31 Days of Hymns - Day 31

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Written on 1739 by Charles Wesley, this beautiful hymn of exaltation is well suited for Easter.

Traditional version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARcGfwonwVE


Contemporary rendition by Aaron Keyes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaOVIv7Ja9k

Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
All creation, join to say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth, reply: Alleluia!


Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won; Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!


Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!


Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!


Hail the Lord of earth and heaven! Alleluia!
Praise to you by both be given; Alleluia!
Risen Christ, triumphant now; Alleluia!
Every knee to you shall bow. Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

31 Days of Hymns - Day 30

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

 

Penned over 130 years ago by George Matheson, this beautiful devotional hymn is usually sung to the tune of St. Margaret (Peace).

Matheson said about this hymn:

"My hymn was com­posed in the manse of In­ne­lan [Ar­gyle­shire, Scot­land] on the ev­en­ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s mar­ri­age, and the rest of the fam­i­ly were stay­ing over­night in Glas­gow. Some­thing hap­pened to me, which was known only to my­self, and which caused me the most se­vere men­tal suf­fer­ing. The hymn was the fruit of that suf­fer­ing. It was the quick­est bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the im­press­ion of hav­ing it dic­tat­ed to me by some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com­plet­ed in five min­utes, and equal­ly sure that it ne­ver re­ceived at my hands any re­touch­ing or cor­rect­ion. I have no na­tur­al gift of rhy­thm. All the other vers­es I have ever writ­ten are man­u­fact­ured ar­ti­cles; this came like a day­spring from on high." - Cyberhymnal.org

Listen here:

My favorite rendition by Indelible Grace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS3o_160OhE 

Traditional version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFNcZgvxqi0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZ9xXoZ1Mk

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

More about this hymn:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/oltwnlmg.htm

31 Days of Hymns - Day 29

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

This great hymn rich with lyrics of God's creation and providence was written in 1876 by Walter C. Smith. It is beautifully sung to the Welsh melody St. Denio.

Listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZsSRaaHKGA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deLc8Egb0Js 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
Of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

More about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/immortal_invisible_god_only_wise

31 Days of Hymns - Day 28

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Beautiful hymn - one of my favorites! Penned in 1740 by Charles Wesley while he was seeking refuge from enemies.

"Mrs. Mary Hoo­ver, of Belle­fonte, Penn­syl­van­ia, whose grand­mo­ther was the her­o­ine of the sto­ry, has re­lat­ed to her pas­tor this fam­i­ly tra­di­tion: Charles Wesley was preach­ing in the fields of the par­ish of Killy­leagh, Coun­ty Down, Ire­land, when he was at­tacked by men who did not ap­prove of his doc­trines. He sought re­fuge in a house lo­cat­ed on what was known as the Is­land Barn Farm. The far­mer’s wife, Jane Low­rie Moore, told him to hide in the milk­house, down in the gar­den. Soon the mob came and de­mand­ed the fu­gi­tive. She tried to qui­et them by of­fer­ing them re­fresh­ments. Go­ing down to the milk­house, she di­rect­ed Mr. Wesley to get through the rear win­dow and hide un­der the hedge, by which ran a lit­tle brook. In that hid­ing-place, with the cries of his pur­su­ers all about him, he wrote this im­mor­tal hymn. De­scend­ants of Mrs. Moore still live in the house, which is much the same as it was in Wes­ley’s time." - from the Cyberhymnal http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/l/jlmysoul.htm

 Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEWTMyiWmiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffUsrMJAxeQ


Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

More about this hymn:
 http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/l/jlmysoul.htm

31 Days of Hymns - Day 27

He Hideth My Soul 

Penned by Fanny Crosby in 1890, this beloved congregational hymn is sung to the tune "A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord".

Listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-FT9y-k3XQ

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Chorus:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.


A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day. [Chorus]


With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture "Oh glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!" [Chorus]


When clothed in His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I'll shout with the millions on high! [Chorus]

Learn More About This Hymn Here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/a_wonderful_savior_is_jesus_my_lord

31 Days of Hymns - Day 26

Arise, My Soul, Arise

"The hymn emphasizes the assurance that comes from knowing that the sufficient once-for-all sacrifice of Christ is forever made effective through the ongoing high priestly work of the same ascended Lord, who intercedes on our behalf continually.   Assurance, therefore, comes not from an inner feeling or from self-examination but from the objective reality of Christ’s fully sufficient work on our behalf.  This assurance is communicated to us through the testimony of the Spirit, who assures us of our forgiveness and adoption specifically by witnessing to the very same saving work of Christ for us. Scripturally, the hymn recalls several passages from Hebrews, notably 4:14-5:10, and chapter 10:1-25." James Pedlar https://jamespedlar.wordpress.com/tag/hymns/



Written in 1742, this great hymn by Charles Wesley has not ceased to be a popular. Through the years, it has been sung to many different melodies with some being more upbeat than others. Here are several renditions to enjoy.

