“Under His Wings” ….a hymn of great comfort!  The lyrics were written by William O. Cushing.

William was a pastor in New York during the mid 1800’s.  His wife died after twenty four years of marriage.

Shortly after his wife’s death…he developed “creeping paralysis” which prevented him from using his voice to preach.

William pleaded with the Lord to give him some other way to minister.

God did just that.  William wrote over 300 hymns.  “Under His Wings” was a result of William going through hard times.

William may have based this hymn from the following Bible verse.

Psalm 17:8   “Hide me under the shadow of your wings.”

Under His Wings

Sacred piano solo (3 pages) Consists of one verse and two choruses in the key of C Major

Price: $3.75

I just ran across this very well-done movie of Fanny Crosby’s life.

Highlights:

Fanny dictated over 40 hymns in one sitting!

Fanny added words to her favorite friend’s tune which created “Blessed Assurance.”

The public was use to getting hymn publications from various authors, so….Fanny’s printing company gave her over 250 pen names to get around this problem 😉

Fanny’s love for others were evident even on her deathbed. She wrote a note of encouragement to a dear grieving friend who had just lost her daughter.

I tried to capture “note for note” how I play this particular hymn “God Will Take Care of You.”

What a fitting hymn in our day and age!

This has been the hardest arrangement for me to write but worth feeling my way through as I sing the words to this beautiful hymn!

It took me at least four days to learn page 4!  I say this so church pianists will realize this hymn arrangement is very advanced.

Watching the video will help you with the interpretation of this sacred piano arrangement.

The interesting story behind this hymn is also included in the video below.

God Will Take Care of You

Very advanced sacred piano solo, 4 pgs. This is one of the most difficult arrangements Jenifer has written. Page four is a challenge but worth learning! Hear Jenifer play this arrangement on the video below as well as the story behind this comforting hymn.

Price: $4.95

Come join me for an evening of Comforting Hymns at 8:30EST   (July 30, 2020)

When you click the following link…you may have to scroll down the page to see me live.

If you show up early….you may have to refresh the page to pull me in.

I start recorded music playing several minutes before 8:30pm to allow people time to find me.

Facebook Live link:  Comforting Hymns with Jenifer Cook

I received the following email from one of my readers today concerning my free arrangement of “Whispering Hope”.

“I am also a church pianist and I am writing to thank you for making your beautiful arrangement of Whispering Hope available free of charge on your website. I played it for yesterday’s “Hymn of the Week” feature on our church YouTube channel. By request I’ve been featuring a different hymn every week since the pandemic lock down began, and providing some background into the writing of each hymn. “

I found the story behind this song very intriguing!

While looking for patriotic music to listen to on youtube…I happened across the song “Tramp Tramp Tramp”that sounded just like “Jesus Loves the Little Children”.

I immediately looked up the origin of “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and I discovered the following story:

Hymn Reflection : Jesus Loves the Little Children

Watch this cute video of boy leading “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

What a touching story behind the writing of  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.   I had never heard it until today.

Wow! What a heart breaking story about the author…yet…his love for Christ grew stronger…watch to see what it took to bring “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” to pass…Click here for free piano arrangement of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

I came across this touching hymn story about “All Hail the Power” while reading the book entitled “Famous Hymns and Their Writers” by Michael Daves.

Edward Perronet, an Englishman, wrote the words to this uplifting hymn  in 1779.

Edward was a survivor of religious persecution and was known for his deep piety and religious enthusiasm.   His last words before death in 1792:

Glory to God in the height of His divinity!

Glory to God in the depth of His humanity!

Glory to God in His all-sufficiency!

Into His hands I commend my spirit.

Oliver Holden, a carpenter in the United States, wrote the coronation tune to Edwards’s words of “All Hail the Power”.  Interesting…Oliver & Edward joined hands across the ocean to share this regal hymn of praise to the world.

Now to the touching part of the story. Missionary E.P. Scott to India took a daring hike through the mountains, in spite of friend’s warnings, to a blood thirsty tribe. Along the way, this hostile tribe confronted E.P. with spears in hand. Scott believing to be near death, took out his violin, closed his eyes, and began to sing these words with all his heart:

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all;

Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!

The natives lowered their spears and wanted to be friends! God’s power was evident!