Be Thou Vision is base on Jeremiah 9:23-24, This is what the Lord says: The wise man must not boast in his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me — that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

Saint Dallán Forgaill was Isish poet born in the 5th century. He was poet, Chief Ollam of Ireland, as well as a scholar of Latin scriptural learning .Although he was not a priest, Dallán founded several churches throughout Ireland, such as Kildallan in County Cavan. The prayer belongs to a type known as a lorica, a prayer for protection.[7] The symbolic use of a battle-shield and a sword to invoke the power and protection of God. He went blind in the middle of his lif. Note first stances; Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

It was translated in 1905 by Mary E. Byrneand Eleanor Hull, 1912. Music: ‘Slane’ Traditional Irish.

Note 4th stance:

Be Thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
be Thou my dignity, Though my delight;
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower,
raise Thou me heav’nward, O Power of my pow’r.

The original was written;

Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:

ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.

Rop tú mo scrútain i l-ló ‘s i n-aidche;

rop tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.

Rop tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu;

rop tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu.

Rop tussu m’athair, rob mé do mac-su;

rop tussu lem-sa, rob misse lat-su.

Rop tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb;

rop tussu m’ordan, rop tussu m’airer.

Rop tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen;

rop tú nom-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.

Rop tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain;

rop tú mo flaithius i n-nim ‘s i talmain.

Rop tussu t’ áenur sainserc mo chride;

ní rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.

Co talla forum, ré n-dul it láma, Huh!!!!

mo chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda.

Rop tussu t’ áenur m’ urrann úais amra:

ní chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.

Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul,

mar marb oc brénad, ar t’ fégad t’ áenur.

Do serc im anmain, do grád im chride,

tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.

Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime,

do serc im anmain, do grád im chride.

Go Ríg na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire;

ro béo i flaith nime i n-gile gréine

A Athair inmain, cluinte mo núall-sa:

mithig (mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.

A Chríst[note 1] mo chride, cip ed dom-aire,

a Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile

He was declare a saint in the early 11th century, during the reign of the High King of Ireland Máel Sechnaill but was already listed as a saint in the earlier 9th century,

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

All Mighty Fortress is our God,” written in 1527 by Martin Luther Base on Psalms 46. Martin Luther greatest desire was to preach from scriptures and bring music and worship back into the congregation. He was an excellent musician. As a boy he sang in a choir that performed at weddings and funerals, and also played the flute. Especially in the form of congregational hymns sung in everyday language, sometimes borrowing secular tunes.forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. It should especially among Reformed churches music is a significant part of worship. Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. Martin Luther wrote,”The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through Music.”Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.

Historians declare that it has been sung by persecuted people on their way to exile, and by martyrs at their death.It has been called the “Battle Hymn of the  Reformation” for the effect it had it has been called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation” for the effect it had in increasing the support for the Reformers’ cause

“A mighty fortress is our God A bulwark never failing Our helper he amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe His craft and power are great And armed with cruel hate On earth is not his equal.”

The strains of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” could be heard drifting through the portals of the gigantic Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 14, 2001. It was part of the National Service of Prayer and Remembrance, just three days following the 9/11 attack on our nation.On the base of Luther’s tomb is inscribed, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

A Great Thou Art

Evangelist Billy Graham said: “The reason I like ‘How Great Thou Art’ is because it glorifies God. It turns Christian’s eyes toward God, rather than upon themselves. I use it as often as possible because it is such a God-honoring song.”It was base on Psalm 8; 1,8 and Jeremiah 10; 6. Carl Boberg, a member of the Swedish Parliament compose.It was translated into English from the Russian by English missionary Stuart K. Hine,

Cart Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck, where they had participated in an afternoon service. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. The thunder pealed in loud claps. Then rain came in cool fresh showers. In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared. When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him… From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush… the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening. It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.

It was that time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest colouring; the birds were singing in trees and everywhere. It was very warm.

Note first and second stances,

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

STUART K. HINE (1899-1989) was born in west London on the 25th July 1899, just as a turbulent new century was dawning. He made his own personal commitment to Christ at the age of 14 and shortly after, he was baptized.

Stuart married Mercy Salmon and within a month of their wedding they set out for Poland to begin a period of service in Eastern Europe which was to last for over sixteen years. In June 1934 Stuart set off on a three hundred mile mission-by-bicycle to the people of the nearby Carpathian Mountains.There, they heard this Russian hymn, learned it, and started using it in their evangelistic services. Stuart Hine also started re-writing some of the verses — and writing new verses (all in Russian. Note stances three; And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on a Cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Dmitri’s wife was reading from the gospel of John about the crucifixion of Christ to a houseful of guests, and those visitors were in the very act of repenting.

In Ukraine (as I know first hand!), this act of repenting is done very much out loud. So the Hines heard people calling out to God, saying how unbelievable it was tha t Christ would die for their own sins, and praising Him f or His love and mercy. They just couldn’t barge in and disrupt this obvious work of the Holy Spirit, so they stayed outside and listened. Stuart wrote down the phrases he heard the Repenters use, and (even though this was all in Russian), it became the third verse that we know today: “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.” They also left Eastern Europe at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, returning to London. After the war, and after questioning God as to why their ministry to the Eastern Europeans was curtailed, the Hines were amazed to discover that millions of Displaced People from Easter Europe were streaming into England! Their ministry came to them, instead of them going to their ministry!

One man to whom they were ministering told them an amazing story: he had been separated from his wife at the very end of the war, and had not seen her since. At the time they were separated, his wife was a Christian, but he was not, but he had since been converted. His deep desire was to find his wife so they could at last share their faith together. But he told the Hines that he did not think he would ever see his wife on earth again. Instead he was longing for the day when they would meet in heaven, and could share in the Life Eternal there.

Note stances 4;When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Artists like Susan Boyle, Carrie Underwood, Elvis Presley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Loretta Lynn and John Cash.

The beloved hymn didn’t start its life as a song. It began as a poem

Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow

Thomas Ken was a Anglican bishop, hymn writer, poet and royal chaplain to Charles II of England.Where he was both rewarded and punished for his firm adherence to principle. Rewarded where he became royal chaplain to Charles I. However, He and seven bishops oppose the Declaration of Indulgence, which was designed to promote Roman Catholicism

Where he was arrested thrown in the Tower, and found not guilty where he continues to serve James 2 until he fled the country.

When William and Mary were crowned monarchs in 1689. For his refusal to swear allegiance to the new regime, Ken was deprived of his office in 1691 and spent the remaining 20 years of his life in retirement. His familiar hymns, “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun” and “Glory to Thee, My God, This Night,along with All praise to thee, who safe hast kept,All praise to thee, my God, this night, Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. A doxology sung at the end church service.Praise him, all creatures here below;Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.