Hymns

Melodies & Musings

When English poet Folliott Pierpoint sat on a hilltop overlooking the countryside in 1864, the surrounding beauty inspired him to write a simple song of gratitude—one that still speaks to us today. That hymn is For the Beauty of the Earth.

The melody of this hymn is beautiful. But the words really help me be grateful for the many blessings I have in my life. I especially love the words to the first verse.

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

I have always loved the beauties of nature. Looking at the beautiful mountains in Northern Utah where I live fills my soul with gratitude. The beautiful blue skies and even some puffy white clouds help me be grateful. But what really fills my soul with gratitude is the love of my Heavenly Father who loved me before my birth. He loves me no matter what. He will love me with a perfect love I can’t even begin to imagine throughout eternity. He created this earth for me and for all of us to enjoy its beauty.

What is one small detail in nature or your daily life that made you pause and give thanks today? What is one line from a hymn that always fills your heart with gratitude?

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Melodies & Musings

I mentioned in a post last week that my Mom and I are memorizing the words of the hymn, I Stand All Amazed. That hymn has been one of my favorites for many years. The tune is so beautiful, so as a singer I appreciate that very much. Then as a writer, I really love the words of this hymn. They are so emotional and raw. Then as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, my whole life, the words bring to my mind my personal faith and testimony in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

This week I’m sharing why I love the words of the third verse.

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Chorus:

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

This verse clearly tells of my love for my Savior and I’m sure many of you can relate to these words as well. I can’t imagine the amount of love that my Savior had for me to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He literally took upon Himself all of our pain, sickness, trials, sins and everything else we feel in this life. I can’t imagine the agony and pain He must have felt in those hard moments in the Garden. But He went through it for you and for me. As the words of this verse say, that I can never forget the love and devotion that He must have felt for us. Then we should give Him our love and devotion in return.

I can’t wait for the day when I will see my Savior again and be able to fall down at His feet, bathe His feet with my tears for all He did for me, and embrace Him. I would thank Him for all He suffered for me, for always being there when I needed Him, and for being my personal Savior.

What words from a favorite hymn have touched your heart or strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ? When you think about the sacrifice Jesus made for you, what does His love mean to you personally?

Click here to watch the short video of me singing this verse:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZY95RcyzQek