A Birthday Song

My daughter's birthday arrives again tomorrow . . . The song leader at our little church has this tradition of letting the birthday person choose a song amidst the first few hymns that day.  Your birthday needs to happen during that last week.  So next week, Loraine gets to choose a song.

I have fond memories of celebrating birthdays at Kitchi . . . The congregation there would sing a birthday song to/for you . . . Not the common "Happy Birthday to You", but a song that starts out like this, "So, you've had a birthday, that's what we've been told.  May the Lord as His blessing for each year you're old . . . ". I have loved that song and will always love it!  I just don't hear it enough these days . . . I request it at times when a happy birthday song is needed . . . But many people do not know it . . . In my opinion it is far superior and the best birthday song ever.   But, really . . . getting to choose a song during Sunday morning singing is one of the best things ever as well and probably better . . .

I wonder what song my daughter will choose . . . I love hearing the songs chosen by the birthday girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen.  Songs about God's Holiness, goodness . . . Songs about faith and hope . . .  perseverance and heaven . . . love and joy . . . Trials and storms . . .

Thank You, God, for the lovely, beautiful gift on song!  Lifting out spirits to Your higher thoughts and ways!!!

" . . . May He bless you and keep you, ALL the year through.  And we pray that you'll ALWAYS be faithful and true!!!"

Holding Fast

I found a new-for-me hymn . . .  Did you ever hear this one?

He Will Hold Me Fast

VERSE 1 
"When I fear my faith will fail, 
Christ will hold me fast; 
When the tempter would prevail, 
He will hold me fast. 
I could never keep my hold 
Through life’s fearful path; 
For my love is often cold; 
He must hold me fast. 

REFRAIN 
He will hold me fast, 
He will hold me fast; 
For my Savior loves me so, 
He will hold me fast. 

VERSE 2 
Those He saves are His delight, 
Christ will hold me fast; 
Precious in His holy sight, 
He will hold me fast. 
He’ll not let my soul be lost; 
His promises shall last; 
Bought by Him at such a cost, 
He will hold me fast."

 Ada Habershon (1861-1918), Public Domain. 

I love that it's not totally all up to us . . . Yes, I need to do my part . . . But then God does His!!! . . . He's my anchor . . . He HOLDS me fast!

" Let us draw near,
With a true heart,
In full assurance of faith.
Having our hearts sprinkled
From an evil conscience
And our bodies washed with our water.

Let us HOLD FAST
the confession
Of our hope,
Without
Wavering.
For
He
Who
Promised
Is
FAITHFUL!!
Hebrews 20:22-23