Away in a Manger - Beautiful Harp Rendition !

Away in a Manger - Lovely Lullaby Pays Homage to Our Saviour's Homeless Start in Life

This post includes a beautiful touching rendition of Away in a Manger by a young homeless harpist - what could be more appropriate for this piece of music?

Have you ever really listened carefully to the story of Our Saviour's birth? The song "Away in a Manger"  highlights the fact that the Saviour of this world was born into poverty. 

His earthly parents had to make do with whatever shelter they could possibly get - a stable. This is the case for many people in Canada today. There simply isn't enough affordable housing.  Ironically, there are plenty of empty offices and stores, but due to zoning by-laws, people are not allowed to live in these spaces.

The young woman playing the harp in this piece is homeless. If you know someone in Ontario Canada who could use a live-in harpist to help soothe the soul as David did for Saul please leave a confidential note in the comments below, and I will do my best to connect you.

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Scripture:

• Proverbs 28:27

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About Away in A Manger

The poem Away in a Manger has been sung to many different tunes. The earliest printed tune, shown below, was published in 1885 and sung to a tune called St. Kilda and was attributed to J. E. Clark. It was published in The Little Children's Book for Schools and Families

Away in a Manger Sheet Music -St. Kilda 1885

The words to Away in a Manger are as follows:

Away in a manger, with no room for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes!

I love the Lord Jesus look down from the sky,

And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus I ask thee to stay,

And love me forever and guide me always!

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven to live with thee there!

Sources:

• Sheet music 1885 St. Kilda from By Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America. - Little children's book for schools and families. (1885), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53847210

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

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What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Tragic Tale Surrounding This Beloved Irish Canadian Hymn!

Joseph M. Scriven's Irish Emigrant Poem Becomes World Beloved Hymn

Scripture:

• Ephesians 5:19 Greet one another with psalms, and hymns and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your heart.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus has been translated and sung in many languages around the world. The story behind this beloved hymn by Joseph M. Scriven is rather tragic. This post has the words What a Friend We Have in Jesus, as well as a bit about the author of this hymn and other resources you might find useful.

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The Story Behind What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born to a prosperous Irish family on September 10, 1819, in Banbridge Ireland. He graduated with a degree from Trinity College in 1842. Life must have seemed wonderful. He was engaged to be married in 1843, but the night before their marriage, his fiance accidentally drowned.

Two years later, the bereft young man left Ireland and emigrated to Canada where he took up residence in Woodstock Ontario. In 1855, while visiting James Sackville in Bewdley Ontario he got word that his mother in Ireland was gravely ill. He wrote a poem which he titled "Pray Without Ceasing" to send to her. Joseph only made two copies of the poem. One he sent to his mother, and the other he gave to Mrs. Sackville. How the poem came to be published in a newspaper and caught the attention of composer Charles Crozat Converse remains a mystery. It was Converse who created the tune and changed the name of the song to What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

In 1850, Joseph moved to Rice Lake and was employed as a tutor for the family of Lieut. Pengelley. About 1857, Joseph fell in love once again shortly after moving to Port Hope, Ontario. Once again his fiance died before they could be married.  He devoted the remainder of his life to tutoring, preaching and caring for others. Scriven was not a stranger to hard work. He even established a dairy in Port Hope to support a destitute widow. 

Modest Home of Joseph M. Scriven from Internet Archives

While Mr. Scriven was not a member of the Plymouth Brethren, his faith was greatly influenced by their ideals, such as not purchasing anything beyond a person's needs. Joseph Scriven was known as an ardent philanthropist, sometimes even giving people the clothes off his own back. He expounded on the importance of men and women wearing plain clothing so they could provide for the poor in some of his writings.

If we would avoid unnecessary and unscriptural expenses, there would be no need to ask the people of the world for money to carry on Christ's work, or to get concerts, banquets and other unscriptural means of coaxing money, from the people, of the world, as though Christ needed to beg from Satan.

He was often found preaching in the market and streets of Port Hope and gathered a small congregation at Rice Lake.

In 1869, Scriven published a collection of 115 Hymns and Verses, but it did not include "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

Ironically, a tall obelisk bearing the words of the hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus was erected at his gravesite in the Pengelly Family Cemetary north of Port Hope Ontario in memory of Joseph Scriven by a group of people who loved the wonderful hymn he blessed the world with - What a Friend We Have in Jesus. If you love this Hymn, please consider donating to the charity that has enabled me to write this post The Salvation Army Toronto Homeless Supports Donations of time and expertise as well as funds are greatly appreciated.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Lyrics

Here are the lyrics to What a Friend We Have in Jesus. If you would like to print a copy of these lyrics, just click the image below and head over to the Google Docs copy I created of these lovely lyrics. Then click "File" and select "Print".

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. 

 Joseph M. Scriven 1819-1886 

 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, 

 All our sins and griefs to bear! 

 What a privilege to carry 

 Everything to God in prayer! 

 Oh, what peace we often forfeit, 

 Oh, what needless pain we bear — 

 All because we do not carry 

 Everything to God in prayer! 

 Have we trials and temptations? 

 Is there trouble anywhere? 

 We should never be discouraged : 

 Take it to the Lord in prayer! 

 Can we find a Friend so faithful? 

 Who will all our sorrows share? 

 Jesus knows our every weakness — 

Take it to the Lord in prayer! 

 Are we weak and heavy-laden, 

 Cumbered with a load of care? 

