The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING " “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” is one of the best-known Christian invitation hymns, written by American hymn writer and composer Will Lamartine Thompson in 1880. Thompson was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1847 and became a successful songwriter and publisher. Unlike many hymns that emerged from formal church traditions, “Softly and Tenderly” came from Thompson’s personal desire to create a simple song that would appeal directly to people who needed to make a spiritual decision. The hymn’s central message is an invitation: Jesus is calling people to come to Him, return to Him, and receive His mercy. Its gentle words “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me” gives the song its distinctive character. Rather than using threatening language, Thompson presented the call of Christ as loving, patient and compassionate. One of the most memorable stories associated with the hymn involves evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Thompson reportedly visited Moody when the evangelist was seriously ill. During their meeting, Thompson told him that he had written the hymn and that he hoped it would be useful in Christian ministry. Moody was deeply moved by the song and encouraged its use in evangelistic meetings. After Moody's death in 1899, the hymn became even more widely known through evangelistic campaigns and church services. Over the years, it has been sung at revival meetings, altar calls, funerals and moments of personal reflection. Its enduring appeal lies in its simplicity: a gentle reminder that the invitation to come to Christ is still open. More than 140 years after it was written, “Softly and Tenderly” remains a powerful hymn because its message has not changed — Jesus calls, and the invitation is extended to everyone.

❤️THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF INSPIRATION, THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION. ❤️ THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF INSPIRATION. The biblical view of inspiration is called the Dynamic View. The Scriptures are the result of a divine-human relationship, as set forth in Hebrews 1:1. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." God did the speaking, but He did it through the prophets or through His instruments. Inspiration is a supernatural work of God in man, involving both divine and human elements, which produced an infallible record of the divine revelation. The Dynamic View holds all the elements together. God did the speaking, but He did it through His chosen vessels and their personalities. Their individualism is as clearly seen as their inspiration. The Holy Spirit moved on the writers in a dynamic way in harmony with their personalities but not completely suppressing them. God created men as it pleased Him, each man having traits of his own; and through these vessels He spoke His Word, using their lips, their minds, their gifts, their temperaments, and their personalities. Then, He breathed out to them His infallible Word. Another example is Nehemiah 9:30. "Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets." Nehemiah was saying that God spoke out against Israel in judgment by His Spirit in the prophets. In conclusion to this view it should be noted that the inspired Word, the Bible, can be compared to the incarnate Word, Jesus. In the incarnation of Christ the divine and human elements are blended; in the inspiration and the writing of Scripture the divine and human elements also come together into one. ❤️ THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION. In speaking of the extent of inspiration, this does not refer to how much of the Bible is inspired, because there are no degrees of inspiration. It is all inspired! The genealogy of chapter one of Matthew is as inspired as the account of Jesus' birth in chapter two. Chapter one shows Him to be a son of Abraham coming through the line of David; in chapter two, the birth narrative, He is seen to be the Son of God. Some believe that only the thoughts were inspired, and that God left the writers of Scripture completely free to choose their own words, their own ideas, and their own expressions. This view is incorrect because it is unrealistic. God reveals His thoughts to man through the media of words, just as man does in communicating with others. If God wished to convey His will and His Word to man in such a way that it could not be twisted and misinterpreted, He would have to inspire the very words. If He merely inspires thoughts, the writers would have to choose what they would say. The Scriptural view is the plenary verbal inspiration view. The term "plenary" means full, complete, entire, or absolute. This means that the entire Scriptures are inspired, not just a part; all Scripture is God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16). "Verbal" means that which is expressed in words; therefore, verbal inspiration means that God inspired the very words of the Bible and not merely the thoughts. Thus, plenary verbal inspiration means that the Scriptures in their entirety are the words of God; therefore, they are infallible and inerrant in the original autographs or manuscripts. God said to Jeremiah, "Go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.... I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jeremiah 1:7-9). He said the same thing to Moses in Exodus 4:10-12, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." In Exodus 34:27-28 God told Moses to write the Ten Commandments. In Revelation 1:11 Jesus said to John, "What thou seest, write in a book." God told Ezekiel, "Speak my words" to the people (Ezekiel 2-3). Isaiah 2:1 and Amos 1:1 both speak of the words which the prophets saw. In II Samuel 23:1-2 David claimed to have been anointed and inspired with the very words of God. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." Critics deny the plenary verbal inspiration view by saying that human agents wrote the Scriptures. Their contention is that all men are fallible; men wrote the Bible; so the Bible is fallible and is not inerrant in all of its words. In reply, one must distinguish between the prophet and his prophecy, between the writer and his writings. When the Bible speaks concerning inspiration, the emphasis is on the Scriptures themselves, on the writings and not on the writer. For instance, II Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed, but it does not say a thing about the writer. Paul truly was inspired, but the thrust is upon the Scripture and not the author. "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man" (II Peter 1:20-21). The emphasis is on prophecy. While the writers were sometimes inspired, their writings were always inspired. Yes, they were fallible men who could (and did) make mistakes; but their writings were God-breathed and, therefore, infallible. For example, when Peter denied the Lord, he certainly was not inspired of God; but he was inspired when he wrote his epistles. In summary, the Bible shows that all Scripture is God-breathed; consequently, when a man was writing Scripture, he was motivated and inspired by the Lord and recorded what God said to write. Edited. