Hymns of the Church (Part IV) – “Count Your Blessings”, You Are Blessed

Sermon Title: Hymns of the Church – “Count Your Blessings”

Good News Statement: God grants us blessings to get through the day

Summary: When was the last time you “counted” your blessings?

Preached: Sunday, October 5^th, 2025, at Dogwood Prairie & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Ephesians 1:3-14, Today’s scripture reading comes from the Book of Ephesians. Paul is writing to the people of Ephesus with hopes of helping them see how they are blessed. May the reading and hearing of scripture add understanding to your life.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵ He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹ he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹ In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹² so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

 

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

History of Hymns: “Count Your Blessings”: https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/count-your-blessings

 

 

 

Introduction[1]:

For almost two thousand years, Christians have used music as a way to worship. In the Bible the Apostle Paul writes: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” In the Book of Psalm we read these words, “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 98:4 and Psalm 100:1). For the past two thousand years, music has been used across denominational boundaries, beliefs, religious practices, and traditions as a means to embrace and celebrate the lessons of scripture. Needless to say, music has become an essential practice of one’s faith.

Hymns originated in ancient cultures and evolved through Jewish, Greek, and Roman practices, eventually becoming systematic in early Christianity with Latin chants. The roots of hymns can be traced to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and India. The word “hymn” comes from the Greek word “hymnos” which means “a song of praise”. Originally, hymns were written to honor various gods of varying traditions. The first recorded hymn, found in Exodus 15, is the Song of Moses in the Old Testament, celebrating the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. Later on, in the same chapter, Miriam, Moses’ sister, encourages those around with tambourine in hand to “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously…” (Exodus 15:21).

Hymnody—the singing or composition of hymns—has evolved and changed since that first hymn in the Old Testament as well as over the centuries and has been affected by new thinking and developing religious beliefs. For example, throughout the history of the church, whenever there has been renewal, a revival or restoration, new songs of worship have appeared. During the Middle Ages hymnody developed in the form of Gregorian chant or ‘plainsong’. It was sung in Latin and most often by monastic choirs. But in the 16th Century, church goers were given much greater access to hymns as a result of the invention of the printing press and the influential German theologian, Martin Luther, who began encouraging people to sing together in congregations. As one resource noted, “Martin Luther in the 16th Century revolutionized Christian hymnody by encouraging congregations to sing hymns in their own languages (vernacular) rather than just Latin, a movement that spread widely with the invention of the printing press.”[2]

In England the non-conformist minister Isaac Watts (1674-1748) began a transformation of congregational singing. Watts believed strongly that hymns should express the religious feelings of the people and he became a prolific writer, creating hundreds of new hymns—such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World.” Watts has been described as “the liberator of English hymnody” as his hymns moved people away from simply singing Old Testament psalms to inspiring people to sing from the heart with great faith and understanding.

In the same time period, another significant movement affected the hymns of the church: the Methodist movement, led by John Wesley. Wesley and especially his brother Charles used simple rhythms and sing-able melodies to help congregational singing. It has been noted that Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime from 1707-1788, and most of the hymns that he wrote were written to accompany specific sermons by John Wesley to convey a particular theological message. Some of Charles Wesley’s 6,000 hymns are still sung today in churches around the world: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and “ Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and probably his two most famous hymns are “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “Hark! The Harold Angels Sing.”

Then in the late 19th Century a new style of hymnody known as “gospel” emerged. These songs were usually characterized by a strong lead vocal and exciting harmonies, and were a great influence on later contemporary worship worldwide. Then in twentieth and twenty-first centuries we have seen an explosion of new hymn writers and approaches. Old texts have been refreshed by new tunes. African American spirituals, especially those during the slave era, are now found in hymnals and churches around the world, and lots more contemporary hymns have sprung up. In the non-traditional church movement there has been a move away from the previous style of congregational singing to worship led by one singer or a worship band. Instrumentation has become more popular and musical styles have become much freer. The church today is richer than ever in musical resources and continues to bring congregations together through song.

It is clear, that throughout history—from Old Testament times to Gregorian Chants to Luther’s reformation to the thousands of hymns composed by Charles Wesley to spirituals to gospels and finally to contemporary music—hymns have been an essential building block of and for the church. But the question that we will be exploring is not necessarily about the history of hymns but of what hymns has the church found to be foundational all these years: “What hymns have shaped the church of yesterday for today?”

