Wonderful Words

“Wonderful Words of Life” was written in 1874 by Philip P. Bliss, a gifted composer and evangelist whose music shaped the gospel hymn tradition. Bliss was deeply involved in revival meetings across the U.S., often collaborating with evangelists like Dwight L. Moody and Major Daniel Webster Whittle2.

✍️ Origins and Purpose

  • Bliss composed the hymn for a Sunday School paper called Words of Life, published by Fleming H. Revell in Chicago.
  • The hymn was designed to be simple, repetitive, and memorable, making it ideal for teaching children and congregations by rote.
  • Its lyrics emphasize the beauty, hope, and spiritual nourishment found in Scripture—“Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life.”

🚂 Tragic Turn

  • Just two years after writing the hymn, Bliss and his wife Lucy tragically died in a train derailment in 1876.
  • Their legacy was carried on by fellow musicians like James McGranahan, who continued performing Bliss’s hymns at revival meetings.

📚 Musical Legacy

  • The hymn gained widespread popularity through inclusion in Gospel Hymns No. 3 (1878) and Sacred Songs and Solos No. 2 in Britain.
  • Its enduring appeal lies in its gentle melody and uplifting message, often used in worship to evoke reflection and joy.

Philip P. Bliss left behind a remarkable legacy of gospel hymns that continue to resonate with congregations and choirs around the world. Here are some of his most beloved and widely sung works:

🎵 Notable Hymns by Philip P. Bliss

Hymn TitleTheme / MessageYear
Almost PersuadedUrgency of salvation and decision-making1871
Hold the FortSpiritual perseverance and encouragement1870
Hallelujah, What a Saviour!Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and triumph1875
Let the Lower Lights Be BurningEvangelism and guiding others to safety1871
Whosoever WillInvitation to salvation for all1870s
Jesus Loves Even MePersonal assurance of Christ’s love1871
I Will Sing of My RedeemerJoyful testimony of salvation1876
Free from the Law, O Happy ConditionGrace over legalism1870s

Many of these hymns were published in the Gospel Hymns series, co-edited with Ira D. Sankey, and became staples in revival meetings across the U.S. and Britain2.

Fighting the Fight

1 Timothy 6 New International Version

Final Charge to Timothy

Fighting the Good Fight

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Encouraged in heart and love,

Colossians 2:2-3New International Version

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

God’s Spirit

Isaiah 61; 1

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.See the source image
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me

I remember this was one of the many prayer choruses I came to learn of by heart as a young adult and one that has spoke a lot to me in my Christian life . It’s a prayer chorus that kind of speaks for itself, a chorus of prayer and  repentance.

 

The Lord’s Spirit

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy