"There Shall Be Showers of Blessing"

Daniel Webster Whittle, named for the great American politician Daniel Webster, was born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts on November 22, 1840.

He served as a Major during the Civil War, and it was at that period in his life that he was saved. He lost his right arm while fighting and was taken prisoner. While he was recovering from his wound in the hospital, he found a New Testament and began reading it. The words ministered to him, but he wasn't ready to take that step of faith that would lead to salvation.

One day a hospital orderly woke him and asked him to come and pray with a dying prisoner. He had observed Daniel reading his Bible and assumed he was a Christian. Here, in Daniel's own words, is what happened when he went to the dying young man:

"I dropped on my knees and held the boy’s hand in mine. In a few brok­en words I con­fessed my sins and asked Christ to for­give me. I be­lieved right there that He did for­give me. I then prayed ear­nest­ly for the boy. He be­came qui­et and pressed my hand as I prayed and plead­ed God’s prom­ises. When I arose from my knees, he was dead. A look of peace had come over his trou­bled face, and I can­not but be­lieve that God who used him to bring me to the Sav­ior, used me to lead him to trust Christ’s pre­cious blood and find par­don. I hope to meet him in hea­ven."

Whittle survived his time in the prisoner of war camp and after the war be­came trea­sur­er of the El­gin Watch Com­pany in Chi­ca­go, Ill­i­nois. He worked there for ten years and then began full-time evangelistic work. Of his decision he said:

"…went into the vault and in the dead si­lence of the qui­et­est of plac­es I gave my life to my Heav­en­ly Fa­ther to use as He would."

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain

There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain

Blessings,
Linda