Traditional versions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0qZ3h_dMGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZlNevQK0Pk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhVyNLBveU
Contemporary versions:
by Twila Paris
https://jamespedlar.wordpress.com/tag/hymns/
by Indelible Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJ7-s3gN4k
by Sovereign Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFzhLGJAPg

Arise, my soul, arise,
Shake off thy guilty fears,
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Savior stands:
My name is written on his hands.


He ever lives above,
For me to intercede;
With his redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead;
His blood was spilt for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.


Five bleeding wounds he bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly speak for me:
Forgive him, O forgive they cry!
Nor let that ransomed sinner die.


The Father hears him pray,
His dear anointed one;
He cannot turn away
The presence of his Son:
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.


To God I'm reconciled,
His pardoning voice I hear:
He owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba Father! cry.


A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 1st ed., 1816

Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/arise_my_soul_arise_shake_off_thy_guilty

31 Days of Hymns - Day 25

Greater Grace Than Our Sin

 Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgXYRV2B7Tk


Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder, on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.


Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.


Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss,
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the Refuge, the Mighty Cross. [Refrain]


 Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today. [Refrain]


 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]

Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/marvelous_grace_of_our_loving_lord

31 Days of Hymns - Day 24

Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

 

Amazing Story Behind the Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2iiQo7apE 

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!


O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood! [Refrain]


Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace. [Refrain]

31 Days of Hymns - Day 23

Trust and Obey

Listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrSCxfnN2B8

When we walk with the Lord

in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.


Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]


But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]


Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

Learn more about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/when_we_walk_with_the_lord

31 Days of Hymns - Day 22

I Need Thee Every Hour

 Listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UK7PbgevSY

I need thee every hour,
most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine
can peace afford.


Refrain:
I need thee, O I need thee,
every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior--
I come to thee!


 I need thee every hour;
stay thou near by;
temptations lose their power
when thou art nigh. [Refrain]


I need thee every hour;
teach me thy will,
and thy rich promises
in me fulfill. [Refrain]


 I need thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me thine indeed,
thou blessed Son. [Refrain]

Learn more about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/i_need_thee_every_hour_most_gracious_lor

31 Days of Hymns - Day 21

How Firm A Foundation

A truly wonderful hymn full of rich Biblical truth reinforcing the firm foundation our faith is built upon. Written in 1787, this hymn is attributed to K, who may have been R. Keene, who was a song leader at the church from where a collection of hymns, including this one, was published.

Learn more about this hymn here: http://www.challies.com/articles/hymn-stories-how-firm-a-foundation-free-download

Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwGW8qRqz4I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8O5RyGRmx8

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 "Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
For I will be with you in trouble to bless
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.

 "When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.
The flame shall not hurt you; I only design:
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine."

 The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
He will not, He cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
He never will leave, He will never forsake.

Learn more:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/how_firm_a_foundation_ye_saints_of

31 Days of Hymns - Day 20

To God Be The Glory

 Listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CeBoSQsBR0

To God be the glory, great things he has done;
so loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that we may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory; great things he has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Refrain


Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
but purer and higher and greater will be
our wonder, our gladness, when Jesus we see. Refrain


Learn more about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/to_god_be_the_glory_great_things_he_hath

31 Days of Hymns - Day 19

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

"Thomas Chisholm, the author of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and 1200 other poems was born in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1866, and he lived a pretty unremarkable life: he worked as a school teacher, a newspaper editor, and insurance agent, then he retired and spent his remaining days at the Methodist Home for the Aged in New Jersey. Unlike many hymns that have heart-wrenching stories behind them (for instance "It Is Well With My Soul"), "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is inspired by the simple realization that God is at work in our lives on a daily basis. He wrote, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness." The hymn reminds us that God doesn't only work in dramatic or miraculous ways, but also in simple, everyday ways. It also reminds us that Jesus has never failed us in the past, so we have no reason to doubt his faithfulness in the future." --Greg Scheer, 1994

Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kgJwyXsQLM

Great is thy faithfulness, O 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.


