Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Recommended reading: Ephesians 1

Thomas Ken has been called “England’s first hymnist.” He was born in Little Berkhampstead on the fringe of London. When his parents died, he was raised by his half-sister and her husband, who enrolled him, Winchester College. He was later ordained in ministry and returned to Winchester as a chaplain. He wrote three hymns in 1674 to encourage the devotional habits of the boys. The hymns were song privately in their rooms. All three hymns ended with a common stanza, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.” He became a chaplain to England’s King Charles II. He then became a bishop. The Doxology was sung at his funeral.

My prayer for the week is two stanzas from his hymns:
Dear Lord: Awake, my soul, and with thy daily stage of duty run. Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise, to pay thy morning sacrifice. All praise to Thee, my God, this night, for all the blessings of the light! Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, beneath Thine own almighty wings. Amen

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14

Recommended reading: Galatians 6

After graduation from college, Isaac Watts returned to Southampton and spent two years writing hymns for Above Bar Congregational Church. He moved to London and joined Mark Lane Independent Chapel. He was asked to be teacher and then was hired as the associate pastor. He soon became the senior pastor, which he retained for the rest of his life. In
1707 his song book Hymns and Spiritual Songs was published. It included the hymn “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed” based on the above verse. When Fanny Crosby heard this hymn in 1851 at revival service, she recalled that when they reached the third line of the fifth stanza, her soul was flooded with celestial light.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, as we look at all the big and little things happening around us, we see Your hand at work. The Holy Spirit helps each of us to see Your glory. We listen to you speaking to us and we choose to live by faith guided by the Holy Spirit. In Your Holy Name we pray. Praise God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit! Amen

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:15

Recommended reading: Colossians 3

Elton Roth was born in Indiana and led his first church choir when he was fourteen. He attended Moody Bible Institute and Fort Wayne Bible College. He studied music in Europe. Elton became a singing evangelist and song leader. He
formed the Ecclesia Choir, which performed around the country. Later Los Angeles became his home. One of the first hymns he wrote the words and music for was the hymn “I Have a Song That Jesus Gave Me.” He wrote over one hundred
hymns. He wrote the spirit filled hymn, “In My Heart There Rings a Melody” on a hot summer day in Texas. It became a favorite hymn for many years around the world.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, we come to You every day seeking You and asking You to use us for Your glory. We are so grateful for Your Holy Word that teaches us the great truths of the Scripture. We gladly learn how to live our lives from the teaching in the Bible. Praise God. Amen

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, “Cursed us everyone who hangs on a tree.” Galatians 3:13

Recommended reading: Galatians 3

Samuel Wesley, Sr. was a penniless and unpopular Anglican pastor in Epworth, England and it riled him that his wife, Susanna’s kitchen Bible studies were more popular that his sermons. He was often severe. His crops were burned, livestock maimed and even his home was torched by Epworth’s citizens. He lost his manuscripts and hymns in the fire. Only one hymn, “Behold the Savior of Mankind” was rescued from a 1709 fire at Samuel’s home. This hymn became the
forerunner of many wonderful hymns from his sons, the famous Wesley brothers, Charles and John.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, when times seem dark, You give us rays of hope. Hope steadies the faltering soul. We are to care for those around us and help bring them hope. Your love brings circles of light to our daily lives and that provides us joy. Praise the Lord. Amen.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Recommended reading: Galatians 6

Isaac Watts finished his college studies and returned home to Southampton and wrote many of his hymns for the Above Bar Congregational Church. He then became a tutor. He then felt the tug toward the ministry. On his twenty-fourth
birthday, Isaac preached his first sermon. The following year he became the assistant pastor of London’s Mark Lane Church. Later he became the lead pastor of the church. In 1707 he published his hymns in a book of hymns. The book was an instant success. His hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” based on the above verse was in the book of hymns. Many consider this hymn the finest hymn in English history.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, without You we are nothing. Thank you for giving us the strength to serve You. Please provide us the courage and confidence to be a witness for You by sharing Your Good News. Amen

…He was crucified in weakness. Yet lives by the peace of God….we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 2 Corinthians 13:4

Recommended reading: 2 Corinthians 13

Phoebe Palmer was born in New York City. At the age of 20 she married Walter Palmer, a physician. Phoebe led women’s a prayer meetings in her home. She and Walter traveled throughout the area preaching. She wrote articles and books.
She is now considered the “Mother of Holiness Movement in the United States.” She wrote the words to the hymn “The Cleansing Wave” in 1867. Her daughter, Phoebe Palmer Knapp married at the age of 16. Phoebe Knapp composed lively hymns in the home the Knapp Mansion with fine music room with a pipe organ. She wrote the music for “The
Cleansing Wave.” She and Fanny Crosby were close friends.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, use our hands to serve others and our hearts to love others as You did for each of us. Thank you Lord for the great opportunity to use our arms to lift others up. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our  sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

 Recommended reading: 2 Corinthians 3

 As a child Annie Sherwood Hawks wrote poetry. She began writing Sunday school songs as young wife and mother.  Dr. Robert Lowry of Hanson Place Baptist Church set many of her hymns to music.  Annie wrote the hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour” in June 1872.  Dr. Lowry wrote the refrain.  Annie wrote over 400 hymns throughout her life.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, no matter how fast we move, the pace is never so quick that God is not with us all the time. We are excited that You are always with us Lord. We rejoice in Your love Lord and worship, praise and love You.  Help us to serve You. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.  (2 Corinthians 1:20)

 Recommended reading: 2 Corinthians 1.

 Russell Kelso Carter was an athlete, rancher, educator, preacher and physician. He was surrounded by Christian influences since his birth in Baltimore.  He wondered from the truth as a school boy until age 15, when under the influence of the cadet prayer-meeting he made a profession of faith in Jesus. But he made a mistake, he did not forsake is old companions and an up-and-down experience for 14 years. He was on the verge of death from his chronically diseased heart. He had heard of the “prayer of faith” for healing. He made a consecration that covered everything. A quietness came over him. He recovered in three days and served the Lord the rest of his life and wrote the hymn, “Standing on the Promises” in 1886.

Prayer for the week: Dear Lord, At times life seems run wild but You hold the reins.  We need to live on earth as You would guide us. We need to ask You for everything and be prepared for You to change everything. We are healed by the power of God. Praise the Lord.  Amen  

…For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4

Recommended reading: 1 Corinthians 10

This verse is appropriate for all of life’s situations. Erastus Johnson was born in a logging camp on the banks of the Penobscot River north of Bangor, Maine. He wanted to enter the ministry but his poor health and eyesight prevented him from attending seminary. At age seventeen, he became a schoolteacher. In his twenties, he followed his brothers to California to search for gold. He lived in San Francisco for several years before returning east and settling down in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania farming and working in oil. He wrote the hymn, “The Rock That Is Higher Than I” in 1871 after attending a YMCA convention. William Fischer composed the music for this hymn.

My prayer for the week: Dear Lord, Thank you for being our Rock. You keep our thoughts pure and undefiled. You feed our hungry souls with love, grace and kindness. Thank you, Jesus Christ. Amen