 

Body:

The phrase “Where words fail, music speaks” is attributed to the 19th-century Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The original version, “When words fail, sounds can often speak,” appeared in his 1840 collection “What the Moon Saw.” The statement “music speaks when words fail” means that music has the power to express complex emotions, connect people across cultures, and evoke feelings in ways that verbal language cannot, acting as a universal form of communication. This idea highlights music’s ability to convey joy, sadness, and other profound sentiments when spoken words are inadequate or impossible. Have any of you ever heard that statement before: “Where words fail, music speaks”? If you really think about it, there is something about music that draws people together, that creates a common ground, and that conveys a sense of understanding. Music is powerful, especially when words are lost.

Music is powerful in several ways. Music as an universal language transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect and share experiences through melody and rhythm, even without understanding lyrics. Music is also a means of establishing an emotional connection: it can stir deep emotions, such as sadness, joy, or contemplation, providing a way for individuals to process and understand feelings they cannot articulate. Musical pieces can trigger vivid memories and create strong associations with specific events or periods of life, adding depth to emotional experiences. Furthermore, music communicates on a more primal, instinctual level, directly addressing the soul and providing a sense of meaning and understanding where logical explanations fail. And for many, music offers a vital channel of communication when words fail. In essence, music serves as a powerful and adaptable medium for human experience, offering a voice to feelings that words alone cannot capture.

Music is powerful. It’s all around us. It’s part of your life. I bet there is not a day that goes by that you don’t listen to some kind of music. The same goes for the church. There is not a Sunday that goes by that we don’t sing or hear hymns. Music is not just part of our life, but it’s part of our faith. So to help us understand this, each week for several weeks, we are going to explore hymns that shaped the church. The fourth hymn we examine is “Count Your Blessings”; and the question we will be asking ourselves is “Do we feel blessed?”

 

Movement One: History of “Count Your Blessings”…

Do you feel blessed? Have you taken time to count your blessings? When was the last time you thought about or wrote down your blessings from the day? We sometimes go a whole day without thinking about how God has blessed us. We are quick to point out the things that didn’t go our way, but not so quick to remind ourselves of the things that did go our way. Today, we think about our blessings and consider how we can be a blessing to others. But before we get to that point, let me remind you of where we have been.

Four weeks ago, we examined the hymn composed by John Newton who used his life story, his conversion, to give God thanks for the amazing grace in his life. The hymn “Amazing Grace” speaks of a grace that is powerful enough to save us sinners, to help us see, to transform us, to inspire us to do something new, to rescue us from our past, and to lead us home—getting us closer to Christ. Three weeks ago, we used the story of Carl Boberg, who, in 1886, during a storm, realized the power of God’s greatness. Boberg in 1886 wrote the hymn “How Great Thou Art” and it expresses God’s greatness through His creation and the redemption and salvation of Jesus Christ. Boberg’s hymn inclines us to look at our own life and spend time reflecting on the question “How great is God?”

Two weeks ago, I shared the story of Spafford, who was a successful lawyer and businessman in the late 1800s, but he lost his young son to pneumonia, his business was destroyed in the great Chicago fire, and then while taking a trip to Europe, there was a shipwreck that took the lives of all four of his daughters, but his wife survived. As his ship passed near where his daughters had died he was overcome with grief. But on that voyage, he penned the words to now famous hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.” From this hymn, I asked you, “How is it with your soul?”[3]

Today, we take a moment to think about our blessings: those things, people, and moments in life that remind us that life is too short and precious to let the world remove what brings us happiness and joy. So today, I ask you “Have you counted your blessings recently?”

[4]The hymn “Count Your Blessings”, written by Johnson Oatman Jr., was first published in a collection called Songs for Young People (1897) published for the Methodist Book Concern (the publishing arm of the Methodist Episcopal Church), and edited by E.O. Excell, a prolific hymnal editor and compiler. Little is known about the circumstances of the composition of this hymn, other than what is known about the authors. Excell (1851–1921), the composer, ran a publishing business based out of Chicago, with a specialty for Sunday School materials. Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856–1922), the lyricist, was an ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church and at the time was in the mercantile business with his father in Lumberton, New Jersey. Oatman had started writing songs in 1892, and composed more than 5,000 by the time of his death in 1922.[5]

In the first two verses he develops the thought that counting our blessings serves as an antidote for life’s discouragements and in turn makes for victorious Christian living. The third stanza of this hymn teaches us that counting our blessings can be a means of placing material possessions in proper perspective when compared to the eternal inheritance awaiting believers. In the fourth stanza, we are told about the provision of God’s help and how His help leads to comfort.

