Showing posts with label hymns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hymns. Show all posts

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Wisemen Seeking Jesus

Traveled from afar
Guided on their journey     
By a beauteous star.
     James T. East

January 6th -  the day we celebrate the Wisemen's visit to Jesus.

 
Yes, even the Wisemen visited Jesus.
 
The traditional (or popular) explanation of why Jesus was given these gifts:
Gold - a symbol representing his status as a king
Frankincense - a symbol to represent his role as a servant of God (priest)
Myrrh - a symbol that takes into account his death and being laid in the tomb
 
What I am also impressed by is that these are all a very similar colour. ...

Monday, September 14, 2015

2nd Verse

O the deep, deep love of Jesus-
Spread His praise from shore to shore.
How He loveth, ever loveth;
Changeth never, nevermore.
How He watches over His loved ones-
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth-
Watcheth over them from the throne.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

He Is Risen Indeed!

A blessed Easter to you and may we all remember what his resurrection is all about. Auf, auf mein Herz mit Freuden, nimm wahr was heut geschicht. Wie kommt nach großem Leiden Nun ein solch großes Licht. Mein Heiland war gelegt da, wo man uns hinträgt wenn von uns unser Geist gen Himmel ist gereist.

This sunset is from my film camera - I don't get up early enough for a sunrise.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Reformation Day!

     On this day in 1517,Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the castle church door in Wittenburg to state what he believed to be wrong in the Catholic church.
     This is the first verse of the German, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"(In this case,I know the German better than the English-usually it's the opposite):



Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,
Ein gute Wehr und Waffen,
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
Die uns jetzt hat betroffen;
Der alte, böse Feind, 
Mit Ernst ers jetzt meint,
Groß Macht und viel List 
Sein grausam Rüstung ist,
Auf Erd ist nich seinsgleichen.  



     On the Sunday before or after Reformation Day,we prepare short biographies of our church fathers and all the confirmed children take part in the reading of them. That is my favourite part. I am always interested in history and especially like to hear how the church was established and built.
     Just a week ago,we had a surprise visitor(that is,noone knew except for our parents and some others). Our former guest from Germany! I was quite surprised,I must say,but I am happy that he is here. :) Thankfully,he is staying for a while. :)

Monday, October 8, 2012

Thanksgiving/Erntedankfest

     A standard thanksgiving hymn for us and with a joyful melody:
Für den goldnen Sonnenschein,
Für die Luft,so klar und rein,
Für den Regen auf der Au',
Für den milden Morgentau
(For the golden sunshine,for the air,so clear and pure, for the rain on the meadows,for the mild morning dew...) 

Für das Wasser und das Brot,
Für die Freunde in der Not,
Für die Arbeit und das Spiel,
Für das Lebens Zweck und Ziel
(For the water and the bread,for the friends in the not,for the work and the play,for the life's purpose and aim...)

Für die Ruhe in der Nacht,
Für die holde Sternenpracht,
Für das teure Gotteswort,
Für die bess're Heimat dort
(For the rest in the night,for the lovely star splendor,for the costly Word of God,for the better home there...)

Für die lieben Eltern mein,
Die sich meinen Glücke weih'n,
Für den Heiland Jesus Christ,
Der von Himmel kommen is,
(For the loving parents mine,that my happiness ordain,for my Saviour Jesus Christ,that from heaven came...)

Für den lieben Ruhetag,
Den so gern ich feiern mag,
Wo wir gehn zum Haus des Herrn,
Immer wieder,ach,so gern,
(For the lovely Sunday,that I gladly celebrate,where we go to the House of the Lord,always again and ever so gladly...)

chorus
Danken wir dem Herrn.
Danken wir dem Herrn.
Vater,wir danken dir
Vater,wir danken dir;
Vater im Himmel,wir danken dir!
(Thank we the Lord,thank we the Lord. Father,we thank thee,Father,we thank thee.Father in heaven,we thank thee.)

     (Some of the translations might be a little off or wrong.)


     Last year I was so happy to have made Thanksgiving supper all by myself! I cooked red beets (picked by my younger sister, MM), cooked beans (picked by me), cooked rice, made a sauce for salmon and cooked it, and made tomato salad (tomatoes picked by S, and onions picked by my oldest sister, M).  I did burn the beets, but it wasn't too bad. :)

Monday, September 10, 2012

Another Pretty Verse.

     This one is German and tells about a bird that sings so sweet and makes people listen,but that is so small that you can barely see it.It is a cheery,uplifting,hymn particularily for children:
Vöglein im hohen Baum,
Klein ists,ihr seht es kaum
Singt doch so schön,
Daß wohl von nah und fern
Alle die Leute gern
Horchen und stehn
Horchen und stehn.
Unfortunately,though,I know very few German songs.   


Saturday, September 1, 2012

Some Pretty Verses,Particularily for Children

  God make my life a little light
Within the world to glow,
A little flame that burneth bright
Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower
That giveth joy to all,
Content to bloom in native bower,
Although the place be small.

God make my life a little song
That comforteth the sad,
That helpeth others to be strong,
And maketh others glad.

God make my life a little staff
Whereon the weak may rest;
That so what health or strength I have
May serve my neighbour best.

Wherever I may go.
Wherever I may go,
God make my life a little light
Wherever I may go.



Friday, August 24, 2012

Another Hymn

     This hymn has nice words and a nice melody,and it is so easy to play,that I think this is my favourite:

When the trials of the day
Come to burden and dismay,
And the waves of disappointment seem to roll,
I retreat unto my Friend
For I always can depend
That He understands my needs of heart and soul.

When the burdens that I bear
I entrust to You in prayer,
And some answers are withheld, I yielded stay;
May my faith and peace in Thee
 Ever sure and anchored be
Till the dawning of that great eternal day.
Chorus:
Jesus, let me walk with Thee
Though the path I may not see;
Let me place my hand in Thine so trustingly;
In Thy strength and not in mine,
While I lay my will in Thine,
Your protecting arms surround and comfort me.

     The weather is getting warmer again. Hopefully,it will stay like that for a time.Yesterday was a beautiful day and I was going to do my schoolwork outside,but it never happened.  

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A Beautiful Hymn

     I,at one time, thought that this was an ordinary hymn with a nice melody. Once,though,as I was reading through the words,I realized how beautiful it actually is.
God, that madest earth and heaven,
Darkness and light;
Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night;
May thy constant power defend us,
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us;
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night.

When the constant sun returning
Unseals our eyes,
May we, born anew like morning,
To labour rise;
Gird us for the task that calls us,
Let not ease and self enthrall us,
Strong through thee whatever befall us,
O God most wise!