Favorite Hymns

[Chaunte]

This is the holiest season in the Christian calendar.  So, I wanted to offer an opportunity for us to share our favorite hymns.

How Beautiful by Twilia Paris

How beautiful the hand that served
The wine and the bread, and the sons of the Earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How beautiful.  How beautiful. 
How beautiful is the Body of Christ

How beautiful the heart that bled
That took al my sins and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
That chose to forgive and never despise.
How beautiful.  How beautiful. 
How beautiful is the Body of Christ

And as He laid down his life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He did
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How beautiful.  How beautiful. 
How beautiful is the Body of Christ


The Summons – Kelvin Grove

Will you come and follow Me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown?
Will you let my name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in Me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare,
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in Me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen?
And admit to what I mean in you and you in Me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found,
To reshape the world around?
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in Me?

Lord, Your summons echoes true when You but call my name.
Let me turn and follow You and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go,
Where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in You and You in me.

[BeverlyAnn]

My two favorite hymms are two of the standards.   Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art.

Amazing Grace


Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

HOW GREAT THOU ART
   

    O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
    Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
    I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
    Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

    When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
    And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
    When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
    And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

    And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
    Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
    That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
    He bled and died to take away my sin.

    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

    When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
    And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
    Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
    And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
    Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

[Suzy]

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! 'Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

[tinkerbell]

My very favorite:

Listen to it in Latin



Ave Maria  


Ave Maria! blessed Maid!
Lily of Eden's fragrant shade!
Who can express the love
that nurtured thee, so pure and sweet,
making thy heart a shelter meet
for Jesus' holy Dove!

Ave Maria! Mother blest,
to whom, caressing and caressed,
clings the eternal Child;
favored beyond Archangels' dream,
when first on thee with tendered gleam
thy new-born Savior smiled.

Thou wept'st meek Maiden, Mother mild.,
thou wept'st upon thy sinless Child,
thy very heart was riven:
and yet, what mourning matron here
would deem thy sorrows bought too dear
by all on this side heaven!

A Son that never did amiss,
that never shamed his Mother's kiss,
nor crossed her fondest prayer:
e'en from the Tree he deigned to bow
for her his agonized brow,
her, his sole earthly care.

Ave Maria! thou whose name
all but adoring love may claim,
yet may we reach thy shrine;
for he, thy Son and Savior, vows
to crown all lowly lofty brows
with love and joy like thine.



Absolutely beautiful! 

tink

[Cindi Jones]

Abide with me, tis eventide.  That's one of my favorites. More than the words, the tune and harmonies are very comforting to me.

Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee,
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
Would in my home abide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

Since my transition I've recorded quartets with myself of this song.  I've done various instrumental arrangements.  I found a few fragments of it here and there on the web... and I should not have listened.  It has left me crying.

Cindi

[Jillieann Rose]

BeverlyAnn you beat me "Amazing Grace" is one of my favorites.
Here is the one of my other ones and very appropriate this time of year.

Jillieann 

Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
How I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where His glory forever I'll share

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

[Suzy]

 IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

    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.

    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

    Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blessed assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

    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!

    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

    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.

    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

     - Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
    - Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1876

    The words to this hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford's daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford's wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram: "SAVED ALONE." Several weeks later, as Spafford's own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words.

    Bliss originally named the tune "Ville de Havre" after the ship on which Spafford's four girls perished, the SS Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.

[Jillieann Rose]

Here is a song not a hymn that has been going through my head for the last week.
It started when I was asked to do a powerpoint presentation with the words and some pictures for an instrumental of the song.

I'VE JUST SEEN JESUS
by William & Gloria Gaither, Danny Daniels

We knew He was dead "it is finished," He said
We had watched as His life ebbed away.
Then we all stood around till the guards took him down
Joseph begged for His body that day.

It was late afternoon when we got to the tomb
Wrapped His body in grave-clothes and spice.
We laid Him to rest, He had given His best
He had loved us and paid a big price!

I've just seen Jesus; I tell you He's alive!
I've just seen Jesus, my precious Lord's alive!
And I knew He really saw me too!
As if till now I'd never lived.
All that I'd done before won't matter anymore!
I've just seen Jesus; I've just seen Jesus.
I will never be the same again!

It was just before dawn. I was running along,
Barely able to see where to go,
For the tears in my eyes and
the dusty sunrise seemed to cloud up my vision so.

It was His voice I heard first,
those kind gentle words asking what was my reason for tears.
And I sobbed in despair, "My Lord is not there!"
He said, "Child, it is I, I am here!"

I've just seen Jesus; I tell you He's alive!
I've just seen Jesus, my precious Lord's alive!
And I knew He really saw me too!
As if till now I'd never lived.
All that I'd done before won't matter anymore!
I've just seen Jesus; I've just seen Jesus.
I will never be the same again!

[AmberM]

He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got a-you and me brother in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got a-you and me sister in His hands
He's got a-you and me sister in His hands
He's got a-you and me sister in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands


The King of Love my Shepherd Is
The King of Love my Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever
Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth
and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me
In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with thee dear Lord beside me;
thy rod and thy staff my comfort still,  thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh,  what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd
may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

Precious Lord, Take my Hand
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

When my ways grows drear, precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call,
hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

[aranikace]

I grew up in a pentecostal church where 90% of those in attendance were over the age of 55, so we did quite a lot of singing from a hymnal affectionately known amongst us kids as "that darned old blue book".  I didn't hear a contemporary song until I was 14, minus songs by Bill Gaither, Jimmy Swaggart and the Hinsons.  The hymns will always have a special place in my heart, and "When We All Get to Heaven" is one of my absolute favorites, especially played at a moderately fast tempo with traditional bluegrass instrumentation

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place.

Refrain:
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav'ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

[refrain]

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

[refrain]

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.