When I was 11 years old, my folks sent me to the YMCA camp in Blairstown, NJ, for two weeks in the summer. It upset me at first, but I soon got the hang of it.
On Sundays the camp had outdoor chapel service. The chapel was on a hilltop overlooking one of the most gorgeous views of rolling green hills and farmers’ fields you ever saw. I’ll never forget it. And the counselors’ choir sang this great old hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name. It’s been one of my favorite hymns ever since: hard for me to hear it sung without my eyes getting teary.
The hills, the fields, the cloudless blue sky of that day, and the music, are all the gifts of God.
Enjoy them and give thanks.
I went to a youth retreat in a hostel in the alps when I lived in Germany. It was a life changing trip that resulted in me accepting Jesus as my Savior. The power of that amazing view and the music we sung to the open sky are still with me all these years later.
So true – some of the most moving spiritual feelings I have had were in outdoor worship. Thanks for the post Lee – and God Bless
Glorious! We sang this one in the little church of my childhood, and it brings tears to me to this day whenever I hear it. May the Lord of Glory be exalted!