This Fall, we will begin featuring hymn stories about some of the hymns being shared in our hymnsing. Each week will have a different hymn story about the song’s composition and the author. We hope you enjoy learning more about these songs of our faith!

Thessalonians 2:11-12 – “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory”

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A Morning Prayer for Our Children:

(Feel free to say each line and have your child repeat what you say or say it as you pray together.)

O God, who created the sun and the moon and the stars and the seas
and my family, Thank you for creating me.
Good morning sun. Good morning sky. Good morning Mommy.
Good morning Daddy. Good morning everybody.
Good morning God. Thank You for a new day.
God I love you. God I trust you. God I’m so happy You love me too.

I love my mommy and my mommy loves me.
God bless my mommy and God bless me.
I love my daddy and my daddy loves me.
God bless my daddy and God bless me.

I love my brother/sister/grandma/grandpa
And my brother/sister/grandma/grandpa loves me.
God bless my brother/sister/grandma/grandpa and God bless me.

God please help me to be kind to other people and
help other people be kind to me. Amen”

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For “littles” and “young at heart”
Jesus Loves Me

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Standing on the Promises

Written by Russell Kelso Carter in 1886
“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

Hymn Background:

Russell Kelso Carter was an athlete, educator, rancher, preacher and physician. This is his testimony:

From my birth in 1849, I was surrounded by Christian influences. My father stood for nearly 50 years in the ranks of Christian workers in Baltimore; by his side I had the example of a patient, loving mother. I cannot remember when I was not subject to deep convictions of sin; yet as a school-boy, I wandered from the truth until age 15, when, under the influence of the cadet prayer meeting in the Pennsylvania Military Academy, I made a profession of faith in Jesus.

But I made a common mistake; I didn’t forsake my old companions and habits. For 14 years I lived the up and down experience so familiar to the average church member. I never enjoyed myself so much as when working in Dwight Moody’s (American evangelist and publisher) meetings in Baltimore. Yet even up to that time I was continually slipping and falling. My soul cried for deliverance, and God’s unlimited promises stood out like stars above me. But I wasn’t willing to pay the price.

In the summer of 1879, my heart which had been chronically diseased for 7 years, resisting the remedies of physicians, and refusing to grow better even after 3 years of sheep ranching in California, suddenly broke down so seriously as to bring me to the verge of the grave. I had heard of the “prayer of faith” for healing, but I felt persuaded it would border on blasphemy to ask God for a strength which I didn’t propose to use wholly for Him.

Kneeling in my mother’s room in Baltimore, I made a consecration that covered everything. All doubtful things were swept aside. I meant every word, and I have never had any doubts about it since. A quietness came over me and I found the Bible wonderfully open and marvelously satisfying, as it had never been before.

Feeling all the more impressed with God’s healing promises, I concluded to go to Boston and ask prayer and anointing at the hands of Dr. Cullis. I was terribly weak, but I went. I will only add that I returned in 3 days walking by faith and not by feeling, resumed my college work in September, and at once engaged in all kinds of religious work. I was healed by the power of God alone. Praise the Lord!”