Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Count Your Blessings

This hymn is, of course, one of the best loved songs of all. It is without doubt one of the songs that we san as children in out Sunday schools and have heard numerous times during our life. The song was written by Reverend Johnson Oatman Jr. who was born near Medford, New Jersey on April 21, 1856 and who was a prolific writer of gospel songs during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries having lived fro 1856 to 1922. This song is considered to be the finest of Oatman's many songs, some 5,000 in all. The composer of the music for this hymn is Edwin O. Excell (1851-1921) being born in Stark County, Ohio, on December 13, 1851.
It is also a hymn that received a lot of popularity in the U.K., where, the London Daily reported a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith. In it, it was stated that Mr. Smith said "In South London men sing it, the boys whistle it and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn".

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

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