Mansion Over The Hilltop
The 2nd verse :
Tho often tempted, tormented and tested
And like the prophet, my pillow's stone
And tho I find here no permanent dwelling
I know He'll give me a mansion my own.
3rd verse:
Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged, I'm Heaven bound
I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city
I want a mansion, a harp, and a crown.

Does anyone know the story behind Stanphill's "Follow Me"? It has such powerful lyrics that seem to suggest war is imminent, yet it was written in '53. My gospel choir is performing this piece & would love to know.
Thanks, Barb

FYI - Gloria Stanphill is alive and well.

Does anyone have a copy of There's room at the cross for me WITH Bro. Stanphill's WIFE listed as the writer of the lyrics?? If so. where can I find it

In fer to previous post-- Bro Gene martin was an evangelist who preached and helped at Bethel Temple, but was not there the nite Bro. Stanphill wrote the song- mansion over the hilltop.

I was in bethel Temple Assy of GOD church on jefferson st inOak Cliff. a section of Dallas, Texas when Mansion over the hilltop was written. Bro. Albert Ott, pastor of bethel Temple made a suggestion that ,Bro Stanphill write a song about the mansion that waits for us over there in heaven and he immediately wrote the lyrics and sang the song for Bro. Ott and the peopke there. We knew Bro Stanphill , also his wife who died.

There is a land beyond this life, but it isn't a fairy land, You must know Jesus as your personal Savior in order to go there. I pray you do!

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within, and the kingdom is at hand. wake up and realize the paradise in your heart and begin sharing it with the world. Quit storing up your treasures for some fairy land beyond this life and enjoy the fairy land surrounding you. blessed be

I Shall Meet You There
Author: Unknown

Some years ago radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller announced that he
would speak the following Sunday on "Heaven". It was to be broadcast
on radio. During that week he received a letter from an old man who
was very ill. Here is part of that letter:

"Next Sunday you are to talk about "Heaven". I am interested in that
land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for
over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money
and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous
sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is
nontransferable. It is not a vacant lot.

"For more than a half-century I have been sending material out of
which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been
building a home for me, which will never need to be repaired because
it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old.

"Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the
Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No
locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious
person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost
completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally
without fear of being ejected.

"There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live in
California and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I
cannot reach my home in the City of God without passing through the
dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend
that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long,
time ago and drove away all the gloom. He has stuck by me through
thick and thin since we first met and became acquainted 55 years ago,
and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor to leave
me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows,
and I shall not lose my way when He is with me.

"I hope to hear your sermon on "Heaven" next Sunday from my home, but
I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to
heaven has no date marked for the journey...no return coupon...and no
permit for baggage. Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while
you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."

"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of
one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were
transparent glass." - Revelation 21:21

Hi Abraham,

I did some digging, and found this excerpt from a blog by Mike Baker (www.ourdailywalk.org)

"A great song we sing is "Mansion Over The Hilltop," by Ira Stamphill. His inspiration for this story came from a preacher in Dallas, TX, by the name of Gene Martin. Here is his story.

A man of considerable means, facing imminent bankruptcy, took a driving trip through a rural part of the country. Here, one particular house caught his attention. It was badly in need of paint and repairs of every kind. Most of the windows had oil paper to replace the broken glass. Parts of the roof and shingles were missing. He wondered how the house was still standing. Out front, playing in the yard, was a young girl about 8 or 9, who was poorly dressed. The traveler felt an urge to stop and talk. During the conversation, he mentioned how sorry he was that the young lady had to live in such poor surroundings. The young girl replied, "Why, haven't you heard? My daddy just inherited a fortune and he's building us a mansion just over that hill over there. Don't know when it will be done, but I won't have to live in this house forever."

Here is the first verse and chorus of that song.

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold;
But in that city where the ransomed will shine,
I want a gold one that's silver lined.

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we'll never grow old;
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk the streets that are purest gold.

Most of us will never live in a mansion on earth, but we are promised a wonderful home in heaven if we remain obedient to God's will. Won't it be wonderful there?"

God bless,
Steve