Count Your Blessings
"Count
Your Blessings" is generally considered
to be Oatman's finest hymn.
It first
appeared in Songs for Young People,
compiled and published by Edwin O. Excell in 1897. It has been sung all
over the world. One writer has stated,
"Like a beam of sunlight it has
brightened up the dark places of the
earth."
The London Daily, in giving an account
of a meeting presided over by Gypsy
Smith, reported, "Mr. Smith announced
the hymn 'Count Your Blessings.' Said
he, 'In South London the men sing it,
the boys whistle it, and the women rock
their babies to sleep on this hymn.'"
During the great revival in Wales it was
one of the hymns sung at every service
along with such Welsh favorites as
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" and "O
That Will be Glory". The composer of the
music, E. O. Excell, is a well-known
name in early gospel hymnody. He was
born in Stark County, Ohio, on December
13, 1851. At the age of twenty he became
a singing teacher, traveling around the
country establishing singing schools.
For twenty years he was associated with
Sam Jones, a well-known Southern
revivalist. Excell was recognized as one
of the finest song leaders of his day.
In addition to writing and composing
more than 2,000 gospel songs as well as
publishing about fifty songbooks, he
administered a successful music
publishing business in Chicago. While
assisting Gypsy Smith in an evangelistic
campaign in Louisville, Kentucky, in
1921, he was suddenly stricken at the
age of seventy and taken home to join
the immortal heavenly chorus.
Listen To: Count Your Blessings
Verse 1
When upon life's billows You are tempest
tossed,
When you are discouraged Thinking all is
lost,
Count your many blessings Name them one
by one,
And it will surprise you What the Lord
hath done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by
one.
Count your blessings See what God hath
done.
Count your blessings Name them one by
one.
Count your many blessings See what God
hath done.
Verse 2
Are you ever burdened With a load of
care,
Does the cross seem heavy You are called
to bear.
Count your many blessings Every doubt
will fly,
And you will be singing As the days go
by.
Verse 3
When you look at others With their lands
and gold,
Think that Christ has promised You His
wealth untold.
Count your many blessings Money cannot
buy,
Your reward in heaven Nor your home on
high.
Verse 4
So amid the conflict Whether great or
small,
Do not be discouraged God is over all.
Count your many blessings Angels will
attend,
Help and comfort give you To your
journey's end.
More Hymn History... Click Here
Invitation
To Christ - Copyright © 2007