31 Days of Hymns - Day 31

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts (1707)

 When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And mourning weep o'er all my pride.


Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet;
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

 His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er his body on the tree;
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.


The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799

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

31 Days of Hymns - Day 30

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong, a perfect plea by Charitie Lees Bancroft

Beautifully played on Mountain Dulicimer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVbuokuLIOc&list=UUbiKk5Qek1CsxcO__eFBQHQ&index=5
Traditional versions were sung to the same melody as "Sweet Hour of Prayer"
Recent versions seem so much more powerful. Here are my favorites:
Selah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPyLcY6Zv4
Shane and Shane (with Bethany Dillon)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8dlg5yBywo
Together for the Gospel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJZrmqPwKCM

 Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea;
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!

At one with Him, I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.


Source: Lutheran Service Book #574

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

31 Days of Hymns - Day 29

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? by Charles Wesley 

"After 50 years of active ministry, Charles Wesley was nearing journey’s end. (He died on March 29th) On his deathbed, he quoted one of his greatest hymns, And Can It Be? It seems to have been written shortly after his conversion in 1738, and was originally entitled Free Grace. The rhetorical questions of the first stanza are meant as an expression of sheer wonderment. The second stanza below (actually the third in the hymn) is absolutely stunning. It is virtually unmatched in our hymnody as a poetic expression of the liberating power of the gospel."  http://wordwisehymns.com/2010/03/28/today-in-1788-charles-wesley-dying/

Sung by large congregation with the traditional melody - beautiful! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8

Here's my new favorite rendition - so powerful, immensely humbling as undeserved grace is revealed and proclaimed. http://journeyonmusic.net/track/and-can-it-be

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]

 He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]

 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]

 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]


Amen.


Sing Joyfully, 1989

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

















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

31 Days of Hymns - Day 28

There Is a Fountain by William Cowper (1772)

Reminds me of singing in church even though my church is much smaller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfC3NhPACE4 

Selah's version, powerfully beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-YvCnyukuU&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Beautiful solo with lyrics:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUWYy9HwU6g 

One of my favorite versions by Sovereign Grace Music (Bob Kauflin):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaGKfCh7OBo 

 

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.


The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow'r,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more:
Be saved, to sin no more,
Be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.


When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save:
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save,
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save;
then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save.


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

31 Days of Hymns - Day 27

Stricken, smitten and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree! by Thomas Kelly (1804)

Beautiful, moving rendition by Fernado Ortega http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr7-fgX1CB0

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation;
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.



Source: Lutheran Service Book #451

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

31 Days of Hymns - Day 26

Abide With Me by Henry Francis Lyte (1847)

(some sources claim William H. Monk wrote the words for Lyte)

 Traditional version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqylxfYyQM
 Contemporary version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ALmQZ_NiA

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.


Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Lord who changes not, abide with me.

 I need your presence every passing hour.
What but your grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like yourself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe with you at hand to bless,
though ills have weight, and tears their bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, your victory?
I triumph still, if you abide with me.


Hold now your Word before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.


Psalter Hymnal


Read about the author:
http://www.hymnary.org/person/Lyte_HF
Learn more about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/abide_with_me_fast_falls_the_eventide
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/b/abidewme.htm

31 Days of Hymns - Day 25

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less by Edward Mote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk

 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.


Chorus:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.


When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In ev'ry high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. [Chorus] 

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. [Chorus]

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. [Chorus]

Source: Baptist Hymnal 2008 #511

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