Enc4life

Written by Isaac Watts(1674-1748) one of the great hymn writers of old. An incredible song of worship and praise. "The number of Watts' publications is very large. His collected works, first published in 1720, embrace sermons, treatises, poems and hymns. His "Horae Lyricae" was published in December, 1705. His "Hymns" appeared in July, 1707. The first hymn he is said to have composed for religious worship, is "Behold the glories of the Lamb," written at the age of twenty. It is as a writer of psalms and hymns that he is everywhere known. Some of his hymns were written to be sung after his sermons, giving expression to the meaning of the text upon which he had preached. Montgomery calls Watts "the greatest name among hymn-writers," and the honour can hardly be disputed. His published hymns number more than eight hundred." https://hymnary.org/person/Watts_Isaac

Authored by Fanny Crosby one of the great hymn writers that has ever lived. Is is said of this particular hymn "Safe in the arms of Jesus", probably one of her best known hymns, was her own favorite. Fanny loved her work, and was happy in it. She was always ready either to sympathize or join in a mirthful conversation, as the case may be. The secret of this contentment dates from her first composition at the age of eight years. "It has been the motto of my life," she says. It is: "O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be;" This has continued to be her philosophy. She says that had it not been for her affliction she might not have so good an education, nor so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory. She knows a great many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, and also the four Gospels before she was ten years of age." https://hymnary.org/person/Crosby_Fanny

Written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855, the author of this hymn knew the meaning of these words. Here is an excerpt from Www.Hymnary.Org. It is worth reading. Music by Music_for_videos on Pixabay.Com Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, he enrolled in a military college to prepare for an army career. However, poor health forced him to give up that ambition. Soon after came a second blow—his fiancée died in a drowning accident on the eve of their wedding in 1844. Later that year he moved to Ontario, where he taught school in Woodstock and Brantford. His plans for marriage were dashed again when his new bride-to-be died after a short illness in 1855. Following this calamity Scriven seldom had a regular income, and he was forced to live in the homes of others. He also experienced mistrust from neighbors who did not appreciate his eccentricities or his work with the underprivileged. A member of the Plymouth Brethren, he tried to live according to the Sermon on the Mount as literally as possible, giving and sharing all he had and often doing menial tasks for the poor and physically disabled. Because Scriven suffered from depression, no one knew if his death by drowning in Rice Lake was suicide or an accident. https://hymnary.org/person/Scriven_JM

Translated from an old Irish Hymn, "Bí Thusa 'mo Shúile," into English as "Be Thou My Vision" in 1905 by Mary E. Byrne. Music by Music_for_videos on Pixabay.com

This short poem, written by Augustus Toplady(1740-1778), who also wrote Rock of Ages, is a wonderful prayer for Christ to be the center and focus of the life of His child. Christ is everything to the believer and nothing else truly matters. Toplady writing about his own conversion said ""Strange that I who had so long sat under the means of grace in England should be brought right unto God in an obscure part of Ireland, midst a handful of people met together in a barn, and by the ministry of one who could hardly spell his own name. Surely it was the Lord's doing and is marvellous. The excellency of such power must be of God and cannot be of man. The regenerating spirit breathes not only on whom but likewise, when and where and as He listeth." https://hymnary.org/person/Toplady_Augustus

Written by Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871) this beloved hymn speaks to the simplicity of the gospel. Just come as you are with all your faults and fears to the Lamb of God and be saved.

A familiar children's song but with different words.

Have you ever thought what a personal letter from God, our Abba might say? Here is what it might say. Music by Music_for_Videos on Pixabay.com

Written by E.A. Hoffman in 1894, Hoffman wrote over 2000 gospel songs including "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms".

Written by Judson W. Van Deventer in 1896. A fourth stanza was added for the purposes of this presentation. The words are a promise and a plea from the child of God. Music by Music_For_Videos on Pixabay.com. Pictures are from Pixabay.Com.