A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Music

Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul

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I remember singing this song as I was growing up, it was also a favourite song in a Baptist church I attended for a while.  Singing it pop up in my folk hymnal brought a smile to my heart, so today I bring you Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul. 

heaven came down and glory filled my soul

Lyrics to Heaven Came Down….

O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

Chorus
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul, (filled my soul)
When at the cross the Savior made me whole; (made me whole)
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! (filled my soul)

Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Chorus

Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure there in those mansions sublime.
And it’s because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.

Chorus

Author

John W. Peterson is the author of this fun song.   I found this site devoted to him and his music.  He was a pilot in WW2 who flew the deadly China Hump.  A graduate of the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music.  He launched his song-writing career in Pennsylvania.  Later on he moved to Michigan, and then on to Arizona. 

Over his music career he wrote more than 1000 songs such as Surely Goodness and Mercy.

Thinking Deeper

Think about these words eh?

O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

I know that many are like me, growing up in the Christian home, our faith deepening over time.  We are like Timothy… growing up in faith.  

Yet others are like Paul, having a sudden awareness brought to them of the reality of who Christ is. 

Regardless of how your faith deepens and you come to know more of the Lord, the question remains… do you remember Jesus’ compassion?  Do we recall how, in our time of need, Jesus responds?  This song draws us back into the remembrance.  It draws us to remember just who Christ is and what he calls us to be, what he declares us to be.  Justified people, a people won by grace and love, a people filled with hope because we know what awaits us. 

Happiness is the Lord

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I used to sing this song as a child.  I haven’t heard Happiness is the Lord in a very long time so when I saw it in my songbook I thought… let’s share it!  🙂

Happiness is the Lord

The History

Author is Ira F. Stanphill who was an Assemblies of God pastor.  He also sang and wrote gospel songs.  By the time he was 10 years old he was playing many instrument: Piano, ukulele, organ, and accordion.  He was writing songs by the time he was 17 as well as working at revival meetings, and singing at various church meetings/gatherings.  He worked as a singing evangelist.  He was born in New Mexico in 1914 and died in 1993.

Lyrics to Happiness is the Lord

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favour,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord.
Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if the teardrops start,
I’ve found a secret,
It’s Jesus in my heart.

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that’s worth the livin’,
Taking a try that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if the teardrops start,
I’ve found a secret,
It’s Jesus in my heart,
Jesus in my heart.
Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that’s worth the livin’,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord.

Trust and Obey

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It has been a long time since I sung this song Trust and Obey.  Such an easy song to sing with a powerful reminder that all we need to do is trust and obey the Lord God. 

Trust and Obey

Written by John H. Sammis, a Pres­by­ter­ian min­is­ter, inspired by a statement made by a young man at a revival meeting.  This young man said “I am not quite sure…but I am goi­ng to trust, and I am going to obey. Dwight Moody took note of it and sent it along to Rev. Sammis. (source)

Rev. Sammis, a New Yorker, was originally a businessman who became a pastor. He wrote more than 100 songs throughout his life.  After serving in various churches as pastor,  he served as teacher at The Bible Institute of Los Angeles. 

Lyrics to Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

Review: Simply Music

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Today I am reviewing for you a free to use program for you from Simply Music called the Music & Creativity course.  It is their foundation course. Taught by Neil Moore who has a strong desire to help his students learn to play music right the first time. 

Simply Music

What I Am Reviewing

Simply Music.
Music & Creativity – Foundation Course.
Neil Moore.
On-line, all ages, internet access required.
Video Based
piano lessons, online piano lessons, learn piano online
Reviewed for Homeschool Review Crew.

This course introduces you to Simply Music’s unique, playing-based approach, and has you playing great-sounding music from your very first lessons. 

Simply Music

The Basics of Simply Music

The Music & Creativity Foundation Course (MAC) is a video based program. Through video Mr. Moore introduces all music, terms, styles, drawings etc to help you learn to play piano.  He provides PDF’s to supplement the videos. 

Three PDF”s round out the videos.

  • Reference Book – music, chords, pictograms, fingering
  • Music and the Art of Long term Relationships – outline of his theory behind playing music. 14 chapters. Challenging assumptions about music,  encouraging everyone to have a relationship with music. 
  • Practice Pad – keyboard you can print out to practice on
Simply Music

My original intent was to have my lad work through this music program.  He is a complete beginner and has a vague interest in learning to play some sort of musical instrument. 

I did manage to get him started but then life intervened in the way of a part-time job.  Suddenly he found his free time quite truncated.  Since he is only 13 years old (oops now 14) I didn’t want him to not be able to enjoy his summer as well, something had to give and that something was music. 

Ergo I filled in the gap. 

My free-time isn’t what I would like it to be either so I listened to the online piano lessons usually while doing something else.  Pausing to check out his visuals, referencing his PDF’s as needed.   I know how to play piano (rather organ/keyboard) so wasn’t too concerned about the mechanics. 

It was easy for me, since I’m used to how music flows, to move out the music with my fingers. I could use his practice keyboard, my real keyboard, or just tap it out on my table.  I have no pictures because taking pictures of yourself playing doesn’t work well when no one else is around.  🙂

The Details of Simply Music

One thing that Mr. Moore frequently referenced was stopping to think about what you wanted to play.  Listening to the rhythm of the music and getting a feel for it in your head before you started to play.  This would help you minimize any errors, which would save you time in the long run.  You wouldn’t have to UNLEARN those errors first.  I liked that. 

