Friday, July 01, 2005

Making a joyful noise


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~ Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From Sea to shining sea.
.
~ Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control, Thy liberty in law.
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~ Oh, beautiful for heros proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine.
.
~ Oh, beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
.
.
I figured I'd get by with scanning and posting the song. Then I decided it was too small too really read. I cannot tell you, fully, of the thoughts and feelings I just experienced typing out, line upon line, this beautiful song. I was brought to tears. I copied this from my Hymnal. I'm honoring the holiday by posting something from that hymnal each day to the Fourth. There is so much history, and personal meaning, for me in these 'prayers', ...I don't feel I can bare any greater record or testimony into mine own heart [or the heart of another] than by simply reading, or better yet, singing these standards. ~ Amen

5 comments:

DBFrank said...

AMEN!

Burfica said...

stell cowboy stold my comment. LOL

Amen sista amen

MomThatsNuts said...

I like Because I have been given much....do you have that one??

Mom

Dorko said...

It's copy writed so I'll just post the lyrics here in comments, for you Mom, for me too; did me good writing out these words too:

Because I Have Been Given Much

Because I have been given much, I too much give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts from thee With ev’ry brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread, My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need; I’ll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

MomThatsNuts said...

Ahhh thanks Dorko~ Doesnt hurt for any of us to be reminded of how much we have!!!

Mom

1 Corinthians 12:31

... covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.