I grew up singing hymns at church and at the piano with my Dad. While I am moved by the songs of modern worship, I miss the simple yet powerful messages as well as the 4 part harmony of the old hymns. I want to do my part in preserving the beautiful messages contained within them. I hope you enjoy these little snippets that mean so much to me.
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Is it wrong to ask for God's blessings? Certainly not. God wants us to bring all of our requests to Him in prayer.
It is important, however, that we examine our hearts and make sure our desires are pure and in line with His. God is not going to send us things that he knows will hurt us, no matter how fervently we ask. I'm so grateful for that! Also , it is important to remember that the purpose of his blessings is to bring honor to him. It's not necessarily for our personal gain. Does he grant us personal gain? Sometimes, yes, absolutely. But not all blessings are material.
Open your heart and mind, and you will discover he has already blessed you with many "mercy drops" and many renewing showers of blessing. And I assure you (because He assures me) more are on the way!
From the Hymn "Showers of Blessing" by Daniel Webster Whittle
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.
I think this is the "comfort food" of hymns. It's one of my favorite for it's simple yet profound message.
"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his word,
Just to rest upon his promise, Just to know, thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him.
How I've proved him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for faith to trust him more."
From the hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
Lyrics by Louisa M.R. Stead
Sometimes I need to sit before the Lord and sing praise for who He is and what He has done for me. Nothing else. Just that.
"O for a thousand tongues to sing
the glories of my God and King.
Jesus, the name that calms my fears
'tis music in the sinners ears.
He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin.
His blood can make the foulest clean.
I never shall forget that day
when Jesus washed my sins away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord."
From the hymn
“Blessed be the Name”
by Charles Wesley
God...gave him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:9
Isn't it wonderful to know that our place in God's kingdom is secure? That He loves us unconditionally and eternally? That our salvation is not dependent on our goodness, but on the grace God extends freely and promises to never withdraw? It's just a decision. A decision to trust Jesus by putting our lives in His hands. Blessed assurance, indeed.
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: 'For Your sake we are all killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:35-39
(NASB)
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His spirit, washed in His Blood.
This is my Story, this is my song
Praising my savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song
From the Hymn "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby
Do you want to know God more? Spend time reading and meditating on His wonderful words of life, the Bible. The Bible is full of direction, correction, promises, hope, and most of all, love. From cover to cover, it is His love story to us.
"Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life. Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty."
From the hymn "Wonderful Words of Life" by Philip P Bliss
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’s blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’s name.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
from the hymn “The Solid Rock”
words by Edward Mote
music by William Bradbury
JESUS IS MY LIGHT!
from the hymn “Sunshine in My Soul”
words by Eliza Hewitt
music by John R Sweeney
We worship a living God! He conquered death and the grave and on the third day, he arose. Hallelujah!
from the hymn “Low in the Grave He Lay”. by Robert Lowry
On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’s crucifixion—the sacrifice and suffering Jesus endured so that we could live eternally with him. Crucifixion day was dark indeed, but we can celebrate in knowing Sunday is on the way. Death could not hold him in the grave!
from the hymn “Low in the Grave He Lay”. by Robert Lowry
“All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live. I surrender all. All to thee my blessed savior, I surrender all.”
song by Judson W. Van DeVenter
“I need thee every hour
Most gracious Lord.
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford.
I need thee oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee.
Oh bless me now my savior
I come to thee.”
This hymn is my daily prayer. He never leaves me hanging
words by Annie S. Hawks
music by Robert Lowry
Jesus calls us to himself, broken, hurting, and most definitely imperfect. He just wants us. Authentic, honest, and open to him.
“Just as I am without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me and that Thou bidst me
come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt fighting and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
Just as I Am
song by Charlotte Elliott
Today, March 8, 2024, would have been Daddy’s 85th birthday. I miss him everyday, but especially days like this. For today’s Hymn project post, I decided to honor Daddy by highlighting a hymn that we used to sing as a family, A Capella style. (I wish I had a recording of us to play here.)
The harmonies in this hymn are absolutely beautiful, and the words even moreso. “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say it is well with my soul.” I am learning to be content no matter the circumstances. It’s not always easy. But whenever things get hard, disappointment sets in, or grief takes over, I try to remember the words to this hymn…and hear my Daddy’s voice on that bass line. Happy heavenly birthday, Daddy. I love you.
It is Well
Song by Horacio Spafford
These words from the old hymn speak to my heart. So many things on Earth are out to steal my attention and focus. They cause me stress and discontent. But when I look full upon Jesus, those things fade away and I am able to remember what matters and what does not. In looking upon his face, I find joy, peace, and contentment.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
song by Helen H. Lemmel
“All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.”
Holy, Holy, Holy
Song by Reginald Heber
The words to this hymn really get to the heart of gratitude. Is your life currently less than you thought it would be? Sometimes it is difficult to give thanks during discouraging times. The enemy will try to drag you into despair and hopelessness. But DON’T LET HIM! Without comparing yourself to others or even to the life you thought you would have right now, take a moment to think about the blessings in your life. Put away any jealousy or expectations and focus only on what is good—big things, little things, special, or mundane, you have more going for you than you realize. Take some time to think about that and be grateful “and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!”
Count Your Blessings
song by JR and Johnson Oatman Jr.