Simply Music

Each lesson consisted of Mr. Moore teaching us how to learn his program.  Seeing the music, learning hand movements, learning to listen, and learning how to diagram music. 

Simply Music

Then learning how to translation that rhythm (so seeing the pattern that emerges from a sentence/line of music) into hand movements. 

Simply Music

This video will help you understand this concept better.  🙂

The set up of the Music & Creativity Course helps you to know exactly where you are in the lesson.

Simply Music

You do need to tell the computer when you have completed each lesson so that you can move on to the next one.  Marking it complete does not stop you from being able to redo the lessons, it just acts as a bookmark for when you next access your course.

Simply Music

I found some lag in moving from one lesson to the other. It wasn’t overly long but it was notice-able enough that I paid attention.   Mr. Moore takes his time to explain how he wants us to think about music and gives us a variety of genres to provide interest.   Blues, classical and contemporary pieces are some of what he plays. “Dreams Come True”, “Eliza”, “Christowel”, and “Black is Blue” are among the titles used. 

My Thoughts and Recommendations

My Recommendation is easy.  It’s free!  Mr. Moore has a love for helping students learn to play music.  It’s is easily accessible as long as you have an internet connection.  Use it!  It is an excellent way to evaluate his course to see if you want to upgrade.  The upgrade itself is not expensive making it  very doable. 

If I could change anything: I would like a written transcript of the videos right with the videos. I would rather read what I need than listen to a video. My son likes the video but would like to have at least the main points witten along with the video.  He says that would be helpful to him when listening to know what to pay attention to.

Simply Music

Check out the Reviews for Simply Music

45 members of the crew have reviewed the free program Simply Music.  I urge you to click on the image below so you can read them. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplymusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simplymusic
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/simplymusicinst/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplymusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/simplymusic

disclaimer HSRC

O Jesus, We Adore Thee

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Ah, the adoration of our saviour. It’s a good thing you know? To truly adore the Lord Jesus. O Jesus, We Adore Thee is as hymn to help us do exactly that.

O Jesus, We Adore Thee

Arthur T. Russell wrote this hymn back in the mid-1800’s. He was an English Clergyman serving in the Unitarian church. He was a man of poor health and died when he was 68 years old. He wrote 140 hymns over his lifetime and translated over 100 others. He occasionally wrote verses for other hymns wanting to improve their theology.

Lyrics

O Jesus, we adore Thee,
Upon the cross, our King!
We bow our hearts before Thee,
Thy gracious name we sing.
That name hath brought salvation,
That name in life our stay,
Our peace, our consolation,
When life shall fade away.

Yet doth the world disdain Thee,
Still passing by the cross;
Lord, may our hearts retain Thee;
All else we count but loss.
Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned Thee,
And nailed Thee to the tree;
Our pride, our Lord, disdained Thee;
Yet deign our Hope to be.

O glorious King, we bless Thee,
No longer pass Thee by;
O Jesus, we confess Thee
The Son enthroned on high.
Lord, grant to us remission;
Life through Thy death restore;
Yea, grant us fruition
Of life forevermore.

Did you know?

SchoolhouseTeachers.com has a music course where you can learn more about hymns? I know!  Rather cool eh?  It’s called Music Throughout History.  Now it does more than hymns, but it has a whole section on hymns which is rather cool.  Anyways, membership is cheap right now, so you may as well give it a boo eh?

In the Cross of Christ I Glory

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Do you glory in the cross? I am slowly starting to really see the significance of it. I know Christ’s death and sacrifice is uber important and believe in it highly. But sometimes I fail to GLORY in it. This hymn helps In the Cross of Christ I Glory.

In the cross of Christ I glory

John Bowring is the author of this familiar hymn. Recalling us to the power of the cross. I found this interesting tidbit on Cyberhymnal:

There is a tradition that while Bowring was governor of Hong Kong, he visited nearby Macao and saw the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which had been gutted by fire in 1835. Above the ruins, he saw the church’s cross still standing. The story is likely apocryphal, though—the hymn was published a decade before the fire, and more than 20 years before Bowing was in Hong Kong: He was appointed British consul in 1849, and governor in 1854.

John Bowring was born in England, son of a merchant Charles Bowring, whose main market was China. Over his lifetime he wrote 88 hymns. Worked in his father’s business, started his own company, travelled extensively and learned several languages. He had a good reputation as a political economist and parliamentary reformer.

Lyrics

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me—
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

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The hymn Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne leapt from the pages of hymnbook I was leafing through so I thought I should share it with you. 

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

 Written by Emily E. Elliott. It was first used in 1864 at St. Mark’s Church in Bright­on, Eng­land.  Elliot’s father was the preacher there.

Elliott was the editor of “The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor.”  She wrote Thou Didst leave thy throme in 1870, but published it separately for children and choir of her Dad’s church.  She later wrote several hymns many of which were published. 

Elliot did a lot of work with rescue missions and children and wrote a book called “under the pillow” which contained several hymns. 

 Timothy Richard Matthews wrote a special tune for this song, called Margaret since it is written to irregular text. 

Lyrics

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

Refrain

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home,
Saying Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.