“LIVING BY FAITH”

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6)

INTRO.: A song which talks about the importance of faith in our lives to please God is “Living by Faith” (#286 in Songs of the Church). The text of stanzas 1-3 was written by James S. Wells (1872-1947). I have not been able to locate any further information on this author. The text of stanza 4 was written by Robert Emmett Winsett (1876-1952). The tune was composed by J. L. Heath. I have also not been able to locate any further information on this composer. The song first appeared in His Voice in Song edited by R. E. Winsett for the Winsett Music Co. of Chattanooga, TN, in 1918. What I have…

Here are some simple morning thoughts from reading through the Psalms.

Psalms 1:1-6

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

• After so many years of little girl dreams about “one day” when I would be married, it’s amazing and exciting to finally be here – a wife, a helper, actually responsible for all those cares I used to imagine how I would manage. It’s such a sudden, new kind of life, that I feel almost like a child again – needing to stop and learn how to manage a simple day, needing to be taught the very basics. It’s been tempting to search online for advice and inspiration, but I need to shun worldly sources of counsel. Sometimes it sounds good, but it’s not the kind of counsel that will…

(photograph of Richard and Anne Morrison)

“ARE YOU WEIGHED DOWN?”

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12.1)

     INTRO.: A song which encourages us to run with patience the race that is set before us by laying aside the things of this life that weigh us down and looking to the Lord is “Are You Weighed Down?” (#654 in Hymns for Worship Revised). The text was written by Craig A. Roberts (b. 1957). The tune was composed by Richard L. Morrison, who was born on Nov. 17, 1945, in Fullerton, CA, to Richard Lee and Doris Morrison. Because his father was a preacher, he lived in Washington, Oregon, several places in California, Arizona, and Texas during his youth.   His musical education began at the feet of the prolific and admired song writer Austin Taylor, who partnered with Edgar Furr to start the…

(photo of G.H. P. Showalter)

I’M WALKING THE HEAVENLY WAY

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly…” (Heb. 13:16)

      INTRO.:  A hymn which expresses the desire for a better, heavenly country is “I’m Walking the Heavenly Way.”  The text was written and tune was composed both by George Henry Pryor (G. H. P.) Showalter, who was born at Snowville, VA, on Oct. 15, 1870, the son of J. T. and Sarah Catherine Showalter.  Baptized into Christ by his father on the second Sunday in March of 1883, Showalter was educated at the Greendale Institute of VA, Milligan College in TN, and the University of Texas. In 1891 he began preaching in Greendale, VA, and was an active preacher for 63 years. After teaching school and doing some evangelistic work in Virginia and West Virginia from 1892 to 1897, he came to Texas in 1897 and…

(photograph of Harry Presley)

HOW SWEET THE WORDS

“How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Ps. 119:103)

     INTRO.:  A song which declares how God’s words should be sweet unto our taste is “How Sweet the Words.”  The text was written by Harry Presley, who was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1924, near Stilwell, OK, in the home of his parents John M. and Inez Richardson Presley. Growing up in the Stilwell area, he received his schooling from the Stilwell public schools and graduated from high school in 1942. Following his baptism into Christ on Sept. 17, 1950, he served in the U. S. Army in Korea during the Korean War. After his return, he began preaching the gospel in 1956, doing fill-in work for local congregations. On Dec. 17, 1961, he started preaching full-time for the Four Corners church of…