Songs of Faith and Praise Songbook Blue Skies and Rainbows Song Number

"BLUE SKIES AND RAINBOWS"

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…" (Eph. 3:17)

    INTRO.:  A song which identifies some of the blessings which come to those in whose hearts Christ dwells by faith is "Blue Skies and Rainbows," also known as "Jesus Is Well and Alive Today."  The text was written and the tune was composed both by Gary Leon Mabry (b. 1951). After graduating from Abilene Christian College/University, he was for a while a member of the music faculty at the school.  In the 1970's, Mabry helped edit two editions of Rejoice! And Sing to the Lord for Sweet Publishing Co.  "Blue Skies and Rainbows" was copyrighted in 1971 by The Boston Music Co. and probably first appeared in one of those books.  The original Rejoice! And Sing to the Lord books are now out of print, but Sweet Publishing Co. published a new volume of Rejoice and Sing! in 1984, compiled by Reid Lancaster, which combines in one book the best of both volumes, and it contains the song

     When Abilene Christian University began compilation of Great Songs Revised, which was published in 1986, Mabry was a member of the hymnal committee but left the University shortly thereafter and went to Colorado. More recently, he was living in San Antonio, TX, where he was employed by the University of Texas at San Antonio.  The 1992 Praise for the Lord contains some other works by Mabry, including an arrangement of Charles F. Brown's "A Common Love," his own "Thank You, Lord," and his version of an American folk song based on Rom. 8.1-2 called "There Is No Condemnation."  He is also the one who is credited with introducing the song "Psalm 19" beginning "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" to churches of Christ.  Repeated efforts to contact him and obtain more information about him and his songs have been unsuccessful.

     Some might object to the song as being a little too cheery in singing about blue skies and rainbows when suffering illnesses or other trials.  One person wrote, "Back when I was in youth group (during the Carter administration), we would sing a song at devotionals and at Sierra Bible Camp called 'Blue Skies and Rainbows.'  It was and is a happy song about what the world around us is like when we have Jesus in our hearts….The song was light hearted and fun, and we just assumed that with Jesus in our hearts life would be wonderful. But then life actually happened. There was loss, failed relationships, the death of a loved one, or even of a child. Life didn't turn out to be full of blue skies and rainbows after all. For awhile, I resented this song because I saw it as one giving a false promise that Jesus was going to guarantee us a carefree life. But that has changed as time went on.  One thing I saw, after carefully reading the lyrics, was that there was no such false promise in this song. There would be trials and pain in this life, but what the words say is that even in the hardest and most trying of times, we will be able to see the blue skies and rainbows that are there above us….But what is the basis of that promise? How is the reality of that strength ensured for us? The chorus is the key. 'Jesus is well and alive today.'  Our guarantor of hope is that this same Jesus who died for our sins did not stay dead, but is alive and well today. This same Jesus ever lives and makes intercession for us at the throne of God!"

     Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church for use in churches of Christ, "Blue Skies and Rainbows" has been found in the 1977 Special Sacred Selections edited by Ellis J. Crum and the 1978 Hymns of Praise edited by Reuel Lemmons, both in a 1974 arrangement by John D. Blackstone; and in the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand and the 2010 Songs for Worship and Praise edited by Robert J. Taylor Jr., both apparently in its original form; as well as Rejoice and Sing!.

     The song emphasizes the joy and gladness that those who live in Christ can experience.

I. Stanza 1 mentions what we have when the Lord is living in us

Blue skies and rainbows

And sunbeams from heaven

Are what I can see when

My Lord is living in me.

 A. God created the sky or firmament over the earth: Gen. 1:6-8

 B. He also set the rainbow in the sky: Gen. 9:8-17

 C. And He made the sunbeams from heaven: Gen. 1:14-19

II. Stanza 2 mentions what we have when we live for Jesus

Green grass and flowers

All blooming in springtime

Are works of the Master;

I live for Jesus each day.

 A. God created the green grass, flowers, and all plant life on earth:   Gen. 1:11-13

 B. He also ordained the seed time, or spring, and harvest, or fall: Gen. 8:20-22

 C. All these things are works which point to God's creating hand:  Ps. 145:10-13

III. Stanza 3 mentions what we have when we recognize the One who fashioned it all

Mountains, green valleys—

The beauty surrounds me;

All make me aware of

The One who fashioned it all.

 A. God caused the mountains to rise: Ps. 90:1-2

 B. Where there are mountains, there are also valleys: Ps. 104:10

 C. Such beauty makes us aware of the God of beauty who fashioned it all: Ps. 27:4

     CONCL.: The chorus reminds us of why all these gifts which we see and know are so wonderful.

Jesus is well and alive today.

He makes His home in my heart.

Never more will I be all alone since He

Promised me that we never would part.

This is a song which was once wildly popular especially at camps, young people's gatherings, and college devotionals, but like Bill Tyner and Eugene Clevenger's "He Is My Everything," it appears to be seldom heard any more.  While all of us will encounter times of trial and tribulation, sadness and sorrow in life, Christians can always look to God to help ameliorate the problems and difficulties along the way with "Blue Skies and Rainbows."

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Source: https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/16/blue-skies-and-rainbows/

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