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD" Some hymns belong to a church while others become part of the history of a people. “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord,” widely known as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” belongs to the second category. Its story is tied to one of the darkest chapters in American history: the Civil War, a conflict that split the United States and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Slavery stood at the centre of the crisis, and the question of whether a nation could call itself free while millions remained enslaved had become impossible to avoid. In 1861, Julia Ward Howe, a writer, poet and abolitionist, was in Washington, D.C., when she encountered Union troops singing “John Brown’s Body,” a marching song already popular among soldiers. The tune stayed with her. Someone suggested that she write new words for it. She did. According to Howe’s own account, the words came to her in the early hours of the morning. She woke with the opening line in her mind and began writing, afraid that the verses would escape her if she waited for daylight. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…” What followed was not a conventional hymn of comfort. Howe wrote with the language of the Old Testament prophets — judgment, wrath, righteousness and redemption. The battlefield became the setting for a larger moral argument. “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The line was stark and so was the time in which it was written. The hymn was published in the Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It quickly found an audience among Union supporters and soldiers, giving words to a cause that many believed demanded more than military victory. The fight, in the hymn’s telling, was bound to a moral reckoning. Then came the line that would outlive the war: “His truth is marching on.” Those five words helped turn a Civil War song into an enduring hymn. For soldiers heading into battle, the words could sound like a declaration of faith. For abolitionists, they carried the promise that slavery would not have the final word. For families waiting at home, the hymn gave voice to the uncertainty, grief and conviction that defined the period. Its reach did not end when the guns fell silent. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” went on to become one of the most recognisable songs in American religious and public life. It has been heard in churches, at memorials, political gatherings, military ceremonies and historic moments across generations. Its power however, lies in more than its stirring melody. It was born at a time when America was asking whether freedom could survive its own contradictions. Julia Ward Howe answered with a poem that placed justice at the centre of the national struggle. More than a century and a half later, the words remain remarkably direct. They remind us that history is not always changed in grand halls or on battlefields. Sometimes it begins in the early hours of the morning, with a writer reaching for a pen before the words disappear. Julia Ward Howe picked up that pen and what she wrote became a song that generations would sing long after the war that inspired it had passed into history. “His truth is marching on.” That is the line that remains. Not simply as music but as a declaration.

Need to know. The claim that Jesus never existed falls apart when the evidence outside the Bible is examined. The New Testament is not the only source that tells us about Jesus of Nazareth. Ancient writers from outside Christianity also wrote about Jesus, His followers, His execution, and the movement that spread in His name. Some were Roman historians. One was a Jewish historian. Others were pagan critics or hostile Jewish sources. They had no reason to help Christianity, yet their writings point back to the same historical person. Tacitus, the Roman historian, records that Christus suffered the death penalty under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius and that His followers were called Christians. Suetonius records disturbances among the Jews connected with “Chrestus,” while Pliny the Younger describes Christians gathering and singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.” These were not Christian writers defending the Bible. They were outsiders describing the people who followed Jesus. Then there is Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian. Josephus was not a Christian trying to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet when he writes about James, he identifies him as “the brother of Jesus who was called Christ.” That short statement is incredibly important. Josephus does not stop to explain who Jesus was or argue that Jesus really existed. He simply uses Jesus to identify James. Jesus was already a known historical figure, and Josephus refers to Him as “Jesus who was called Christ.” This is one of the clearest pieces of non-Christian evidence for Jesus anywhere in the ancient world. Josephus also refers to Jesus in the famous Testimonium Flavianum, which speaks about Jesus, His ministry, His crucifixion under Pilate, and His followers. Regardless of the later debate over the exact wording of that passage, Josephus’s separate reference to James remains. The evidence is sitting right there in the writings of a first-century Jewish historian: Jesus existed, James was His brother, and Jesus was known as the Christ. The evidence becomes even more powerful when we look at people who opposed Christianity. Celsus, a second-century pagan critic, attacked Christianity and mocked the claims Christians made about Jesus. Yet his attacks assume that Jesus was a real person. His writings preserve traditions about Jesus’ birth, His family, and the miraculous claims made about Him. The Babylonian Talmud also preserves hostile traditions about Jesus, including accusations of sorcery and a tradition that He was