Hymn Hum

Hymn Hum I've mentioned before how the old hymns minister to me on such a deep level. The theology around the lyrics is just necessary in a culture of scratch and sniff everything that forces us to skip along the surfaces of the important things in life. But occasionally my heart is captivated by a contemporary song who's lyrics also take me deep into who God is and why He loves me. Sharing two such songs today. One, an old hymn a friend mentioned the other day that I hadn't thought about in years - the other, a current Christian radio favorite. How Deep The Father's Love For Us (thanks, Kaye) How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocing voice, Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom _______________________________________________________________ Starry Night (Chris August) From the Birds that Sing, In the Tallest Trees. To the Human Life, of you and me. From the Desert Sands, to the place we stand. He is God of All, He is Everything. I'm giving my life to the only One who makes the Moon reflect the sun. Every Starry Night, that was His design. I'm giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come Let the praises ring, 'cause He is everything 'Cause He is everything From the Autumn Leaves, that will ride the breeze To the Faith it takes, to pray and sing From the Painted sky, to my plank filled eye He is God of all, He is everything I'm giving my life to the only One who makes the Moon reflect the sun. Every Starry Night, that was His design. I'm giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come Let the praises ring, 'cause He is everything. Hallelujah (Hallelujah) Hallelujah I believe Ohhh Hallelujah (Hallelujah) Hallelujah I believe I'm giving my life to the only One who makes the Moon reflect the sun On that Starry Night, He changed my life. I'm giving it all to the only Son who gave me hope when I had none. So let the praises ring, Ohhhh Let the Praises Ring I'm giving my life to the only One who makes the Moon reflect the sun. Every Starry Night, that was His design. I'm giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come Let the Angels sing, that he is Heavenly So let the Praises ring 'Cause He is everything

Hymn Hum

I heard this hymn on my way into work today. Whether it's sung traditionally or in a more contemporary fashion, the words are absolutely rich and resoundingly TRUE!! Don't stop short of reading every verse...the final one will make your heart sing.

COME THOU FOUNT

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I'll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Hymn Hum

Are you hungry today for healing and grace??

The hymn below is one of my favorites! The words are so rich and full of encouragement and affirmation about who God is and what He wants to do in your life. If you don't have this on your ipod...get it....today. Let it enrich your soul. The version I have is from Phillips, Craig and Dean..beautiful harmonies and orchestration.

WONDERFUL, MERCIFUL SAVIOR

Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way

[Chorus:]
You are the one that we praise
You are the one we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

[Chorus:]
You are the one that we praise
You are the one we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Hymn Hum

Knowing God's faithfulness will carry you through anything in life. If you don't KNOW it, you can receive that knowing through the pages of the Bible. Start by reading the Psalms and His words will teach you the knowing.

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Hymn Hum

1. Thinking this week about all the ways we try to gain God's approval and a relationship with him. Going to church, giving $$, praying a certain prayer, being "good", serving - while all these should flow out of our relationship with God - not one or all of them can establish it.
2. These deep lyrics remind us that there is only one way to a relationship with God. I hope you can hear the melody as you read them.
3. 
   
4. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee;
   Let the water and the blood,
   From Thy wounded side which flowed,
   Be of sin the double cure,
   Save from wrath and make me pure.
5. Not the labor of my hands
   Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
   Could my zeal no respite know,
   Could my tears forever flow,
   All for sin could not atone;
   Thou must save, and Thou alone.
6. Nothing in my hand I bring,
   Simply to Thy cross I cling;
   Naked, come to Thee for dress;
   Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
   Foul, I to the fountain fly;
   Wash me, Savior, or I die.
7. While I draw this fleeting breath,
   When my eyes shall close in death,
   When I rise to worlds unknown,
   And behold Thee on Thy throne,
   Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee.

Hymn Hum

I pray this blesses you today.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Hymn Hum

I pray this blesses you today.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Rich Words

I love all kinds of music and listen to a pretty wide variety of stuff. On the menu for me may be anything from country(appetizer) to pop (salad) to Christian (main course) to oldies (dessert). Among the Christian music I love to absorb are some of the old hymns of the faith. They rock my spirit to the core with their bedrock theology,doctrine and hope. I'm always reminded of who I am, who God is and how He wants me to know and interact with Him. From time to time I'd like to share the words from those songs that challenge, sooth, and direct my thoughts toward my God.

Hum along if you like or just read thoughtfully let the words fall on your heart.

It Is Well with My Soul

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.