Refrain (may be sung after stanza 3 only):
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. Refrain


Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe

31 Days of Hymns - Day 18

Come, Thou Fount

A beloved hymn for over 200 years, Come, Thou Fount, was penned in 1758 by a 22 year old, London hairdresser named Robert Robinson. Four years earlier he gave himself to a religious life after hearing George Whitfield preach the 'The Wrath To Come".

Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU1u6Lmz27A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3w9nvXuVnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNzO6LCyiIY

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.

Learn more here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing

31 Days of Hymns - Day 16

Praise to the Lord!

This wonderful, exuberant praise hymn, brings together many of the praises found in the Psalms. Penned in 1680 by Joachim Neander, a German, he wrote five stanzas. Later in 1863, Cathering Winkworth, translated the first three stanzas and sometime after this the fourth stanza was translated anonymously. Through the years there have been slight lyric variations.

Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEh7Vt9sxmc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQi4yWTUBY

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.


Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?


Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.



Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/praise_to_the_lord_the_almighty_the_king

31 Days of Hymns - Day 15

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!

This beloved hymn was written in 1910 by John Wilbur Chapman, a Presbyterian evangelist, who traveled with Charles Alexander, a gospel singer. Jesus! What a Friend of Sinners! is sung the popular Welsh tune, HYFRYDOL which was composed by Rowan Hugh Prichard in 1830 at the age of nineteen.

Listen and sing along here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t24uLvayvsM


Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Saviour, makes me whole.


Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.


Jesus! what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict'ry wins. (Refrain)


Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul. (Refrain)


 Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry. (Refrain)


Jesus! I do now receive him,
More than all in him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am his, and he is mine. (Refrain)

Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/jesus_what_a_friend_for_sinners

 

31 Days of Hymns - Day 14

It’s Not Death to Die

This hymn was written by Henri Malan in 1832 and later translated by George Bethune in 1847. It has been sung to at least three different melodies. In recent times, Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Ministries has altered some of the words while providing a chorus and melody. It's a powerful song full of Biblical truth, for it can truly be said of a believer in Christ "It is not death to die".

Listen here to modern version. Words for this version are below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sna3Fp4LZ9g 

Listen with testimony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cQEa9G06M 

VERSE 1 

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high 
Who’ve found their home with God

It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne 
Delivered from our fears
CHORUS 
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save 
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die
VERSE 2 
It is not death to fling 
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing 
To live among the just

It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years 
To praise You evermore

Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/it_is_not_death_to_die 

31 Days of Hymns - Day 13

Jesus Paid It All

 

 

This beautiful hymn shows deep gratitude and devotion. Jesus Paid It All was written in 1865 by Elvina M. Hall and it's been a popular hymn in America as well as Great Britain. It is sung to the tune of All To Christ and has become even more popular in the last thirty years.

May God bless you as you listen to these powerful renditions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbgh5qmc8xs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr3yoUJg7SU 

This one includes additional lyrics "O Praise the One"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brVIlXlJRkQ

 http://www.hymnary.org/text/i_hear_the_savior_say_thy_strength_indee

 I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."


Refrain
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone. [Refrain]


 For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. [Refrain]


 And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat. [Refrain]


More about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/i_hear_the_savior_say_thy_strength_indee

31 Days of Hymns - Day 12

Nearer, my God, to Thee

This beautiful hymn was penned by Sarah F. Adams in 1841. Through the years it has acquired many melodies and has become not only popular in churches but outside the church as well. In honor of two United States presidents, Wil­liam Mc­Kin­ley and James Gar­field, this hymn was performed publicly after their deaths. This hymn is also associated with two academy award movies: it was sung in San Francisco and performed in Titanic. The Titanic performance was inspired by the Titanic survivors who said they heard this hymn performed by the orchestra as the Titanic sank.

Listen Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwLl5nY5WPI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCEfqj9pDAI 

 

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.

Refrain

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

Refrain

Learn more about this hymn here:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/m/nmgtthee.htm 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nearer,_My_God,_to_Thee

31 Days of Hymns - Day 11

O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing Glorious and Mighty 

Written in 1739 to commemorate the first anniversary of his conversion, this great hymn by Charles Wesley has never lost its popularity. It’s truly one of the greatest hymns ever written



Listen to several different versions here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9kw3cILpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYHFwYgxc_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64oo7z7tjsw
Contemporary version with additional lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w3DXMkyj7Q



O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!

I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.

Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Learn more about this hymns here:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/f/o/ofor1000.htm
http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_for_a_thousand_tongues_to_sing_my