executed on the eve of Passover. Mara bar Serapion, a non-Christian Syrian writer, speaks of a wise king of the Jews whose teachings continued after his death—a description that points directly to Jesus. Think about what this means. These sources were not trying to help Christians. Some were trying to discredit them. Yet they still point back to Jesus as a real person. They did not describe Him as a fictional character invented centuries later. They attacked Him, mocked Him, or preserved hostile traditions about Him because there was a real historical figure at the center of the Christian movement. Two other names are often overlooked: Thallus and Phlegon. Their original writings have been lost, but later ancient writers preserved reports about what they wrote. Julius Africanus connects Thallus’s discussion of an unusual darkness with the darkness associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. Phlegon is also reported by later writers as describing an extraordinary darkness and an earthquake during the reign of Tiberius. We do not have the original books of Thallus and Phlegon today, but we do have ancient testimony reporting what they wrote. That matters. These accounts add another layer to the ancient evidence surrounding the death of Jesus. The point is not that these two writers prove every detail of the Gospel accounts by themselves. The point is that even ancient writers outside Christianity were remembered as recording extraordinary events connected with the very time when the New Testament places the crucifixion. Now put all nine witnesses together: Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Celsus, the Talmud, Mara bar Serapion, Thallus, and Phlegon. This is not one Christian writer making one claim. This is a collection of ancient voices coming from different backgrounds and different parts of the Roman world. They point to Jesus, His followers, His execution, His identity as Christ, and the movement that spread in His name. The evidence is overwhelming when viewed as a whole. Jesus was not a mythical character invented hundreds of years after the fact. He was a real first-century Jewish man who gathered followers, was called the Christ, was executed under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that spread throughout the Roman world. The very people who rejected Christianity still left behind evidence that Jesus was a real person. And this destroys the claim that Jesus was simply invented. The question is not whether there is evidence that Jesus existed. There is. The question is why anyone would ignore this substantial body of ancient testimony simply because it is not found in the Bible. Tacitus connects Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Josephus identifies James as the brother of Jesus who was called Christ. Pliny records Christians worshiping Him. Suetonius records disturbances connected with the movement surrounding Him. Celsus attacks the claims made about Him. Jewish tradition preserves hostile accusations against Him. Mara bar Serapion remembers a wise Jewish king whose teachings survived His death. And ancient reports connected with Thallus and Phlegon preserve traditions about extraordinary events surrounding the time of His death. The evidence does not disappear because it comes from outside the Bible. In fact, that is precisely what makes these witnesses so important. They were not writing the New Testament. They were not preaching the Gospel. Some were not even friendly toward Christianity. Yet they still point back to the same historical person. Jesus Christ was not a myth invented by Christians. He was a real man who lived in first-century Judea, gathered followers, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that changed the world. The historical record does not erase Jesus—it confirms that He was there.

August 29 🌿 “WHEN I CANNOT SEE HIS HAND” WHEN MY SOUL IS DISCOURAGED 📖 Psalm 42:5 (LLV) — “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Sometimes the voice we listen to most carefully is our own. We rehearse our worries. We repeat our disappointments. We imagine what might go wrong. And before long, our thoughts begin speaking louder than our faith. The writer of Psalm 42 understood. His soul was cast down. Troubled. Restless. He longed for God, yet God seemed far away. His tears had become his food “day and night.” People around him were asking, “Where is your God?” And then something changes. The psalmist stops listening to his troubled soul and begins speaking to it. “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” He does not deny his sadness. He does not say, “You shouldn't feel this way.” He acknowledges exactly where he is. But he refuses to let his feelings have the final word. “Hope in God.” Sometimes we need to do the same. Our fear says, “This will never get better.” And we answer, “Hope in God.” Our disappointment says, “God has forgotten me.” And we answer, “Hope in God.” Our circumstances say, “There is no reason to praise.” And faith answers, “I will yet praise Him.” That little word “yet” contains a remarkable amount of faith. The psalmist is not praising because everything has already changed. His circumstances are still difficult. His soul is still troubled. But he looks beyond what is true at this moment toward what he knows about God. “I will yet praise Him.” Not because I can see the answer. Not because the sadness has disappeared. But because this moment is not the entire story. There will be another chapter. There will be another morning. There will be another song. And God will still be God. Faith does not require us to silence every painful feeling. But it does teach us that our feelings are not the only voice allowed to speak. Sometimes we must remind our own soul of what it has temporarily forgotten. God is still faithful. God is still present. God is still worthy of my trust. And even here, I can say: “I will yet praise Him.” A new beginning sometimes starts with changing which voice I listen to: when my discouraged soul speaks fear, I can answer it with hope in God. Reflection: What has my discouraged heart been telling me lately, and what truth about God do I need to speak back to it? Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know the moments when my soul becomes discouraged and my thoughts become filled with worry. Thank You that I do not have to pretend those feelings are not real. But help me not to let them become the final voice in my heart. Teach me to speak Your truth to myself, to place my hope in You, and to remember that today's difficulty is not the end of my story. Even when I cannot yet see the answer, let my heart say with faith, “I will yet praise You.” In Jesus' name, Amen.