Birds in Hymns - Awake, Glad Soul

Awake, Glad Soul by John S. B. Monsell

Based on I Corinthians 15:20

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (NKJV)

Words: John S. B. Mon­sell, 1857. Music: St. Ste­phen, Wil­liam Jones, 1789 Al­ter­nate tunes: Awake, Glad Soul

Click to hear music

Awake, glad soul! awake! awake!
Thy Lord has risen long;
Go to His grave, and with thee take
Both tuneful heart and song.

Where life is waking all around,
Where love’s sweet voices sing,
The first bright blossom may be found
Of an eternal spring.

The shade and gloom of life are fled
This resurrection day;
Henceforth in Christ are no more dead,
The grave hath no more prey.

In Christ we live, in Christ we sleep,
In Christ we wake and rise,
And the sad tears death makes us weep,
He wipes from all our eyes.


And every bird and every tree,
And every opening flower,
Proclaim His glorious victory,
His resurrection power.

The folds are glad, the fields rejoice,
With vernal verdure spread,
The little hills lift up their voice
And shout that death is dead.

Then wake, glad heart! awake! awake
And seek Thy risen Lord;
Joy in His resurrection take,
And comfort in His Word.

And let thy life, through all its ways,
One long thanksgiving be:
Its theme of joy, its song of praise—
Christ died, and rose for me.

See Also:  Birds in Hymns - In The Garden

Birds of the Bible - Osprey II (by Lee Dusing)

The Osprey or Ospray (depending on which version of Bible) listed in Leviticus 11:13 or Deuteronomy 14:12, gives an interesting challenge. According to my e-Sword Bible Program, an Osprey or ospray is listed in the ASV, BBE, Bishops, CEV, Geneva, JPS, KJV, MKJV, RV, WEB, Webster, and YLT versions. Yet, the Darby calls it a sea-eagle. The ESV, GW, LITV, MSG, NASB, and the NKJV versions call it a type of Vulture. I am not sure why the different versions do that, but most of them call it the Osprey or sea-eagle which is another name used for it. The WhatBird article had this to say about it, "The Osprey, Pandion haliaetus–whose species name is derived from the Greek ‘hals’ (salt or sea) and ‘aetos,’ or eagle–is the only bird of prey that feeds exclusively on live fish."
Smith's Bible Dictionary says, "Osprey. The Hebrew word occurs in, Lev_11:13 and Deu_14:12, as the name of some unclean bird. It's probably either the osprey, (Pandion haliaetus), or the white-tailed eagle, (Haliaetus albicella)."
Faussett Bible Dictionary says, "Ospray
ozniah (Lev_11:13; Deu_14:12). The sea eagle or fish hawk, Pandion haliaetus, the Septuagint. Or the short-toed eagle that feeds upon reptiles. The ossifrage (peres, means "the bone-breaker," the lamergeyer, Gypaetus (eagle and vulture combined) barbatus, "the bearded vulture." "Ospray" is a corruption of "ossifrage." It flies in easy curving lines, and then pounces perpendicularly with unerring aim on a fish."
International Standard BibleEncyclopedia says, "Ospray
os´prā́ (עזניּה, ‛oznīyāh; ἁλιάετος, haliáetos; Latin Pandion haliaetus): A large hawk preferring a diet of fish. The word is found in the list of abominations only. See Lev_11:13; Deu_14:12. The osprey was quite similar in appearance to some of the smaller eagles, and by some it is thought that the short-toed eagle is intended. But the eagle and the gier-eagle had been specified, and on account of the osprey plunging into water for food and having feet bare to the lower leg-joint and plumage of brighter and more distinctive marking, it seems very probable that it was recognized as a distinctive species, and so named separately. Moreover, the osprey was not numerous as were other hawks and eagles. It was a bird that lived almost wholly on fish, and these were not plentiful in the waters of Palestine. This would tend to make it a marked bird, so no doubt the translation is correct as it stands, as any hawk that lived on fish would have been barred as an article of diet (see Tristram, Natural History of the Bible, 182; also Studers, Birds of North America, p. 16)."
Webster says, Ospray
"OS'PRAY, n. [L. ossifraga; as, a bone, and frango, to break; the bone-breaker.]
The sea-eagle, a fowl of the genus Falco or hawk, of the size of a peacock. This is our fish hawk. It feeds on fish which it takes by suddenly darting upon them, when near the surface of the water."


