September 07, 2011 
Submitted by: RE (Anaheim, CA)
I came accros the biography of Elisha A. Hoffman, the author of more than 2000 hymns. He wrote: “I must tell Jesus all of my trials (Hymn 787)”, “Leaning on the everlasting arms (Hymn 558)”, “Is your all on the altar (Hymn 448)”, etc.
He did not have any musical training whatsoever. What really impressed me from his biography was that it was that his parents had the habit of getting together to have fellowship with the Lord where they sang one or two hymns everytime. This of course constituted him for the rest of his life. Brother Elisha got married at the age of 26, and ten years later his wife went to be with the Lord, leaving him with three little ones. What a suffering that must have been! However, I believe the constitution in his being from the fellowship with the Lord with his own parents sustained him. It is said that he had the habit of visiting the poor and shepherding, and that one time when he visited a home he found the mother of the home in despair and nothing comforted her until he told her “You must tell Jesus” and she responded, “Yes, I must tell Jesus.” Later on as he went home the words for “I must tell Jesus all of my trials” were written.
This member of the Body, Brother Elisha, is an example of how a practice of spending some time to fellowship with the Lord and with our children can nourish them, others, and us for the rest of their lives.
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WOW! Oh Lord thank you for the life of Bro Elisha! This is solemn i pray we all as we aspire to be parents we’ll have fellowship with the Lord and with our children to constitute them with such life for their whole life time.. Amen!
I don’t have any children of my own but I’ve always seized opportunities to sing and teach hymns to the children around me so the seed of the gospel and God’s word can be sown in their hearts. And I found it amazingly easy and effective for these younger ones to learn and memorize the songs and the lyrics. Indeed it is a great way to enjoy each other and the Lord together and a marvelous way to prepare their days ahead!
Amen! Br.Elisha’s experience stirs up our spirit and urges us strongly to fellowship with our children for their constitution in the Lord! Our fellowship with our children today can sustain our children tomorrow in Him.
A sister once shared how her mother’s prayer that ‘her children would grow deep rooted in His Word’ was the reason for our sister’s salvation and sustained her through many difficult times.
Amen amen amen