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌹🎀🎁💝🌺 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2O26. "THERE’S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (4)" ‘Let all that I am praise the Lord;...’ Psalms 103:2 NLT THE BIBLE equates God with light, and light with holiness. ‘…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5 NIV). Paul said that God dwells in ‘…unapproachable light…’ (1 Timothy 6:16 NIV). Scripture refers to Christ ‘…who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners…’ (Hebrews 7:26 NIV). So how should you approach such a God? As you would an auditor when your books don’t balance? Or a dictator who holds the power of life and death? No, Jesus told us to pray, ‘…Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name’ (Matthew 6:9 KJV). There’s your answer! You must come to God as a father who loves you dearly and desires only what is best for you, while always regarding Him with profound reverence. As your awe of God expands, your fears in life will diminish. A big view of God translates into big courage; a small view of God generates no courage at all. A puny God can’t help you when cancer strikes, your family is in trouble, or you’ve no way to pay your bills. A ‘do-me-a-favour’ Jesus may look good stuck on your dashboard, but that image can do nothing for your fears. You need an awesome God, who, while diminishing your ego, enlarges your faith and blows your mind. David wrote: ‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things…’ (Psalms 103:2-5 NLT). Bible In A Year: Ezek 16:53-19:14; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 103:13-22; Pro 19:17. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌹🌷🎀💝. MD.ii. [28/08, 9:18 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SATURDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUNDRY WORDS OF WISDOM* *TEXT:* PROVERBS 13:18-25. 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. *Timeless Truth:*_"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed"_ (Proverbs 13:20). *INTRODUCTION* If people are asked how to differentiate a wise person from a foolish person, the answer will differ according to the wisdom or foolishness of individuals giving the answer. Unfortunately, in most cases, the foolish see themselves as wiser than the wise. The successful and rich farmer in Luke 12:19-21 appeared to have had wisdom to make wealth and multiply it. Most people will take such, today as wise and smart, but God called him a fool. So a wise man in the eyes of an earthly person is not necessarily wise as far as the Ancient of Days is concerned. The Word of God is therefore, the most reliable and best literature on true and divinely approved wisdom. It looks at wisdom in the context of eternity and not in the context of ephemeral things of this world. The book of Proverbs contains practical wisdom for victorious and godly living. The text gives us some lectures on what constitutes true wisdom in the sight of God and in the sight of truth loving men. In essence, we can perceive wisdom in a person through his words, ways of life, values, choices and disciplines. *1. Humility in Receiving Instruction* One of the outputs of wisdom is the humility to accept and obey godly instructions. Anyone who claims, by his actions, that he is above instruction must claim to be on the same table of wisdom with the Omniscience God. That will be foolishness. *“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.”* Refusing godly correction often leads to painful consequences, while accepting rebuke produces growth and honour. A teachable spirit is a mark of wisdom. *Question* How do you respond when godly correction is given to you? Is a proud intelligent or wealthy person wise? *2. The Happiness in Realization of Interest* *“The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…”* This is well known experientially. There is joy when righteous desires are fulfilled. What if the desire that is accomplished is evil? Is it still sweet to the soul? This is how to differentiate a fool from the wise. For the wise, when evil desires come to pass, they are sad and unhappy. They cannot rest until they go to God for mercy. The fool reacts differently. They are happy at the evil that happens because *"it is abomination for fools to depart from evil"*. They are always right and wise in their own eyes even when they do evil or evil happens. *Question* Do you rejoice when evil desires are accomplished? Do you rejoice when good things happen to others? You can always judge whether you are a fool in the eyes of God or not. *3. The Healthy of Relationship with the Intelligent* *“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”* Our companions influence our character, decisions and future. Walking with wise people, according to Divine definition of wisdom, promotes wisdom, while intimate association with foolish people can bring sorrow. Your peers influence your principles and your principle determines your prudence. Your relationships reform your Character and your character determines your personality. *Question* Are your closest companions helping you to grow in wisdom and godliness? *4. The Harvests of Reward for Involvements* Whatever is sown will be harvested in multiple folds whether good or evil. It is a matter of time. *"Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.”* Nobody should deceive himself that if he sows sin and sows to the flesh he will reap righteousness and spirituality. Those who sow love and goodness will reap the same with their children. Sin has consequences and eventually, catches up with the unrepentant. God, however, watches over the righteous and rewards those who faithfully follow Him. *Question* What are you sowing with your tongue and talents? *5. Having Righteous Inheritance* *“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children…”* The inheritance can be education, wealth, good spiritual and moral upbringing. A godly inheritance includes more than money and possessions. Faith, integrity, wisdom, good character and the fear of God are treasures that can bless generations. A wise father invests all these good things in the life of the younger generation through any medium possible just like Jesus gave us diver blessings as he departed from the world. *Question* Do you demonstrate wisdom by investing invaluable things to your younger generation through any medium available? *6. The Huge Results of Ignorance* *“Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.”