One thing most of them seem to be in agreement about, is that the bird is a fish eater. The Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish and God has created them with specialized feet and behaviors to assist them in their search for food. One of their biggest problems is the thievery of their catch by Bald Eagles. Dan and I have had the privilege twice to witness this event. Once years ago in Punta Gorda, Florida and just last month here in Winter Haven. Needless to say, the Osprey gets very upset, but both times, they lost. Do you think the Eagle knows the truth of Ephesians 4:28? (Replace hands with feet). Let's make sure we don't copy this improper behavior of the Eagle.

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Eph 4:28 NKJV)

Original blog about the Osprey was Birds of the Bible - Osprey
Photos are 1-Osprey by Anthony,2-Osprey by Jim Fenton, and 3-White-tailed Eagle-Wikipedia

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For more sources of information about Ospreys see:
Osprey - WhatBird.com
Osprey - Wikipedia
Osprey - BirdLife Species Factsheet
USGS - Osprey
Osprey Videos from the Internet Bird Connection

Birds of the Bible - Falcons II (by Lee Dusing)

I have noticed that many come to my blog looking for information and photos of Falcons. The Birds of the Bible - Falcons introduced the Falcons. This week we will give some more on the Falcons around the world. The Falcon is on the "unclean list" of birds and was not to be eaten. Deuteronomy 14:13 and Leviticus 11:14 provides their name in that list.

the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds; (Deu 14:13 NKJV)
the kite, and the falcon after its kind; (Lev 11:14 NKJV)

The other reference in Scripture is found in Job 28:7 which refers to it's eye.

That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon's eye seen it.

The Lord has created the Falcon with another fantastic ability which helps it catch its prey. Notice as you watch these videos, no matter what else they are doing, their eye's are constantly watching for prey. A quote from Steiner Birding about the Peregrine Falcon says, "Sight is developed to a marvelous degree:
They are equipped with full-color vision and with eyes specially adapted to permit rapid adjustment of focus while moving at speed, and from four to eight times the resolving power of the human eye. Hovering may be compared to looking into a field from a car moving at twenty miles an hour or from one which comes to a standstill every few yards. It would be possible for a human being to see an individual rabbit or large game bird at a range of 600-700-yards; a bird of prey, with about four times the resolving power of the human eye, should therefore be able to see it at a range of nearly two miles."

Here is a list of the Falcon's listed at Internet Bird Collection (IBC) (a total of 34) The ones with the * were mentioned in the first blog:

Laughing Falcon - Videos of a Laughing Falcon on a tree and a Laughing Falcon calling continuously
Barred Forest-Falcon
Plumbeous Forest-Falcon
Lined Forest-Falcon
Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon
* Collared Forest-Falcon
Buckley's Forest-Falcon
Spot-winged Falconet - Video
African Pygmy Falcon - Video
White-rumped Pygmy-Falcon P
Collared Falconet - Video
Black-thighed Falconet
White-fronted Falconet
Philippine Falconet - Video
Pied Falconet - Video
Red-necked Falcon
Red-footed Falcon - Video
Amur Falcon - Video
Eleonora's Falcon - Video
Sooty Falcon
* Aplomado Falcon - Video
Bat Falcon - Video
Orange-breasted Falcon
New Zealand Falcon
Brown Falcon - Video
Grey Falcon
Black Falcon
Lanner Falcon - Video
Laggar Falcon
Saker Falcon - Video
* Gyrfalcon
* Prairie Falcon - Video
Taita Falcon - Video
* Peregrine Falcon - Video

See also the my Falcon Pages

Christmas Cantata Highlights

Enjoy this selection from our recent Christmas Cantata.

