Now the Joyful Bells A-Ringing

I am devotional blogging in 2013. Each day I will feature the text of a hymn (because I love the poetry as much as I love music) and the scripture reference(s) that accompany the text. I hope you will be blessed, and if you like my devotional, please share it with your friends!

Now the Joyful Bells A-Ringing

The words are a Welsh carol, paraphrased by K.E. Roberts (1979-1953)

Sung to the hymn tune NOS GALAN (commonly associated with the song "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly")

Psalm 148:9 Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars....

V. 1 Now the joyful bells a-ringing, all ye mountains, praise the Lord!

Lift our hearts like birds a-winging, all ye mountains, praise the Lord!

Now our festal season bringing kinsmen all to bide and board,

Sets our cheery voices singing:  All ye mountains, praise the Lord!

Matthew 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

V. 2 Dear our home as dear none other; where the mountains praise the Lord!

Gladly here our care we smother; where the mountains praise the Lord!

Here we know that Christ our brother binds us all as by a cord:

He was born of Mary mother where the mountains praise the Lord!

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

V. 3 Cold the year, new whiteness wearing, all ye mountains, praise the Lord!

Peace, good will to us a-bearing, all ye mountains praise the Lord!

Now we all God's goodness sharing break the bread and sheath the sword:

Bright our hearths the signal flaring all ye mountains, praise the Lord!

My Blog is Coming Back to Life!

I know I haven't been a faithful blogger, but that is about to change.  Both of my grandfathers enjoyed hymns and hymnology.  They both had extensive hymnal collections, although their interest areas were quite different.  So, I guess that the direction my blog is moving is at least partly hereditary, because I will be devotional blogging hymns.  (In fact, the hymnal that I'm using as a reference was my Grandpa Cowdrick's, and his name is included in it, as he was a member of the committee that compiled this particular edition.) You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out more.  I hope you'll enjoy visiting and want to come back every day.

To whet your appetite, here is a lovely poem about the New Year.

        The New Leaf

He came to my desk with quivering lip-
The lesson was done;
"Dear teacher, I want a new leaf," he said,
"I have spoiled this one."

I took the old leaf, stained and blotted,
And gave him a new one all unspotted,
And into his sad eyes smiled,
"Do better, now, my child."

I went to the throne with quivering soul
The old year was done.
"Dear God, hast Thou a new leaf for me?
I have spoiled this one."

God took the old leaf, stained and blotted,
And gave me a new one all unspotted,
And into my sad heart smiled,
"Do better, now, my child."
--Carrie Shaw Rice--