* God can provide abundance through diligent labour. The poor remains poor not because he was made so, but just because he could not till the ground and labour. Furthermore, poor decisions, injustice and lack of wise management may destroy what could have been fruitful. Those who are enjoying bountiful harvests in a godly way are using God's wisdom while those who remain poor should go and learn the wisdom of God. *Question* Are you using the opportunities and resources God has given you with wisdom and good judgment? *7. Home Rulership without Indiscipline* *“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”* The rod is not necessarily physical. It may also be psychological, frowns or stern rebukes. Genuine love does not ignore wrongdoing. A child left to himself will be spoilt and become a source of shame to the parents and the society. Schools might be forbidden from spanking, but God expects parents, both natural and spiritual, to enforce discipline lovingly and godly.Godly discipline, exercised with wisdom and love, helps to correct, train and guide children in the right path. *Question* Do you apply wisdom and love in the discipline of the erring both in the Church and the natural family? *8. Divine Recompence according to the Heart* *“The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.”* God knows the needs of His people and is able to provide for them. The righteous learn contentment and dependence upon God, while wickedness ultimately leads to emptiness. *Question* Do you trust God daily as your Provider and seek to live in righteousness before Him? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, give me a humble and teachable heart that receives godly correction 🙏. 2.Father, surround me with wise and godly companions who will strengthen my faith 🙏. 3.Lord, help me to leave a lasting inheritance of faith, wisdom and godly character for future generations 🙏. 4.Father, grant Your children wisdom to manage opportunities and resources that You have provided them🙏. *HYMN:* Deeper Deeper *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* PHILEMON [28/08, 9:18 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST, 2026``` *WATCH YOUR DESIRES* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️💓⚠️‼️🛑👁️🧐🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PROVERBS 13:18-25```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil" (PROVERBS 13:19).*_ *"Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion," said the English writer, moralist and sermonist, Samuel Johnson, "and he whose real wants are supplied, must admit those of fancy." The problem often arises from the nature of the desire people harbour. Most people desire what they do not need, but what serves their fancies. Some are never able to distinguish between the needs they should desire and the wants that serve little purpose.* *King Solomon, the writer of these couplets in the Proverbs, could justifiably claim expertise on the sometimes messy topic of desires. He lived for a time to satisfy his personal desires, to feed his body with whatever he wanted. But in the end, he saw them as vanity, inferring by his conduct that he, who was the wisest of men in his time had succumbed to the cravings of the most foolish people. He therefore, warned of the consequences of rejecting instructions, probably alluding to his action, emphasising that even if the desires of such people were accomplished and seemed "sweet to the soul", at least for a time, it offers no incentive to the foolish person to shun evil conducts. He draws a parallel between those that keep company with wise men, and companions of unwise people. He concludes that sinners are invariably unwise in what truly matters in life, and are therefore unable to bequeath a legacy of inheritance to generations after them. Stressing the destructive nature of poor judgment, the wise preacher also counselled against withholding discipline from children, and affirms that it is an expression of love to ensure that children are brought up well. In the end, this is part of what brings satisfaction to the righteous, as the fruit of his labour.* *It is no doubt, desirable to achieve our goals in life, but we must be careful as not every desire is worth pursuing. Some are so deadly that when you set your heart on them, you may lose the ability to determine what is truly good, and what is dangerous. Often, our desires influence how we justly assess our actions. At such a time, it becomes important whose words we obey, whose advice we accept, and whose friendship we keep. The word of God must under-guard our every action. Any desire that panders more to our ego or serves only our flesh runs counter to God's command. We must focus on what God says, and shun any desire that tends towards pride and vainglory.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Unchecked desires are the fuel that power unhinged conducts.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *PHILEMON*📜📜 Watch Your Desires https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 6: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION; GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; AND GHS 189: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna29thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [28/08, 9:19 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST, 2026``` *IN HIS SECRET PLACE - 1* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 91:1-9```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (PSALM 91:1).*_ *_World War I_ soldier, Leonard Knight was saved when a pocket Bible which he was carrying in his breast pocket stopped a German bullet from hitting him. Incredibly, Leonard escaped without a scratch, to the glory of God.* *Optimum security can only be found in God. He has the power to secure you and everything that is committed to His hands. No matter how vehement the storm rages, He is willing to protect you beyond this world and preserve you spotless unto life eternal. "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God," Corrie ten Boom posited.* *"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24). Like the chicks find shelter under the wings of mother hen, so you too can dwell in His secret place and enjoy divine security.* *Anyone that chooses God for his/her protection shall be saved and secured from all alarms. Genuine experience of salvation earns you an abode under His wings.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Salvation earns you an abode.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*You are safe in the hollow of His hand.