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Showing posts from January, 2011

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

January 28 O ZION, HASTE Mary Ann Thomson, 1834–1923 May Your ways be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. (Psalm 67:2) The Christian church is God’s appointed means of spreading the gospel around the world. A church that is not a missionary church will quench the Spirit of God and miss His blessing. God’s agenda for history is “that all nations might believe and obey Him” (Romans 16:26). All too often, however, the church has allowed itself to become self-centered, merely maintaining the status quo and failing to respond actively to this biblical directive. That’s why we need missionary hymns like this one. Its author, Mary Ann Thomson, was born in London, England, but spent most of her life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was active in the Church of the Annunciation. She wrote a number of hymns and poems, this being the only one to survive, however. She wrote “O Zion, Haste” out of a stressful experience in 1868. One night, as she was watching her child who ...

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

January 5 HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION 1787 “K”—in Rippon’s Selection of Hymns, So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). A believer’s stability for this life, as well as his confidence for eternity, rests solely on the written promises of God’s Word. The direction of the living God for our lives is very definite. It is found in a firm foundation—the written revelation: “Thus saith the Lord.” In the first stanza the sure foundation of the Christian faith is established as being the Word of God. This challenging question is posed: What more can God do than provide His very Word as a completed revelation of Himself to man? The succeeding verses personalize precious promises from His Word: Verse Two—Isaiah 41:10—“Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God …” Verse Three—Isaiah 43:2—“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee …” Verse Four—2 Corinthians 12:9—“My grace is suffi...