Out With the Old and In With the New!

Happy New Year Y'all!  It's time to destash.  My sewing room is so packed, I cannot put another thing in it!  I have been collecting vintage linens, chenille, and doilies for over 35 years, and something's gotta go!  I have decided to...eek...release some of my vintage sewing goodies (really, this is like pulling teeth...so hard to let go)!  I have listed some of my vintage chenille fringe pieces in my Etsy shop, and some vintage linens on Ebay.  Please stop over and check them out!  Click on the pictures for the links.

                                       SOLD!

SOLD!

He's the Fariest of Ten Thousand to My Soul

William Booth was a minister in 1865 concerned  with the poor and homeless in London's East End.  During his ministry in 1878, people began to leave their old ways of life and join the "Lord's Army."  "The Salvation Army" became the name for this new ministry.  When the ministry spread to Salisbury, it was not received very well.  Workers in the Army were mistreated and hit by bricks and eggs when they preached.  A builder living in Salisbury, Charles Fry, came to the rescue offering protection for the preachers.  He and his three sons fought off the offenders.  They also played music for the ministry and drew crowds for the preachers.  Thus was born the Salvation Army Brass Band.  A few years later, Fry wrote, "The Lily of the Valley," a popular song played by modern day "Army workers." 
I have found a friend in Jesus.  He's everything to me.  He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul; The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see; All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole. 
In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay.  He tells me every care on Him to roll;  He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star; He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

All Because the Organ Was Broken

Another Christmas carol that I adore is from the Austrian Alps, "Silent Night."  This carol was born out of misfortune.  It seems the new church of St. Nicholas in the Austrian Alps was suddenly without a working organ on the night of the 1818 Christmas Eve music program.  The church priest, Joseph Mohr, quickly wrote the song to be sung without an organ.  The song was sung that Christmas Eve as a duet, and later its fame spread throughout the Austrian Alps.  It was even sung before the King and Queen!
The carol relays the story of Christ's birth including the shepherds' meeting with the angel, the "glories" streaming from heaven, and the "wondrous star" as a leading light.  It ends by proclaiming Jesus' birth as the "dawn of redeeming grace."  What a wonderful thought that our own redemption today began on that "silent night" over 2,000 years ago. 
The information about these hymns comes from a book I am reviewing called, "Then Sings My Soul," by Robert J. Morgan.  It contains 150 stories about favorite Christmas, Easter, and other Christian hymns that have been sung for hundreds of years.   I will be adding more reviews of favorite hymns in the future so please check back. 

Written By the Angels

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas!  In stores, on the radio, in homes and churches around the world old familiar carols written long ago by forgotten authors still ring out filling the air with their melodious sounds.  One of my favorite carols was actually partly composed by the Angels themselves.  Angels We Have Heard on High is a French carol with an unknown human author.  The chorus, however, has it's origin in the heavenly realm.  It was sung by the Angels in a sudden and joyous response to the news of Jesus' birth: 

" And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men."   Luke 2:14 KJV.

The carol uses the Latin words, "Gloria, inexcelsis Deo" in the chorus.  Gloria  means "glory," and in excelsis means "in the highest," while Deo means "God." 

What better way to praise God for His son than to sing the very song the Angels sang on the night of Jesus' birth! 

 Victorian Christmas Angels Pinback Button

Victorian Christmas Gift Tags