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to dwell in Your secret place.*_ In His Secret Place - 1 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday29thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [28/08, 9:19 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST, 2026``` *ACHAN'S SIN AND CONSEQUENCES* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽⚠️‼️🛑⚖️🔥⚰️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```JOSHUA 7:19-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done" (Joshua 7:20).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 As the children of Israel prepared to attack Jericho, the gateway to Canaan land, God commanded them to destroy all the people of Jericho with all their properties, except the vessels of silver, gold, brass and iron which were meant to be used for God's service. They were warned never to take for themselves any property from Jericho. After conquering Jericho, they proceeded to fight against a tiny enemy town called Ai. But in the process, thirty-six men among the Israelites were killed by the men of Ai, and the rest were chased away shamefully and disgraced because one of the men of Israel called Achan disobeyed God's command. This made God not to protect or help them in the battle. Achan fell into a chain of sins by: *(1) Looking at and admiring the Babylonish garment, money and gold.* *(2) Coveting the Babylonish properties.* *(3) Disobeying God's command by stealing the Babylonish properties.* *(4) Trying to cover his sins by secretly hiding the stolen Babylonish properties in his room.* *(5) Influencing his family members to join him in covering up his sins.* *(6) Causing the death of his family and thirty-six men of Israel.* *(7) Causing the anger of God to come upon the Israelites.* Achan's sins could not be hidden from God. He was exposed and disgraced. Himself, his wife and children were all stoned to death and burnt with all their properties including what he stole and attempted to cover up. *At the tail end of every chain of sins is damnation and destruction. But only Jesus has the power to break the chain and set the sinner free through repentance and cleansing in His precious blood. Repent now and be free from the consequences of your sins.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Dear Lord, give me the grace to keep off from every appearance of sin.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Psalm 9:17* Achan's Sin And Consequences https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk29thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ⏤ Colossians 3:23 The great thing in prayer is to feel that we are putting our supplications into the bosom of omnipotent love. ⏤ Andrew Murray We come into Your presence, O great and glorious God, to begin the day at Your feet. Without Your blessing, we dare not venture into the twisting paths of the world. We desire to do good work today. Keep us from being satisfied with merely fulfilling our duties; may we do even the smallest tasks with excellence, so as to please You. We also desire to live well in our family life. Sometimes we fail to do our best at home. We grow careless, and we do not speak as affectionately as we should. We are less courteous and kind than we might be. We do not always give the best expressions of love to those closest to us. Teach us, Father, to love at home—and to show our love. Preserve us from impatience, irritability, and frustration in our interactions as a home, and give us the spirit of love. We also desire to show love in all our relationships with the world. Give us a generous heart toward our neighbors. Help us to be like Jesus, who, when reviled, did not revile in return—who bore injury and insult with meekness and gentleness. May we have the same patient love that He had. If we suffer wrong from others, may we bear it quietly, without resentment, returning good for evil and kindness for unkindness. May we have the spirit of helpfulness toward all our neighbors. May we be like the Good Samaritan to anyone we find in distress or need. Enable us to carry the love of Jesus to every life we touch. Make us good interpreters of Jesus' divine love and kindness. May our neighbors see in us the holiness of Jesus. Let our day be one of beauty and grace, full of Jesus and full of goodness to others. We ask this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/55/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND " O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO" Some hymns are written with a pen while others seem to come from a wounded heart. “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” was written in 1882 by George Matheson, a Scottish minister whose life had taken him through blindness, disappointment and deep personal sorrow. When he wrote those words, he was not writing about suffering from a distance. He knew what it meant to watch life change in ways he never expected. Matheson was born in Glasgow in 1842. As a young man, his eyesight began to fail, and he eventually became completely blind. Yet he refused to allow blindness to end his purpose. He studied at the University of Glasgow, entered the ministry and became a respected preacher and writer. His private life also carried a deep wound. Biographical accounts have connected his early heartbreak with the end of an engagement after his eyesight deteriorated. Whatever the precise circumstances, Matheson knew the pain of seeing a future he had hoped for disappear. Then came June 6, 1882. It was his sister's wedding day. While his family attended the celebration, Matheson remained alone at the manse in Ingram, Scotland. It was during that quiet evening that the hymn came to him. Matheson later said he wrote it in about five minutes and made almost no changes afterwards. From that moment of solitude came words that would eventually comfort millions: “O Love that wilt not let me go, I give Thee back the life I owe.” Those words are striking because Matheson was not asking God to give him a life without suffering. He was surrendering the life he had, with all its unanswered questions. He had lost his sight, he had known heartbreak and he could not see what the future held. Yet he could still trust. The hymn moves gently from surrender to faith: “O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be.” Matheson did not deny the rain but he acknowledged it. He believed that beyond it was a promise worth holding on to and that is what makes the hymn so deeply moving. It speaks to anyone who has ever sat alone with a broken heart, watched a cherished dream disappear or wondered how they would find the strength to face another day. Matheson could not see with his eyes, yet he wrote about a rainbow. He could not see the morning, yet he believed it was coming and perhaps that is simply the miracle at the heart of this hymn: a man living in darkness gave the world words about hope. “O Love that wilt not let me go.” More than 140 years later, those words still carry the same promise. When life becomes too heavy to understand, when the road ahead is hidden and the heart is tired, there remains a love that does not abandon us. A love that holds on. A love that sees us through the rain. A love that will not let us go.