish so many good things.
|
|
Away in a Manger, the Song and the Story
|
This beloved Children's song was first published in an 1885 Lutheran Sunday School book compiled by James R. Murray (1841-1905), who gave the song a subtitle of <i>Luther's Cradle Hymn</i>.
|
|
Be Thou My Vision, the Song and the Story
|
An 8th Century Monk, Dallan Forgaill penned the words to <i>Be Thou My Vision</i> as a tribute to St. Patrick's wholehearted loyalty to God.<br/>
|
|
Beyond The Sunset, the Song and the Story
|
<Virgil Brock's cousin Horace Burr, who had been blind from birth, suddenly spoke out with excitement, saying that he had never seen such a beautiful sunset. One of the other guests asked how it was possible for him to see events of the sky. Horace's reply was to have a lasting affect: <i>I see through other people's eyes, and I think I often see more - I see beyond the sunset.</i><br/>
|
|
Blessed Assurance, the Song and the Story
|
Although blind from shortly after birth, Fanny Crosby wrote 8,000 songs. Among her most beloved was the hymn <i>Blessed Assurance</i>.
|
|
Brighten the Corner Where You Are, the Song and the Story
|
In 1913, Ira Ogden wrote <i>Brighten the Corner Where You Are</i> to remind Christians that the pulpit and the mission field were not the only places one might make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
|
|
Calvary's Stream is Flowing, the Song and the Story
|
Eliza E. Hewitt (1851-1920) was a school teacher for many years, until an accident injured her spine and left her a partial invalid. Unable to continue with her first career choice, she decided to try her hand at hymn writing. The song <i>Calvary's Stream is Flowing</i> was one of the blessings that resulted from her tragedy.
|
|
Christmas Carols, the History and Origin
|
Even the skeptics cannot deny that the Christmas season is different from all the others. No matter what style of music a person may choose to enjoy the rest of the year, the traditional Christmas Carol breaks through the musical preferences and barriers, to be universally recognized as the most beloved music of all people and of all time.
|
|
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, the Song and the Story
|
<br/>On Dec. 10, 1755, at age 20, Robert Robinson yielded his life to Christ, and very soon thereafter answered a call to the ministry. Three years later, as he was preparing to preach a sermon at the Calvinist Methodist Chapel in Norfolk, England, Robert wrote <i>Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing</i> to compliment his sermon.
|
|
Crown Him with Many Crowns, the Song and the Story
|
In the 1800s there was great tension between the Catholic and Anglican churches. Crown Him with Many Crowns is a wonderful example of how God takes the troubles of man and turns them around for good.
|
|
David and His Harp
|
David's harp brought him his first entrance into the throne room, which would someday be his seat of rule. As a king he failed and succeeded, sinned and repented. As a musician his prophetic songs of praise and worship ring out in churches yet today, proclaiming the greatness and goodness of God and reminding that it is not sinless perfection God looks for in a worshipper or musician, but a humble yielded heart.
|
|
Davidic Worship
|
Davidic worshp included singing, instruments playing, sacrifices to God and dancing. Musicians were appointed to sing praises day and night. The house of God was a place of worship without boundaries.
|
|
Down From His Glory, the Song and the Story
|
To sing <i>Down From His Glory</i> as a member of a congregation or a choir is uplifting. To listen to it sung by a power soloist or duet is a spine-tingling thrill.<br/>
<br/>
|
|
Face to Face, the Song and the Story
|
The music for the beautiful hymn Face to Face was inspired by a jar of jellie. The words for the song came from a woman who was tone deaf.
|
|
Fairest Lord Jesus, the Song and the Story
|
The hymn <i>Fairest Lord Jesus</i> has a somewhat elusive history. It is thought to have originated as early as 1607, possibly written by German Jesuits.
|
|
For the Beauty of the Earth, the Song and the Story
|
Teacher and writer Folliot S. Pierpoint published seven volumes of poems during his lifetime, many of them telling of his love for nature. He is most remembered today as the author of the hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth.
|
|
Go Tell It on the Mountain, the Song and the Story
|
In one format or another since its conception, the anthem of <i>Go Tell It on the Mountain</i> has been sung in the fields, on buses, in the streets, in churches, on school choir platforms and in concert halls.
|
|
God Bless America, the Song and the Story
|
In 1938 Irving Berlin published God Bless America as a prayer that the U.S. would triumph over Hitler, and that there would come an end to the Nazi cruelty towards the Jewish people.
|
|
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, the Song and the Story
|
<br/>The composer of <i>God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen</i> is unknown. There is record of it being sung within the Christian Church since the 15th century.
|
|
Godly Comfort Through Song
|
All of creation makes music to praise God (Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 55:12) and to lift the human heart. Listen, and the mind refocuses, the heart is encouraged, the body finds new strength, joy begins to bubble up and hope is renewed.
|
|
Good King Wenceslas, the Song and the Story
|
Although 'Good King Wenceslas' does not refer to a particular Christmas event, because it is written about the day after Christmas (The Feast of Stephen), and about a man who showed Christ's love to the poor, it is considered a Christmas song.
|
|
Great is Thy Faithfulness, The Song and the Story
|
While away from home on a missions trip, Thomas often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician. Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyan found one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. <i>Great is Thy Faithfulness</i> was published in 1923.
|
|
Hark the Herald Angels Sing, the Song and the Story
|
<br/><i>Hark the Herald Angels Sing</i> was originally sung to the tune of <i>Amazing Grace</i>, and later to the tune of <i>Christ the Lord is Risen Today</i>. George Whitfield (1714-1770), a preacher in the Church of England and later a Methodist minister, gave us the familiar melody sung today.</br/>
|
|
He Hideth My Soul, the Song and the Story
|
For those who have natural sight, but are blind to the things of God, Fanny Crosby, who was blind since six weeks of age, wrote songs to bring a sense of His Presence.
|
|
He Lives , I Serve a Risen Savior, the Story
|
Alfred Ackley (1887-1960) wrote lyrics and/or music for more than 1,500 religious and secular songs, including lyrics for the still well-loved He Lives! (I Serve a Risen Savior).
|
|
His Name is Wonderful, the Song and the Story
|
<br/>As the pastor's voice read from the Bible, <i>"His Name shall be called Wonderful"</i>, Audrey May Mieir's spirit jumped within in her and she began to hear a melody forming in her mind. She quickly wrote down these lines,which would soon become a well known song, on the flyleaf of her Bible: <i>His Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord.</i>
|
|
History of Hymns
|
In the early 16th century the Protestant Reformation brought about many changes, including hymns being translated from Greek and Latin into languages of the common people, and songs being written with familiar folk rhyme and rhythm easy to sing and memorize.
|
|
History of Hymns Part 2
|
<br/>For 2,000 years songs of praise, old and new have been rising from the collective heart and mouth of the worldwide Church. The introduction of the internet in the 1990âÂÂs has made it possible for Christians to see and hear praise and worship sounding across U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Holy Lands, and to recognize that the sound is the same wherever the people of God gather together. It is a sound that grows every day more like the praises of Heaven - a sound that will soon usher in the glory of God that will cover the whole earth.<br/>
|
|
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, the Song and the Story
|
The hymn <i>Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty</i> was writtent in 1826 for Trinity Sunday celebration. Its beautiful words and melody echo the timeless worship of heaven.
|
|
How Great Thou Art, the Story
|
As missionaries Reverend and Mrs. Hine traveled the Russian Carpathian Mountains, they were inspired by the incredible beauty to translate one of their favorit songs into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home.
|
|
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day, the Song and the Story
|
Over the years, listeners and singers alike have noted that <i>I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day</i> is at once both joyful and mournful. The words to the song were written in just such a setting, by the beloved poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.<br/>
|
|
I Know I'll See Jesus Some Day, the Story
|
Avis Christiansen (1895-1985) wrote her first poem at age 10. A few years later while listening to a church soloist, the Lord reminded Avis that her talents and gifts were from Him, and to be used for His glory. She soon began using her poetry talents to write hymns.<br/>
|
|
I Surrender All, the Song and the Story
|
As Judson Van DeVenter fully surrendered his life to the Lord, committing to become a full-time evangelist, the words to I Surrender All were born in his heart.
|
|
I Will Sing of My Redeemer, the Song and the Story
|
I Will Sing of My Redeemer was the last song to be written by Philip Bliss. The year after Bliss' death, singer George Cole Stebbins made a recording of the song - one of the first songs ever to be recorded on Thomas Edison's new invention, the phonograph.
|
|
Id Rather Have Jesus, the Song and the Story
|
As the congregants listened to George Miller's deep voice sing for the first time, "I'd d Rather Have Jesus, than silver and gold," little did they know that the song was destined to become one of the most well-known of all contemporary Christian songs
|
|
In The Garden, the Song and the Story
|
<br/><i>In The Garden</i> was written in 1912 and quickly became a theme song of the Billy Sunday evangelistic crusades. It was recorded on an album by Perry Como in 1950, was sung in the closing scene of the 1984 film <i>Places in the Heart</i> and continues to be a favorite of hymn lovers, who treasure that quiet 'garden time' with their Savior.<br/>
|
|
Instruments of the New Testament
|
While there is only one reference to musical instruments in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul tells us that the Old Testament Psalms are to be a part of the Christian's worship practices. The book of Psalms is filled with examples of praise and worship methods that are pleasing to God; with and without musical instruments.
|
|
Instruments of the Old Testament
|
The first mention of musical instruments in the Bible is in Genesis 4:21. The last mention of a musical instrument is a harp in Revelations 15:2. Beginning and end, Heaven and Earth worship God with voice and instruments.
|
|
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, the Song and the Story
|
<i>It Came Upon a Midnight Clear</i> was first sung at an 1849 Sunday School celebration. It has been enjoyed by millions ever since.<br/>
|
|
It is Well with My Soul, the Song and the Story
|
For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul.
|
|
Jesus Loves Even Me, the Song and the Story
|
In 1870 Bliss was inspired to write 'Jesus Loves Even Me' while he was listening to the (new at the time) song, Yes, Jesus Loves Me.
|
|
Jesus Loves the Little Children, the Song and the Story
|
The tune for Jesus Loves the Little Children was originally written to accompany an American Civil War song called Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.
|
|
Jesus Paid it All, the Song and the Story
|
As the Rev. George W. Schreck listened to a new song written by his choir director, he immediately thought of the verse written by another of his parishioners, Elvina Hall. At the pastor's suggestion, the music and words were combined, and then sent to Professor Theodore Perkins, publisher of the periodical Sabbath Carols. The hymn became almost immediately a favorite and has been published in and sung from hymnals across America ever since.
|
