How Great Thou Art

May your Sunday be filled with many "How Great Thou Art" moments.

It is No Secret

Stuart Hamblen was a hard drinking, horse-racing entertainer who was converted during a 1963 Billy Graham Crusade on the West Coast. Fired from his $1,000-a-week radio program because he refused to advertise beer, he was seeking God’s will for his life. One day an actor said to him, “I’ve heard you haven’t taken a drink for thirty days. Tell me truthfully, Stuart, have you wanted one?” “No,” he answered. “It is no secret what God can do.” “You ought to write a song about ‘It is no secret what God can do,’” suggested the friend. Hamblen did, and he found his life’s work, and strength for every temptation and trial. It is No Secret is one of my favorite hymns, and I'd like to share a slideshow I created featuring Daniel O'Donnell singing it. I hope you enjoy it. Be sure your sound is turned up before you click on "play." I have turned comments off for this post.

"How Great Thou Art Moments"

O, Lord, my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the works Thy Hand hath made ... Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!" I have been blessed with countless "How Great Thou Art" moments while capturing God's glory through my camera lens, but discovering on an early Spring morning this silhouette of a little cross hidden amongst the petals of a tulip was one of my most memorable ... With my best wishes for a Sunday filled with "How Great Thou Art" moments.

Sunday Inspiration

In memory and honor of those who lost their lives and homes in the storms last week. May they feel God's Grace surrounding them in the days to come.

For those of you who would like to help, you can visit the following websites:

Red Cross
Salvation Army

There'll Be Peace in the Valley

A Slideshow Presentation of Peace in the Valley
Written by Thomas A. Dorsey
Performed by Elvis Presley

Created by Southern Lagniappe
(Some Photos borrowed from the Internet)

Click on the "Play" button and please be patient.
It takes a few seconds for it to load.

Sunrise

From the rising of the sun unto the going down
of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalms 113:3

Scripture Signs

I'm not sure if it's just a "southern" custom, or if it's practiced all over the country, but I love these scripture signs people display in their yards, mostly in small towns. Always inspiring, they never cease to lift my spirits, and I've captured a few of them with my camera during my photo shoot ramblings. I thought it would be nice to share some of them on this first Sunday in February.

How Great Thou Art

This is a slideshow I created using pictures from the Internet and music by Elvis.

How Great Thou Art is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during Billy Graham crusades, but this rendition by Elvis is one of my favorites.

Sunday Lagniappe

"And God saw all that He had made ...
And behold, it was very good."

-- Genesis 1:31

To God Be the Glory

I appreciate our gracious hostesses, Ginger and Charlotte, giving us the opportunity to share our inspirational thoughts through their "Spiritual Sundays."

I love the old hymn "To God Be the Glory," and have created a slide show featuring some of my pictures, along with a beautiful instrumental rendition of the hymn.

The most breathtaking picture in the slide show is one a photographer friend, Marty Kittrell, took before sunrise at a Vicksburg cemetery of a statue of Jesus on the Cross. Marty has a truly God-given talent and all of his photographs reflect God's glory ... from a single leaf in a puddle of water to a magnificent sunset over the Mississippi River. I hope you will visit Marty's blog to see more of his awe-inspiring work.

And now, here is my slide show (be sure you turn your sound up, if you'd like to hear the music).

The Church's One Foundation

I appreciate our gracious hostesses, Ginger and Charlotte, giving us the opportunity to share our inspirational thoughts through their "Spiritual Sundays."

This slideshow presentation is my contribution for today (please turn your sound up before playing).

There Will Be Peace in the Valley ...

To hear the music, click on the "Play" arrow. Then wait until Elvis begins to sing and scroll down slowly to coordinate the music with the pictures.

Oh well, I’m tired and so weary ...
But I must go along,

Till the Lord comes and calls ...

Calls me away, oh yeah.

Well the morning's so bright ...

And the Lamb is the light ...

And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes ...

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day ...

There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray ...

There'll be no sadness, no sorrow ...

No trouble, trouble I see.

There will be peace in the valley for me, for me.

Well the bear will be gentle ...

And the wolves will be tame ...

And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes ...

And the beasts from the wild shall be led by a child ...

And I'll be changed ...
changed from this creature that I am, oh yes.

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day,

There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord, I pray.

There'll be no sadness, no sorrow,

No trouble, trouble I see.

There will be peace in the valley ...

For me, for me.

Peace in the Valley, by Thomas A. Dorsey
Photos borrowed from the internet

How Great Thou Art ...

[Words & music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes]
[Pictures borrowed from the internet]

To hear the music, click on the "Play" arrow and wait until Elvis begins to sing. Then scroll down slowly to follow the music.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder ...

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars ...

I hear the rolling thunder ...

Thy power throughout the universe displayed ...

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation ...

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration ...

And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee ...

How great Thou art ...

How great Thou art ...

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee ...

How great Thou art ...

How great Thou art!