Oh Happy Day

Family devotions time was a blessing this morning.  Every Sunday morning now we have devotions and we all share together.  Mary picked the Bible story she wanted Rich to read.  She said she picked it because it has actual scriptures in it and not just a story.  The story was about the time of the prophet Isaiah and his words to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Lord's protection for them.  Reading the passages in Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah made us think of the Hallelujah Chorus in the Handle's Messiah.  So we played that and chills always come as we think of the Lord's return and what it means.  Mary loves this song and has me play it over and over at Christmas time.  She says at the end of it, "Now, that's music!  Huh, mom?"  After we soaked in that song it made us think of the song, "Oh Happy Day"  that our brother, Todd suggested last week for us to listen to when he heard the "Swing Lo Sweet Chariot" song by the Plantation singers.  We found the 17th century hymn it was taken from, played with a pipe organ and we sang that and then we got our toes to tapping and listened to the 1967 gospel version by the Edwin Hawkins singers.  Even though Todd is not here with us right now, we thought of him with this song and of his wonderful testimony of the day Christ washed his sins away and he became a follower of Christ.  We all rejoiced together in our freedom.  We love these family times and always end with so much hope and encouragement.  Mary loves participating through out the devotion and praying together at the end.  Here are the links to the 3 songs we listened to today.

  

Here is the link for the Hallelujah Chorus: http://youtu.be/FoqxYqTNKmU



Here is the link for the Happy Day hymn: http://youtu.be/d5CMvW1FJUs



Here is the link for the Happy Day, Edwin Hawkins singers: http://youtu.be/muVLPlgMGPY