The Juke Box is OPEN

[TrayGold]

[TrayGold]

AN OLDIE BUT GOOIE. 

[Charon]

Horatio Gates Spafford - The story behind the hymn "It is well with my soul"
The Story of the Hymn

Horatio Gates Spafford was born in New York, on 20th October 1828, but it was in Chicago that he became well-known for his clear Christian testimony. He, and his wife Anna were active in their church, and their home was always open to visitors. They counted the world-famous evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, among their friends. They were blest with five children, and considerable wealth. Horatio was a lawyer, and owned a great deal of property in his home city.

Not unlike Job in the Old Testament of the Bible, tragedy came in great measure to this happy home. When four years old, their son, Horatio Jnr, died suddenly of scarlet fever. Then only a year later, in October 1871, a massive fire swept through downtown Chicago, devastating the city, including many properties owned by Horatio. That day, almost 300 people lost their lives, and around 100,000 were made homeless. Despite their own substantial financial loss, the Spaffords sought to demonstrate the love of Christ, by assisting those who were grief-stricken and in great need.

Two years later, in 1873, Spafford decided his family should take a holiday in England, knowing that his friend, the evangelist D. L. Moody, would be preaching there in the autumn. Horatio was delayed because of business, so he sent his family ahead: his wife and their four remaining children, all daughters, 11 year old Anna, 9 year old Margaret Lee, 5 year old Elizabeth, and 2 year old Tanetta.

Another Tragedy

On 22nd November 1873, while crossing the Atlantic on the steamship, Ville du Havre, their vessel was struck by an iron sailing ship. Two hundred and twenty six people lost their lives, as the Ville du Havre sank within only twelve minutes.

All four of Horatio Spafford’s daughters perished, but remarkably Anna Spafford survived the tragedy. Those rescued, including Anna, who was found unconscious, floating on a plank of wood, subsequently arrived in Cardiff, South Wales. Upon arrival there, Anna immediately sent a telegram to her husband, which included the words “Saved alone….”

Receiving Anna’s message, he set off at once to be reunited with his wife. One particular day, during the voyage, the captain summoned him to the bridge of the vessel. Pointing to his charts, he explained that they were then passing over the very spot where the Ville du Havre had sunk, and where his daughters had died. It is said that Spafford returned to his cabin and wrote the hymn “It is well with my soul” there and then, the first line of which is, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way..” There are other accounts which say that it was written at a later date, but obviously the voyage was one of deep pathos, and is the clear inspiration of the moving and well-loved hymn. Horatio’s faith in God never faltered. He later wrote to Anna’s half-sister, “On Thursday last, we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe….. dear lambs”.

After Anna was rescued, Pastor Nathaniel Weiss, one of the ministers travelling with the surviving group, remembered hearing Anna say, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.”

Naturally Anna was utterly devastated, but she testified that in her grief and despair, she had been conscious of a soft voice speaking to her, “You were saved for a purpose!” She remembered something a friend had once said, “It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God.”

Following this deep tragedy, Anna gave birth to three more children, but she and Horatio were not spared even more sadness, as on February 11th, 1880, their only son, Horatio (named after the brother who had died, and also after his father), he also died at the age of four.

Further Service

In August 1881 the Spaffords left America with a number of other like-minded Christians, and settled in Jerusalem. There they served the needy, helped the poor, and cared for the sick, and took in homeless children. Their desire was to show those living about them, the love of Jesus.

The original manuscript of the Spafford’s hymn has only four verses, but later another verse was added. The music, which was written by Philip Bliss, was named after the ship on which Horatio and Anna’s daughters had died – Ville du Havre.

Horatio Spafford died of malaria on 16th October 1888. Anna Spafford continued to work in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem until her own death in 1923. Both Horatio and Anna were laid to rest in Jerusalem. It can truly be said, in the words that Spafford penned that, “It is well with their souls.”

The question remains, is it so with yours?

[Charon]

[Charon]

I salute you forever and always, my Fireman Dude. My 9/11 hero.








For My beloved Wheels46. My hero and friend. Rest in Peace. Yes, I shall Follow You, Wheels.

[Charon]

[willie33]

Keiko means "lucky/blessed child".





Keiko I see you, alive in my dreams.
The outsider amongst us, the plague in between.
Keiko the world is a beautiful thing,
I don’t always adore it but I know what it means to feel love.

Keiko I see you, alive in my dreams.
The outsider amongst us, the plague in between.
Keiko did the good lord tell you what it means,
All of us here, all of us waiting on you.

Did you watch the sun when it came flying over the hillside,
Did you think of home when they buried your old man.

Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, some kind of forest fire.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise, yeah.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, invincible somewhere I know.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise, yeah.

Keiko I see you, alive in my dreams.
The outsider amongst us, the plague in between.
Keiko the world is a beautiful thing,
I don’t always adore it but I know what it means to feel love.

Did you watch the sun when it came flying over the hillside,
Did you think of home when they buried your old man,
Did you watch the violence, come creaping up inside you,
Did you wash the world so clean from your hands.

Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, some kind of forest fire.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise, yeah.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, some kind of forest fire.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise, yeah.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, some kind of forest fire.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise, yeah.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, invincible somewhere.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, on, sun to rise.

I remember you and all of your fury, saying it will be fine.
I remember you and all of your fury, saying it will be fine.
I remember you and all of your fury, saying it will be fine.
I remember you.

[Charon]

Love, Ms. Willie...





Lyrics
Broken windows and empty hallways,
A pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey.
Human kindness is overflowing,
And I think it's gonna rain today.

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles,
The frozen smiles to chase love away.
Human kindness is overflowing,
And I think it's gonna rain today.

Lonely, lonely.
Tin can at my feet,
I think I'll kick it down the street.
That's the way to treat a friend.

Bright before me the signs implore me:
Help the needy and show them the way.
Human kindness is overflowing,
And I think it's gonna rain today.

Lonely, so lonely.
Tin can at my feet,
I think I'll kick it down the street.
That's the way to treat a friend.

Bright before me the signs implore me:
Help the needy and show them the way.
Human kindness is overflowing,
And I think it's gonna rain today.

No kidding, this is dedicated to my landlord and his GF whom are being absolutely wonderful to me cuz they feel so badly we have to leave. God bless Billy, Lord.

And thank you for all the kindness that has been extended to me on here. God bless you all.

We shall all make it through our lives in Jesus name I pray. Believe.

[Charon]

[TrayGold]

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