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2O26. "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM (3)" '..."This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" Matt 17:5 NKJV ON THE Mount of Transfiguration, Moses, the law giver, and Elijah, who represents the prophets, stood side by side with Jesus. But Jesus outshone them all. The Bible says, ‘…His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them…’ Mark 9:3 TM). In that moment Jesus was God in His purest form. Awed by Him, Peter said, ‘…“Lord…if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”’ (Matthew 17:4 NKJV). It was a sincere sentiment, but it was sincerely wrong. ‘While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’’’ The word beloved implies ‘unique.’ There is no one else like Jesus! Not Moses. Not Elijah. Not Peter. Not Zoroaster, Buddha, or Muhammad. No one in heaven or on earth. Three shrines would have made Moses and Elijah equal with Christ, and God would have none of it. Only one shrine should be built, because only one person on the mountain deserved to be worshipped. ‘When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid’ (Matthew 17:6 NKJV). The One who hung the stars in space and left Pharaoh dead at the bottom of the Red Sea stood among them. The sight of Him took their breath away, removed every trace of arrogance and caused them to end up face-down on the ground. How long has it been since you felt such reverence for God? Bible In A Year: Ezek 14:1 – 16:52, Matt 21:33-46, Ps 103:1-12, Pro 19:12-16. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [27/08, 10:43 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SUCCOUR THROUGH THE WORD* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👨🏽‍💻🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 119:49-56```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself" (PSALM 119:52).*_ *A powerful weapon of the Lord in the hands of believers is His Word. It can be described as the spoken commitment of the Saviour with regard to the welfare of His children. An unmovable fact about the word of the Lord is that it involves His divine integrity. The Bible says "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).* *David realised this and determined that "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (Psalm 138:2). The Lord vowed through Isaiah that none of the words He had spoken would return unto Him void: "It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10, 11). The word of God is spirit and life; it is the anchorage of the believer in trouble. No wonder, God's children meditate therein day and night.* *We can all relate to the experiences narrated here. They are experiences of trials of faith alongside the enduring accompaniment of grace. He was familiar with the "proud" and their boastful remarks, reproachful behaviour and calculated assaults (Psalm 119:51). He felt the night of existence where no human friend or comforter could bear his burden. But he had faith in the faithfulness of the Lord: "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:3, 4).* *Today, a believer has a shelter in the word of God. Jesus never fails. His word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) that will vanquish the enemy. We should therefore seize the wisdom that the writer applies to our text: "waiting on the Lord". The Bible says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Our ground of hope and confidence is that God performs every word of His.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *TITUS 1-3*📜📜 Succour Through The Word https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 83: THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART; GHS 84: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS; AND GHS 210: OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna28thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [27/08, 10:43 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BEWARE OF THE SECOND DEATH* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽⚠️‼️🛑⚖️⚰️🔥😱😨🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```REVELATION 21:7,8```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 There are two important things common to all human beings. They are birth and death. Every soul on earth passed through the process of birth at one time or the other. Death on the other hand comes to terminate life on earth. It is a debt that everyone owes. *Is there anyone born into this world who will not die?* The answer is *No.* The book of Genesis gives us a detailed story of how the earliest people were born, the number of years they lived, and then their eventual death. This shows the order of human life. Life on earth definitely has an end. However, it is important to know that death is not the end of life. After death, life continues, but everyone will not be in the same place. There are two places to be after death - Heaven or Hell. The qualification for both is determined by the way we live our lives on earth. A careless, sinful and godless life will end up in hell fire. This is what the Bible refers to as the second death. This means, the sinner will die physically and leave the earth - first death. Then he will go to hell-fire where he will suffer forever and ever. The second death does not have time limit. It is a place of no-return. This is the reason the Bible warns us about the danger of partaking in the second death. *The urgent call to sinners is for them to repent, confess their sins, and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. Then they should ask Jesus to come into their lives as personal Saviour and Lord. This is the only way to escape the second death.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Dear God, please forgive me and deliver me from the second death.