True to its intent, its message is simple and clear: the best way to fight discouragement is to look for the blessings of life. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? When you look at others with their lands and gold, think that Christ promised you His wealth untold. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small do not be discouraged, God is over all. Count your many blessings, Name them one by one And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings, Name them one by one, Count your many blessings, See what God has done.” When was the last time you counted your blessings and named them one by one?

 

Movement Two: What does it mean to be blessed in the Bible…

Scripture isn’t shy when it comes to talking about blessings. As a matter of fact the word “bless” is used 336 times in the Old Testament and 112 times in the New Testament, according to the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.[6] In Hebrew, “bless” comes from the word barak which is often translated to mean “to kneel, suggesting the idea of praise and worship for God’s goodness.” This idea of “bless” is seen in Genesis 1 when God was creating humankind: “God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth” (Genesis 1:22). In the next chapter, we read, “So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:3). In 1 King 8:56, we hear King Solomon blessing the Lord for what the Lord had done for the Israel people: “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good promise that he spoke through his servant Moses.”

King David, as a sign of thanksgiving for God’s goodness, proclaims, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. [Bless the Lord, O my soul.]” (Psalm 103:1-5). And in the last book of the Old Testament—the Hebrew Bible—we read these words, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing” (Malachi 3:10).

Even in a book where blessings were far from thought, we find an essence of God’s goodness. Consider the Book of Job. Job has come to represent the epitome of suffering. His children were killed, He was financially ruined, He had been stricken with an incurable illness,[7] His friends falsely accused him of some great sin, and then his wife gets sarcastic! Yet in the middle of all this suffering, the voice of God comes to Job and makes a very interesting statement to him. In Job 37:14, God says to Job, “Hear this, O Job. Stop and consider the wondrous works of God—the blessings of God.” From all outward circumstances it seems as though Job has nothing at all to be thankful for, yet here is God coming to him in the midst of it all and saying, in effect, “Job, it’s time to count your blessings.” Even in tragic moments, God’s goodness—God’s blessings—can be found.

Moving to the New Testament which was originally written in Greek, we find several words used to describe “bless.” The primary words of “blessing” are eulogia meaning “praise or blessing,” and eulogeo (which we get our word ‘eulogy’ from) means “to speak well of, to praise.” Another significant word used is makarios meaning “blessed or happy.”

The word makarios is the word used in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. When preaching to the crowds, Jesus teaches them the Beatitudes by stating, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:3-11). In some translations, instead of using the word “blessed,” the translator uses the word “happy”: “Happy are the poor in spirit… Happy are those who mourn… Happy are the peacemakers.” Do you feel happy when you are blessed?

When writing to the Romans, Paul expresses “blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin” (Romans 4:8). The author of Hebrews proclaims when talking about God’s creation, “Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God” (Hebrews 6:7). Then in the last book of the New Testament, John extols in the opening chapter, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). Several chapters later, the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures surrounding the throne are recorded singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 7:11-12).

To go back several books in the New Testament, tucked in the pages of the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a moment when we are taught not to take our blessings for granted. In Luke 17:11-19, we read about ten lepers. The story of the ten lepers tells of ten men with leprosy who cry out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they obey, they are made clean. Only one of the ten, a Samaritan, returns to praise God for his healing. Jesus notes the lack of gratitude from the other nine, highlighting that only one returned to give glory to God, and tells the Samaritan that his faith has made him well. Essentially, he has been blessed with God’s favor.

I think sometimes we can act like the other nine lepers. For example, one waited to see if the cure was real; one waited to see if it would last; one said he would see Jesus later; one decided that he never had leprosy; one said he would have gotten well anyway; one gave the glory to the priests; one said, “O, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything”; one said, “Any rabbi could have done it”; and one said, “I was already much improved.” But only one took the time to thank God—to count his blessing—for showing him goodness and favor. To experience a blessing from God is to give thanks to God for that blessing.

