24 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: The Authority of Christ

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The Authority of Christ

Since I’ve been doing old school hymns, thought I would switch it up today.  One of the ways I care for my soul is by listening to Sojourn’s Songs from the Book of Luke CD (and really any of their music).  This particular hymn is written by a friend of the Mister’s who is at a church in Nashville – always gospel stuff from him.

This first song on the aforementioned album is stellar.  I love it and sing it at the top of my lungs (in the car) when I hear it.

Oh that we might live with the same understanding and practice of the authority of Christ in our lives:

And because of this song – I love the person of Simeon – wow – what privilege (just a side note)

 

22 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

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When I Survey

This is bar far one of my husband’s favorite hymns. It tells a story of his conversion and his growing in Christ while in high school.  I love hearing him tell how Christ saved him.

And one of the stanzas coincides nicely with a Pauline theme that was found in Philippians 3 this morning in our small group study of it at church.  Always love how God gets your attention over and over again.  He is ever gracious and patient with us (as I also was reminded of again in my reading in 2 Peter via She Reads Truth.)

He is good to remind us of our need and gift of the Gospel.

 

20 Oct 2014

31 Days of Hymns: For the Beauty of the Earth

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For the Beauty of the Earth

I took a little break in Little Rock, unplugged except for my phone, and didn’t have time to pre-write all the hymn blogs before I left – we had a lot of celebrating going on!

One of the reasons I love this hymn is because of the movie Little Women.  You know the scene where they are all dancing around the canopy at the wedding – singing this song.  Then my Mister includes it on his cd and I love that version too.

So, the reason I include it in this month is because I love FALL (really, who doesn’t?).  I love the crisp weather, all the fun stuff you can do in the kitchen, and football, birthdays, our anniversary, and the colors!

When I read one of the stanzas, I’m also reminded of how much we live by our calendars and our phones – instead of just putting everything down and running through leaves.  Most of us don’t tend to be “lazy” we tend to be too busy.  But then we are too busy with the least important things.  I’m guilty of this too.

But, if we can just take more minutes of our days to play in the earth that God gave us!

15 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: Holy, Holy, Holy

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Holy Holy Holy

I feel like I’ve come to one of the most popular hymns in any given hymnbook.  Since this song doesn’t explicitly mention the Gospel through Jesus Christ and His Work on the Cross – any “believing” person could sing this song – even if they weren’t necessarily a Gospel-believing Christian.

What I love about this hymn is that is marvels at the Creator God, infinite, wise beyond all measure – perfect in everything – yet, one who wills us and bids us and welcomes us to worship him.  Worship him in a way that the created angels don’t.  Worship him in front of other people.  Worship him in front of non-believers.

And if we get a glimpse of this God – this all-consuming God who desires us to know Him – than we will also be introduced to His amazing Song.  Or even vice-versa!  The Father and the Son are one!

 

14 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: Fairest Lord Jesus

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Fairest Lord Jesus

I love reflecting on our wedding day!  We just celebrated 3 years last week so it is always good to think about the actual wedding ceremony.

One of my husband’s groomsmen is an exceptional guitarist.  I asked him if he would play my bridal march because I wanted something simple and acoustic.  I told him I wanted Fairest Lord Jesus played as I walked down the aisle.  He arranged an amazing version and I love the song even more now.

We sang this hymn yesterday in church.  As my husband and I were talking about it, he pointed out verse 2 and the abrupt change in the lyrics.  The hymnwriter begins focusing on creation – but then does an about face to talk about Jesus.

The Agent of Creation!

When I was walking down the aisle, a dream every woman has…I knew every eye would be on me.  But, no matter how my hair or dress or boots looked that day – my Bridegroom is much fairer.

Thanks Craig for helping others see that!

13 Oct 2014

31 Days of Hymns: In Christ Alone

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In Christ Alone

I do believe this modern hymn is one of the clearest pictures of the Gospel, EVER.

But how often to do we want to think about the suffering that the line afforded: here in the death of Christ I live.

Paul says in Philippians 3 that he wants to share in his sufferings – grow in them, pursue them, be like Christ so that he does suffer.

We don’t like suffering.  But, without suffering we have no life.

 

 

10 Oct 2014

31 Days of Hymns: My Song is Love Unknown

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My Song is Love Unknown

I’m so thankful for modern hymnwriters.  I’m also thankful for those who can take an old hymn and set it to new melody – or just take the old melody and make it to where you want to sing it today.  Usually that means different set of instruments or more emotion in the voice.

This song is fairly new to me, since we’ve been going to our new church here in the ATL area.  It was written in the 1600s.  That’s old.  Well, old compared to most hymns. Most modern churches won’t sing it.  But, I love it.  This version is my husbands favorite of the song.  While I love Fernando’s version with the incredible harmonies.  The lyrics are so rich and have so much depth of the gospel in them.

And keeping with the personal pronoun theme, I love how the song ends – speaking of our time in Heaven:

This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

9 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: My Jesus I Love Thee

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My Jesus I Love Thee

I’ve been reading the Bible lately and all the personal pronouns are jumping out.  So, when thinking through what hymn to do today – this is the one I started singing in my head.

If Jesus is your Savior – He HAS to be personal to you.  You can’t keep Jesus at a distance.  He longs to be there, right with you – all the time.  And the Spirit lives in you to make that happen.

This song, as a hymn, builds in power when being sung.  You can’t help but meditating on the first few stanzas than singing at the top of your lungs the last one.  I love it.  And I have a deep desire for the Church to sing this with hands lifted high, smile on their faces, head flung backwards, gaze lifted upward.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

31 Days of Hymns

8 Oct 2014

31 Hymns: The Lord Will Provide

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The Lord Will Provide

I’m reminded even as I write this that I’m not the only person learning this truth today.  God is in the business of bringing himself much glory through our lives – and we rejoice that His name will be made great.

I got to tell of the provision that God made today to the officer who came to the house to fill our the police report.

This is an old hymn that I don’t even know but the words are great (what do I expect from John Newton).  I pray that the words are a blessing to you today, dear friend, as well.

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
He fills us with fears, but won’t lose our faith;
He cannot take from us though hard he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide.

In the midst of this morning’s wallet fiasco, I yelled at Elijah, I cried to my husband, I was short with some ladies at Bible study, I was impatient.  Blah.

God is good and his grace abounds.

31 Days of Hymns