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Revelation 20:14* Beware Of The Second Death https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk28thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [27/08, 10:43 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST, 2026``` *GOD'S WORD IS DEPENDABLE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👨🏽‍💻🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:ISAIAH 55:6-11```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (ISAIAH 55:11).*_ *God is faithful and His word is infallible. Since God cannot fail, His word too can never fail. Whatever He has said in His word must come to pass. There is no condition in our lives that His word cannot take care of.* *Lay hold on the word. Grasp His words by faith. It will work for you. The Bible is the solid rock upon which believers stand, and it cannot sink. Take God's word at face value. Apart from reading the Bible, let it fill your memory and saturate your heart.* *Ignorance of the word denies us the benefits and blessings therein. Many youths can quote Shakespeare, Plato and Aristotle verbatim but cannot quote any verse of the Bible. Christians should be profound in the knowledge of the words of God and be able to quote them readily as occasion demands.* *When you wield the sword of the Spirit "It is written", the devil and his demons will flee. Let the word dwell in you as "a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life." It will make you grow healthily and happily.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*It will make you grow.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Depend on God's word.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Dear Lord, help me to trust You more.*_ God's Word Is Dependable https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday28thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. ⏤ Psalm 18:2 We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world and bring its power down to earth. ⏤ Andrew Murray O God, You are our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, the horn of our salvation, and our Redeemer. You are a proven Savior, and we know we can trust You. We have placed our confidence in You in the past, and You have never once failed us. We give You heartfelt thanks this morning for all the blessings of the night. We thank You most of all for revealing Yourself to us in Jesus Christ our Savior, in whom we see the exact image of Your being. We thank You that in Him we have learned of Your fatherhood, grace, and mercy. May the Holy Spirit teach us more and more of the blessedness and preciousness of this divine revelation, opening our eyes to see it and our hearts to receive it. We ask You, O God, to draw us near to You this morning and to hold us close to You all day long. We want to run the race set before us without faltering. Help us to lay aside every weight that would hinder us, and every sin that so easily entangles us, and fix our eyes on Jesus as our goal. We want to live as Christians should live. Let us not be drawn away by the world’s allure. Help us to conduct our daily business righteously. Teach us to do even the most mundane tasks for Jesus’ sake, with Jesus in mind. Help us to be honest and truthful in all aspects of our lives: In our business, In our social interactions, In our conversations, In every part of our lives. May the fruits of the Spirit abound in our lives. May we also abound in good works. Send us all the help we need for the day’s demands. Bless our loved ones, whatever their circumstances, and everyone for whom we should pray. We ask all this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/54/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

St. Augustine of Hippo St. Augustine was the son of St. Monica and was born on November 13, 354. He led a wicked life of parties and entertainment and then converted to Christian faith by the prayers of his mother St. Monica. He got the sudden change of mind when he heard the conversion of two persons after reading the life of St. Antony. He cried to the God to forgive him from his sins and sinful life. At that time when he was praying to God, a child nearby was singing "Take up and read". He thought that it is a message to him from God and started reading the book of letters of St. Paul. From then on St. Augustine began a new life. Baptized in the year 387 and then he became a priest in the year 391. He also became a very famous Christian thinker and writer. He became the Bishop of Hippo Regius in the year 391 and remained in that post till his death on August 28, 430. St. Augustine vigorously condemned the practice of induced abortion. He stressed infant baptism. He was of the full faith that the Virgin Mary conceived as virgin, gave birth as virgin and stayed virgin forever. He healed one person from his illness by laying his hands on the head of that person. He was proclaimed as Doctor of the Church by Pope Boniface-VIII in the year 1298. He is one of the greatest catholic saints ever lived. #faith #Catholic #world #saint #St. #doctor #church #abortion #Virgin

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED" “O Jesus, I Have Promised” was written by English hymn writer John Ernest Bode (1816–1874), an Anglican clergyman and scholar. Bode wrote the hymn in 1868 for the confirmation service of his own children at Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire, England. The hymn grew out of a deeply personal moment. Bode’s children were publicly affirming their Christian faith and promising to remain faithful to Christ. He wrote the words to express the seriousness of that commitment, not simply as a promise made during confirmation, but as a lifelong decision to follow Jesus. The opening words, “O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end,” immediately establish the hymn’s central message: faithful Christian service. The following verses recognise that keeping such a promise is not always easy. Temptations, distractions and the pressures of life can weaken a believer, which is why the hymn repeatedly turns to Jesus for strength and guidance. Its most familiar lines include the prayer: “ O Jesus, Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee, That where Thou art in glory, There shall Thy servant be.” The hymn became widely known in churches and schools and has remained a beloved hymn of commitment, especially at confirmation services, because of its direct and personal language. “O Jesus, I Have Promised” continues to speak across generations because its message is simple but demanding: to follow Christ faithfully, to resist the distractions of the world, and to depend on Him for the strength to remain true to the promise.