The Mover from Valley of Vision

O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness
between the heaven I am bound for and the hell I merit
(from Valley of Vision)

Birds of the Bible - Pelicans II (by Lee Dusing)

We were birdwatching at Lake Hollingsworth this week and spotted 11 American White Pelicans on the lake and also 5 Brown Pelicans hanging out with them. Over them were at least 10 or so Osprey circling hoping for some leftovers or fish to be scared up. So, this week we will revisit the "Birds of the Bible - Pelicans ."

In the first article we covered the American White Pelicans and the Brown Pelicans (our North American Pelicans), but there are six more around the world. They are the:

Australian Pelican widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant to New Zealand. Medium-sized by pelican standards: 5.3-6 ft long with a wingspan of 6–8.3 ft and weighing 9–29 lb). It is predominantly white with black along the primaries of the wings. The pale, pinkish bill is enormous, even by pelican standards, and is the largest bill in the avian world. The record-sized bill was 19.5 in long.

Dalmation Pelican It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia to China in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a crude heap of vegetation. The largest of the pelicans, averaging 67 inches in length, 24-33 lbs in weight and just over 10 ft in wingspan. On average, it's the world's heaviest flying species.

Peruvian Pelican The Peruvian birds are nearly twice the bulk of the Brown Pelican, averaging 15.4 lb in weight; they are also longer, measuring about 5 ft overall.

Great White Pelican Also known as the Eastern White Pelican or Great White Pelican, it breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation. A large pelican, at 22 lbs, 63 in long and with a 110 inch wingspan. It differs from the Dalmatian Pelican, the only larger species of pelican, by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs.

Pink-backed Pelican A resident breeder in Africa, southern Arabia and Madagascar in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a large heap of sticks, into which 2-3 large white eggs are laid. The chicks feed by plunging their heads deep into the adult’s pouch and taking the partially digested regurgitated fish. A small pelican, but the wingspan is still around 7.9 ft with an average weight of 12 lbs. It is much smaller and duller than the Great White Pelican. The plumage is grey and white, with a pink back.

Spot-billed Pelican It breeds in southern Asia from southern Pakistan, Republic of India to Indonesia. It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially shallow lakes. The nest is a heap of vegetation in a tree. A small pelican, at 49-60 in long and a weight of 9-13.2 lbs. It is mainly white, with a grey crest, hindneck and tail. Information taken from Wikipedia

The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. "You Ethiopians also, You shall be slain by My sword." And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness. The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist. (Zep 2:11-15 NKJV)

"Judah had been taunted and mocked by the neighboring nations, Moab and Ammon, but God reminded them that he had "heard the taunts" (Zep_2:8), and that the taunters would be punished for their pride (Zep_2:10). At times the whole world seems to mock God and those who have faith in him. When you are ridiculed, remember that God hears and will answer. Eventually, in God's timing, justice will be carried out. To predict the destruction of Nineveh 10 years before it happened would be equivalent to predicting the destruction of London, Tokyo, Paris, or New York. Nineveh was the ancient Near Eastern center for culture, technology, and beauty. It had great libraries, buildings, and a vast irrigation system that created lush gardens in the city. The city wall was 60 miles long, 100 feet high, and over 30 feet wide and was fortified with 1,500 towers. Yet the entire city was destroyed so completely that its very existence was questioned until it was discovered, with great difficulty, by 19th-century archaeologists. Nineveh had indeed become as desolate and dry as the desert." (Notes from the Life Application Bible on Zephaniah 2:8-15)

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See also these links:

Interesting link to Our Daily Bread about the Pathetic Pelican.

Birds of the Bible - Pelicans

Pelicans Page with Pictures and Videos

We are Not Mushrooms, but Oaks (John Newton)

“Remember, the growth of a believer is not like a mushroom—but like an oak, which increases slowly indeed—but surely. Many suns, showers, and frosts, pass upon it before it comes to perfection. And in winter, when it seems to be dead—it is gathering strength at the root.  Be humble, watchful, and diligent in the means, and endeavor to look through all, and fix your eye upon Jesus—and all shall be well."
—John Newton, Letters of John Newton

His Eye Is On The Sparrow (by Lee Dusing)

Based on Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Words: Civilla D. Martin, 1905.
Music: Charles H. Gabriel

"Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourneying in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel him self to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inpiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hope fullness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: 'His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.' The beauty of this simple expression of bound less faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience."