 

Movement Three: You Are Blessed…

We are not just blessed by the material things in life or by the people we know, we are actually blessed by simply believing in God. From our text today, we are reminded of seven ways that we are blessed by God. First, Ephesians 1:4 states, “just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.” We are blessed because God has chosen us: God has chosen you. God has a plan and purpose for you, as Jeremiah 11:29 notes. No matter what your past was like, no matter what today brings, and no matter what the future has in store, you have been chosen by God. Even if no body accepts you, receives you, hears you, or sees you, God is in your life. Feel blessed because God has chosen you to do wonderful things.

Second, we are blessed because we are adopted children of God. Ephesians 1:5-6 notes, “He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Being an adopted child of God means that God claims us—the God claims you as one of his own. In The Faith We Sing, a supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal, there is a hymn titled “God Claims You.” The first verse is “We this day do all agree a child of God you’ll always be. Child of promise, God claims you; God helps you, protects you, and loves you, too.” To be adopted by God means to receive the blessings of protection, help, grace, salvation, and love.  To be adopted by God means to be blessed in such a way that you abide in Christ as Christ abides in you (John 15:4). To be adopted by God means that you are blessed in such a way that you always belong to God, you always have God in your life—in your corner helping you fight your battles. Feel blessed knowing that God claims you just as you are because he fearfully and wonderfully made you in His image.

Third, we are blessed because we are redeemed and forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 notes, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…” We are blessed because we are redeemed and forgiven. From the cross, Jesus, under immense pain and struggling to breathe, proclaims “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). As you learned last week, this forgiveness—this blessing—could have been given to the robber in the story of the Good Samaritan, who could have been the criminal on the cross who Jesus promised paradise to. We don’t always know what we are doing, but yet Jesus extends forgiveness to us. We don’t always behave like saints, but God forgives us. We don’t always do what Jesus would do, but God forgives us. By the blood of Christ, our trespasses are forgiven—we have been washed, saved—so that we can be made new, so that we can be redeemed by his grace, so that we can be promised paradise. Feel blessed knowing that Christ forgives you.

Fourth, we are blessed because we are given true wisdom. Ephesians 1:8 notes, “… [He] lavishes us with all wisdom and insight.” Proverbs 3:5 informs us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” We are blessed because of the wisdom God has given us. We will never know everything there is about God, creation, ourselves, or even the current news, but if we trust in the Lord, we will be given the wisdom we need to face each day. We are also blessed with having insight: insight about God through Jesus Christ, insight about our faith, insight about grace and salvation, insight about what we can do to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ on this earth, insight about what it takes to be a church for, of, and with Christ, and insight about how we can be better disciples today than what we were yesterday. The wisdom and insight we are given are blessings because they indicate our trust in God and God’s trust in us.

Fifth, we are blessed to understand God’s Will for us. Ephesians 1:9-10 notes, “He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” God is not shy about revealing His Will. As a matter of fact, His Will is accessible and available to everyone. His Will is set forth in the Bible. In the Bible, God’s Will is revealed, lived out, proclaimed, and shared from nation to nation by the prophets, by the disciples, by the apostles, by the common person, by each and every one of you. As a matter of fact, the author of Hebrews notes, “The word of God is alive and active” (4:12) because His Will is alive and active as seen through the commands of Jesus to love our Lord with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Isaiah 60:22 reveals God’s Will as a promise that He will take the small, the humble, and the seemingly insignificant and make it great and strong, at His perfect, appointed time. To be blessed means to live out the Will of God knowing that God’s word is alive and active within you.

Sixth, we are blessed because of our inheritance. Ephesians 1:11-12 notes, “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.” Deuteronomy 4:20 (ESV) states, “But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.” Simply put, we are blessed because of the eternal life with God that we are promised through having faith in Jesus Christ. We have an inheritance because God has claimed us, and this inheritance is eternal life with Him. We are blessed because we have inherited God in our life.

Seventh, we are blessed because God’s promise is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 notes, “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.” Notice that all who believe in Christ are also sealed with the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? A seal has a few meanings throughout scripture. In Revelation 20:3, Satan is thrown into the bottomless pit, and it is sealed over him. Then, there is the picture of a scroll with seven seals. In those days, they would use a signet ring and wax to seal a scroll. That seal would close the scroll, preserving its contents, and indicate who had the authority to write the scroll. It was a sign of ownership and preservation. This is probably Paul’s thinking when he says we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. God has placed a seal on us, preserving us and stating His claim of ownership. We are His children. We are blessed because God has given us and sealed us with His Spirit.