 Precious Saviour, still our refuge, 

 Take it to the Lord in prayer! 

 Do thy friends despise, forsake thee ?— 

 Take it to the Lord in prayer! 

 In His arms, He'll take and shield thee, 

 Thou wilt find a solace there.

Lyrics - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Music

What a Friend We Have in Jesus has been recorded in many languages over the years including:

• Cree
• French

Sources:

• What a friend we have in Jesus and other hymns [microform]: Scriven, Joseph, 1819-1886: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive
• Joseph M. Scriven - Wikipedia

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

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Help Fund Your Music Program!

Do You Teach Music Too?

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Scripture:

• Sing praise to Addonai with the lyre in melodious song with the harp. With trumpets and a blast of the ram's horn shout for joy before Addonai the king. Psalm 98:5-6

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United Church Doxology - Story Behind the Hymn

Praise God!

This post has the story behind the Doxology I grew up singing at Bethel United Church.

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• Christian Music Posts on Turtle Dove Thoughts

I was christened as an infant at Bethel United Church just outside Omemee, Ontario. It was here that I first found Jesus and learned of His Father's amazing love for us all. I have many wonderful happy memories of my experiences there as a small child.

Bethel United Church

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See More Doxology Prints Here

I learned to read by standing on the pew between my mother and my sister, singing along to the hymns and following along in the hymn book. One hymn that was sung almost every week was the Doxology, so it may well have been the first thing I learned to read. The Doxology was sung as the collection plate was brought to the alter after the collection was taken up.

Here is a virtual choir from Hamilton Ontario singing the Doxology as I remember it.

Jesus Loves Me - Story Behind the Song, Lyrics and More!

Jesus Loves Me - Do You Know This Story? 

I believe the most important thing people need to know is that God loves them. How much does he love us? He loves us so much that he gave his only Son as a sacrifice to die for us. The hymn Jesus Loves Me tells this truth with great simplicity. This post has the public domain words to this well-loved hymn, a sing-along video, and the story behind the hymn.

 Scriptures: 

• No greater love has a man than this that he lay down his life for his brother. John 15:13
• God so loved the world that He gave His only son, Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but live forever. John 3:16

Note: This blog has referral links that help our writers eat when you make purchases through them. Would you like to write on Turtle Dove Thoughts? Guest Bloggers are welcome. Please drop a note in the comments below, or fill in the Guest Blogger form.

Jesus Loves Me - Story Behind the Song

What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Public Domain Lyrics

Christian Music - Joseph M. Scriven  - What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

Scriptures:

• I will never leave you nor forsake you. from Hebrews 13:5
• No greater love has a man than this that he lay down his life for his brother. John13:15
• A new commandment I give to you - "Love one another as I have loved you!" John13:34

This morning, someone on Twitter tweeted they were confused about friendship. Sometimes it may seem that people you thought were your friends are nowhere to be found. However, God promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. It is also written: "Am I a man that I would lie?"

Perhaps the friendship of people is supposed to be imperfect so we will treasure the perfect friendship of God all the more.

 What a Friend We Have in Jesus is one of my favourite hymns.

This post has the words to What a Friend We Have in Jesus, an embedded video, and a bit about the story behind the song. Won't you sing along?

Note: This blog has referral links that help our writers eat when you make purchases through them. Would you like to write on Turtle Dove Thoughts? Guest Bloggers are welcome. Please drop a note in the comments below, or fill in the Guest Blogger form

What a Friend We Have in Jesus - The Story Behind the Song

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• More Music Posts on Turtle Dove Thoughts

Story Behind The Phillips , Craig, Dean Song - You're Still God!

Christian Entertainment News- Phillips, Craig and Dean Post Story Behind You're Still God! 

Do you enjoy learning what inspired songs? I certainly do. Christian male trio- Phillips, Craig and Dean just posted the following YouTube video sharing the story behind their hit Christian pop song "You're Still God"

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Christian Trio Phillips Craig and Dean Reveal the Inspiration Behind You're Still God

You may also be interested in:

• More Christian Music Posts
• Music by Phillips Craig & Dean on Ebay
• Over Comer Pastor Alan DiDio - Atheist to Pastor

You Keep Hope Alive - Story Behind the Song Revealed!

Do You Love Hearing Stories Behind Songs? Here is the You Keep Hope Alive Story!

Phillipps Craig and Dean just posted this video clip explaining the story behind their song You Keep Hope Alive.

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 Have you heard it yet?

Story Behind The Song: Almighty

Ever Wondered About The Story Behind the Song Almighty? 

Scripture: Sing unto THE LORD a new song!

Have you heard the song "Almighty"? This post has a quick video clip explaining why they created the song "Almighty".

Is Gospel Music your passion? Perhaps you'd like to be a Guest Blogger on Turtle Dove Thoughts. 

Post a note in the comments below before you go!

Signing Amazing Grace

Do You Love the Song Amazing Grace?

People around the world love the song Amazing Grace.
Did you know it was written by a slave trader who in the midst of a storm had his eyes opened to how he had gone down the wrong road? John Newton turned his life around and this song became known around the world. There is a very detailed story about how the slave trader John Newton became a slave abolitionist on the Olney Church Website that is fascinating to read.

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Find Amazing Grace Vintage Print Here

This post contains the words to Amazing Grace as well as a video you might like to share with children so they can learn to sign this song and sing it too.

We Play Along Signing Amazing Grace