What a invigorating feeling it is to spend time with other believers! That is just what Steve and I did this past weekend. We traveled to Wake Forest, NC to attend a conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on Friday evening and Saturday morning. You can read what other bloggers (Lew, Steve, Theron and Alan) have written regarding the content of the conference. I will say this…I went to the conference not having any prior knowledge about the content of the topic discussed and secretly wondered if I would be able to get anything out of it, but I came away from the conference excited about what I had learned and wanting to learn more on an academic level. I do appreciate the tone at which the conference was presented and to quote Dr. Black, ” Regardless of the position we take on the ending of Mark, the important thing is to proclaim the Gospel Of Jesus Christ to all nations.”

When we arrived at the conference Friday evening, we were able to see Alan (and others) briefly before the presenters started speaking. Afterwards, we were asked to go to Rob and Brandi’s for coffee, in which we were able to fellowship with Alan, Rob and Brandi, Mael and Cindy, Leah and Samuel (her 7 1/2 month old cutie-pie!) and Theron and Cheryl ( I hope I spelled everyone’s names correctly!). We had a sweet time with them…until the hour of midnight! Afterwards, Steve and I went to Leah, Ed and Samuel’s to spend the night. Thanks so much Leah, for your hospitality. You are awesome!

The following day, we went to Starbuck’s (of course) and then attended another session of the seminar. Afterwards, we went out to lunch to an Italian restaurant in Wake Forest with Alan and his sweet wife, Margaret, Dr. Black, Dr. Nelson, Lew, Theron and Cheryl, Mael and Cindy, Jay Baird and Ray Clendenan (of Broadman and Holman Academic). It was an awesome time to be able to get to know each other better.

After our lunch, we (Steve and I, Alan and Margaret and Theron) went to Starbucks (yes, that’s twice in one day!). We stayed there until about 4pm talking with our new friends. We also went back to SEBTS to get a few pictures of the campus.

Then, back to Boone we traveled. I have to say that it was very hard to leave. The fellowship that we were able to experience was incredibly special to us. Not to mention that the weather was gorgeous!

Especially when you come home to this

It is amazing what a few hours travel to the western part of the state will do.

Thank you, everyone for a special time together. We were truly blessed by all of you and hope to meet again very soon.

We all have had the experience of knowing others that pass through our lives with which we have a special connection. In fact, we may have several important people that we surround ourselves with, even now. For me, I have been able to find that connection with many people in my life and quite a few of those people stand out as extraordinary. One such person is my grandmother.

What a woman! She had an uncanny ability to show love to everyone she met. It didn’t matter who you were, she loved you. She just radiated the light of Christ that made you want to be with her, all the time. She was quite a role model for me as I grew into my teenage years.

When she was diagnosed with cancer, I began spending even more time with her. On one occasion we were discussing music, particularly spiritual songs, and I asked her the name of her favorite hymn. It was then that I found out that her favorite hymn was How Great Thou Art.

Her prognosis was not good. In fact, she passed away several months later. But having the knowledge that this song was important to her, my uncle and I were able to put together a presentation of how important she was to each member of our family by performing this song at her funeral. (I was using sign language to “sing” the hymn, my uncle and a dear friend played the tune and sang along as well)

So, this post is dedicated to my grandmother, a woman who was an incredible inspiration to me and who I wish could see how wonderfully happy I am today.

How Great Thou Art

A song of great reverence and adoration to our God, the One who has created in us a love for others to share life with, the One who leaves us in awe daily as we acknowledge Him and His unfailing love for us. This hymn speaks of the gratitude that we have for that beautiful love.

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.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

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.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

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!”

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Carl Gustav, from Sweden, was the author of this poem. As he was taking a walk, he was caught in a severe thunderstorm. As the storm began to calm, he could see in the distance a clear bay and heard a church bell ringing. Then the words began to form in his heart and a peace began to consume him. This “poem” was published in 1891. It was later translated into German and in 1927, a Russian version was published.

Stuart Hine, an English missionary to Ukraine, translated the poem and sang it at an evangelistic meeting in England during World War I. The first three verses were translated into English and Russian in 1949. He later added the fourth verse.

At the website, All About God, Author Lucy Adams, writes:

Of the hymn’s importance he said: “When we reach that heavenly home, we will fully understand the greatness of God, and will bow in humble adoration, saying to Him, O Lord my God, how great thou art.” May we all live in such a way that we will be ready when Jesus Christ appears to receive the saints. Our heavenly home awaits us, all of those who have received Christ in obedience.

Edwin Orr brought the hymn to America and in 1954, Cyrus Nelson of Gospel Light Publications copyrighted and published the hymn. Also, in 1954, the hymn was sung by George Beverly Shea at a London Billy Graham Crusade. It became quite popular as it started appearing in many songbooks.

This hymn is a perfect one to focus on the risen Christ. It is one that, as we read it’s history and bask in the truth of all that God has provided for us through Jesus Christ, should cause us to pause and peacefully think on the depth of His love for us.

Take the time to listen to this wonderful hymn and let it consume your heart with the love of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.