Julia Howe awoke on an early morning in 1861 to gray skies. To her astonishment lines to a new song had formed in her head. She quickly wrote them down and returned to sleep. She later gave the lines to a friend who worked at The Atlantic Monthly.  They published the song and she received $5.00.  She said about that morning, “I had a feeling that something of importance had happened to me.”

The lines she wrote were to be put to the same tune that civil war soldiers loved. It was a tune for a tribute to John Brown who had been hanged in 1859 for attempting to lead an insurrection of slaves at Harper’s Ferry.  You know the tune as the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which will be our opening song this July 3^rd.

This hymn was sung at an event, which included President Abraham Lincoln. It is said that at the conclusion of the song President Lincoln, with tears in his eyes, cried out, “Sing it again!,” and it was sung again.

We will follow this hymn with, Count Your Blessings, written by Johnson Oatman in 1897. Johnson wanted to teach people that it is impossible to be mean, grumpy and cantankerous while being thankful.  Just try to sing this song and stay in your bad mood.

Staying with the theme, our next song is Trading My Sorrows.

            I’m trading my sorrows. I’m trading my shame.  I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.  

           I’m trading my sickness. I’m trading my pain. I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

Our final song will be  Shout to the North!

          Shout to the North and the South. Sing to the East to West.

         Jesus is Savior to all, Lord of Heaven and Earth!

This 4^th of July Holiday remember to Count Your Blessing and name them one by one! Trade in your sorrow for the Joy of the Lord and then Shout! Jesus is Lord of All!