The God of Abraham Praise

It does look like modern man like us has no patience for long hymns!

Thomas Oliver wrote this hymn from the Jewish Yigdal, sang by Meyer Lyon an opera vocalist after his conversion from "the worst boy known in thirteen years" to a traveling evangelist and passionate Christian worker.

Thomas adopted this Jewish Doxology into a Christian hymn of 13 stanza beginning with the God of Abraham Praise. Each stanza was annotated with scriptures. Today, only 4 of them are adopted in church to be sung.

This is indeed a kingly hymn, sang in all majesty fit for a God and King.

The Christian Hymn - The God of Abraham Praise.

Taken from Then Sings My Soul, Robert J Morgan, 2003

All Creatures of Our God and King

A story was told of St Francis of Assisi. While he was hiking through Italy's Spoleto Valley, he came up on a flock of birds, when they did not fly away, he decided to preach to them. "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your creator and always love Him. He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things you need. It is God who made your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you received God's guidance and protection." The flock it is said, then flew off rejoicing.

Yes, it is so true for us too. " Without sowing or reaping, you received God's guidance and protection." What did we really do to deserve God's guidance and protection? Thinking through... really, none.

This story was based on sound theology, reflected clearly in Psalm 148. Even the birds flew off rejoicing, what are we waiting for? We, all of creatures who benefited most from God's blessings..

Taken from Then Sing My Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.

Let My Soul Sing! Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Bernard of Clairvaux became a monk since he could not enter to the military services due to his health. He founded the famous monastery in Clairvaux and then went on to lead another 170 monasteries in his lifetime.  He was called the "honey-tongued doctor", "the best monk that ever lived" as proclaimed by Martin Luther.

He was not a perfect man, but his writings certainly was. One of my favourite:
"How do we know that Christ has really overcome death? Precisely in that he, who did not deserve it, underwent it... but what kind of justice is this, you may say, that the innocent should die for the guilty? It is not justice, it is mercy."

This soulful piano version of the hymn "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" needs no words. It is a peaceful version that we can feel that essence of the hymn while we ponder on these precious truth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Taken from Then Sing my Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.

Let my Soul Sing! All Glory, Laud and Honour

“All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, redeemer, king.”Theodulf of Orléans (ca. 760–821), in “All Glory, Laud, and Honor.

Record has it that Theodulf, a brilliant man of his times, a reformer to clergy and his country's educational system, wrote this hymn in his prison cell. Pondering on the Lord's truimphal entry to Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion. The first verse to this hymn as written was:

“All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, redeemer, king

To whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.”

Theodulf did not stop there; he continued for another 78 verses for this hymn! Amazing pouring of the spirit of praise for the Lord. Among the many verses, this was lesser known, forgotten, but still held great meaning and worth a mention:

Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider

And we the little ass

That to God's holy city

Together we may pass

Thousands of years later, this English translated hymn continues to be the most favourite hymn sang on Palm Sunday.