Civilla Martin
"The next day she mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, who supplied the music. Singer Ethel Waters so loved this song that she used its name as the title for her autobiography."
(Quotes from Cyberhymnal)

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.


“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

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Grasshopper Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow photos with permission of Ray's Wildlife Photography

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Birds of the Bible - Review (by Lee Dusing)

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? (Job 12:7-10 NKJV)

Since February, the different birds of the Bible were presented in random order. Here is a list of those birds, with their links, in alphabetical order. Hope this helps you find a particular bird easier. If this is being used as a review, try to visualize the bird before you click on the link. (Always the teacher)

Birds of the Bible - Introduction

Bittern

Cranes

Cormorant

Cuckoo

Dove and Turtle-Dove

Eagles    Eagles II

Falcons

Glede and Kite

Hawks   Hawk Migration

Hen and Rooster

Herons

Hoopoe

Lapwing

Nighthawk     Nighthawk II

Osprey
Ossifrage
Ostrich
Owls
Partridge
Peacocks

Pelicans
Quail
Raven
Sparrow I    Sparrow II
Storks
Swan
Vulture

Other Articles and Videos about Birds
Bird Feeder I
Clean vs Unclean
God's Care For Birds
Under His Wing

The Sands of Time Are Sinking (by Stephen Simpson)

Last night, I played an offertory on the piano that may not have been familiar to many of you. It was an arrangement that combined the second movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata with the hymn The Sands of Time Are Sinking. This is one of my favorite hymns, both for its text and for its memorable melody. Take some time to read through the words of this great hymn. The four stanzas usually sung are taken from the original 19 written by Anne Ross Cousin. You can read all 19 stanzas and listen to the melody at CyberHymnal.org.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove,
And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love;
I’ll bless the hand that guided, I’ll bless the heart that planned
When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.

Birds of the Bible - Hen and Rooster (by Lee Dusing)

This week's Birds of the Bible brings us to the end of the specifically named birds of the Bible. Since February, I have tried to present a different bird each week. I have been given the privilege to continue on with non-specific named birds and to repeat birds with different facts.

Our Hen and the Rooster or Cock are domesticated and most have seen and heard them. So, since they are so diverse, I am only going to cover the verses that relate to them. The hen or female chicken is very protective when she has her young about her. Under her wings she provides warmth, security, and love. Christ made reference to that fact when He had been talking to the "scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" in Matthew 23 when He said:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (Mat 23:37 NKJV)

The Lord wants to protect us and take care of us, and what a blessing it is when we let Him provide. Unfortunately, many did not let Him then nor now provide the shelter and care only He can give.

These chicks are still trying to be protected even though they are more mature.

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Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Mat 26:34 NKJV)
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly. (Mat 26:74-75 NKJV)

Most of us know the story of how Peter was so sure he would never fail the Lord and deny Him, but Christ knew that before that very night was over by the time the rooster would wake up and crow, what would take place. Peter repented and went on to be a great apostle the rest of his life. Did he ever slip and fall again, I'm sure he did, like those of us who are saved by grace. Just maybe, Peter remembered the Lord's illustration of the Hen protecting her chicks and sought the protection, security, and love only Christ can provide.

Also see the post: Under His Wing

    

Unknown Bird - Gary or Halloween Bird? (by Lee Dusing)

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:17

Last Friday evening (Halloween) our church, Faith Baptist Church, had a Fall Festival. They had "Trunk or Treat" for the kids to get goodies from. We went to see the activities and being a true birdwatcher, always on the lookout for birds, I came across an unknown bird. So, we got its picture. Now it could be a Gary Bird or a Halloween Bird, I am not sure. After looking through my many bird books at home, I could not find one like it. If anyone knows, please leave a comment.

It really was a great evening. We had other activities besides the trunks. One of our pastors, Pastor Pete, managed to get himself dunked many times.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1Co 10:31)
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Col 3:23)