So what does all this mean? The idea of being blessed is found throughout scripture, but what does it mean to be blessed, to be claimed by God, to be given His will and Holy Spirit, to be gifted an eternal inheritance, to be chosen, to be adopted, and to be given wisdom and insight? Well, if you woke up this morning, you were blessed and received all of this. If you took a deep breath and filled your lungs with air before getting out of bed, you have been blessed. If you are loved in some way, you are blessed. If you found an opportunity to smile, laugh, and spend time with those you love, you have been blessed. If you made it through the day, you have been blessed. If your children listened to you, you have been blessed. You have been blessed if God has ever turned your messes into messages, your trials into triumphs, your fears into faith, and your feeling of being a victim into a feeling of being victorious. If you have been blessed in some way, then that means that you have received the goodness of God in your life at a moment when God needed you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you have been blessed it’s because God saw something in your life that needed to be changed. God looked at you and said, “I want you to be happy.”

Let’s take this a step further. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. Whether you believe it or not, you are blessed. Whether you feel it or not you are blessed. Whether you show it or proclaim it or not you are blessed. You are blessed because God has claimed you and given you His goodness. You have received all you need to live this life. But when was the last time you counted your blessings and said thank you to God for those blessings?

 

Conclusion:

Every day we are blessed in some way because God is in our life. You may not feel blessed, but you are. You may not talk about being blessed, but God is talking for you. Every day, whether you realize it or not, you are blessed.

You are blessed because God has chosen you; you are blessed because God has claimed you; you are blessed because God has forgiven you; you are blessed because God has given you all the wisdom you need to face each day; you are blessed because God’s Will is alive and active within you; you are blessed because God has promised you an inheritance; and you are blessed because the Spirit of Christ abides within you. You are blessed!

And church we are blessed. We are blessed because God is still giving us work to do; we are blessed because our doors are still open; we are blessed because people are in our pews; we are blessed because people are seeking our help; and we are blessed because we are living out Christ’s mission today and always. I’m inviting you now to think about what it means to feel blessed and to count your blessings as a person and as a church.

This week think about how God has blessed you; and consider how you can be a blessing to others. If you have time “Count your blessings, Name them one by one, Count your many blessings, and See what God has done.” Let it be so…

 

Holy Communion…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, we thank you for the blessings in our life; and we pray that every blessing we receive reminds us of how you are present in our life. In your great and peaceful name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Every day God blesses you in some way. Don’t ignore those blessings, but instead name them one by one, write them down, and give God thanks for the goodness in your life. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth being a blessing to others. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[3] As Spafford reminds us, as well as the everyday news, in this world we will have troubles.  We might face persecution; We might face unfair treatment; We might be insulted or abused; We might face tragedy and loss and sorrow… and even death. We continually have to endure hearing news about political upheaval, differences driving people a part, shootings taking place at churches and school campuses, and rhetoric concerning devastation, destruction, and dehumanizing. Sometimes it feels as if nothing is working. Our soul is not well. However, with God in our life and Christ in our heart, we can have a soul that is well if we learn to trust and faith in the one who can search our heart and remove that which tears us down.

[4] https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/count-your-blessings accessed September 30, 2025. According to hymnologyarchive.com, “Sometimes in the Christian faith, the simplest tenets are the most memorable and enduring.”

[5] J.H. Hall, “Johnson Oatman Jr.” Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers (NY: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1914), p. 358. Biographer J.H. Hall later reported: “’Count Your Blessings,’” similar to the hymn ‘No, Not One,’ has gone all over the world. Like a beam of sunlight it has brightened up the dark places of earth. Perhaps no American hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in England as “’Count Your Blessings.’” But it remained for Prof. E.O. Excell to bring out in 1897 what, in the opinion of most critics, is said to be Mr. Oatman’s masterpiece… A London daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, said, “Mr. Smith announced a hymn. ‘Let us sing “Count Your Blessings.”’ Said he, ‘Down in South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep to the tune.”

[6] https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=bless&version=NRSVUE

[7] ..and is in such constant pain that he sits out back of the house on the burn pile itching himself with a broken piece of pottery.