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Abide with Me
This is a guest post from my husband, Brian. Brian works casual call as a nurse and does the majority of the work involved in taking care of our land and animals. In his free time, Brian enjoys planting trees, building things (like this incredible chicken coop), and singing hymns. We’ve been married for 14 years, and I’m happy to call him my husband. *** Change and decay in all around I see,O, Thou who changest not, abide with me. I’ve worked in a nursing home for the past 15 years. Recently, especially while at work, this hymn has been on my mind. It uses evening as a metaphor to…
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Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
This is a guest post from my husband, Brian. Brian works casual call as a nurse and does the majority of the work involved in taking care of our land and animals. In his free time, Brian enjoys planting trees, building things (like this incredible chicken coop), and singing hymns. We’ve been married for 14 years, and I’m happy to call him my husband. *** Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs A few years ago we did a short family presentation in which we each brought our favorite book. I brought a hymnal. The fact that 1,700 years worth of songs are filtered down to the best 700 or so and…
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Let All the Nations Praise the Lord {New Music Monday}
Our spring program at school is coming up in a little less than a month. The students have been learning and practicing their songs since late in January. They did such an excellent job for the Christmas program that we’ve been working on some fun extra things as well. The theme of the program is “Let All the Nations Praise the Lord.” Here’s a summary of what my students will be performing for the spring program this year. Dona Nobis Pachem We’re beginning the program with “Dona Nobis Pachem,” a lovely canon, or round, meaning “grant us peace.” This song fits the theme of the program because it’s written in…
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Not unto Us, O Lord of Heaven [New Music Monday]
A few months ago, the pastor of my church mentioned this hymn in one of his sermons. After church that day, I found the hymn in our hymnal and thought the words were so beautiful and encouraging. I especially like singing hymns based on the Psalms. They cover a helpful range of emotions and remind us that God remains sovereign over all creation and faithful to His people, no matter what happens. When I played through this hymn the first time after writing in the chords, I accidentally changed the melody slightly and decided to keep the change for this recording. I added in some of my own chords, too!…
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Day Is Dying in the West
These beautiful words come from Mary A. Lathbury. They remind me of the first part of Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Everything on this earth belongs to the Lord. He manages this world with authority and grace, and upholds the universe with His might and wisdom. The “deepening shadows” may fall, but God remains, unchanged, forever. Someday the shadows will end, and a bright, new, eternal morning will rise. Praise God! Day Is Dying in the West Day is dying in the west;Heav’n is touching earth with rest;Wait and worship while the nightSets her evening lamps alightThrough…