This was the soundtrack in my head yesterday morning. Then I started to really think about the words, especially in the second verse, and was so thankful for them.
My Hope is Built
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain
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 every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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.
All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all. Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall, Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all, Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!
These are additional verses that I am not familiar with but they are very rich:
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call, The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all, The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall, Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all. Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all. And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all. Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball; Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all. Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call; Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all. Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia! Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia! Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath 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 Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail, the resurrection, thou, 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!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia! Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
**The words in italics are the ones I know. But the other verses are very rich too.
I had forgotten about this hymn until I was given the music to accompany some ladies singing it. It's not in our current hymnal, which I think is a shame. (I also have to say that I think the words are better than the music - this would be a great one for someone to rewrite the music.)
Saved by Grace
Some day the silver cord will break, And I no more as now shall sing; But oh, the joy when I shall wake Within the palace of the King!
Refrain
And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace; And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace.
Some day my earthly house will fall. I cannot tell how soon ’twill be; But this I know—my All in All Has now a place in Heav’n for me.
Refrain
Some day, when fades the golden sun Beneath the rosy tinted west, My blessèd Lord will say, “Well done!” And I shall enter into rest.
Refrain
Some day: till then I’ll watch and wait, My lamp all trimmed and burning bright, That when my Savior opens the gate, My soul to Him may take its flight.
Yes, it's true, I'm posting a Sunday hymn. Whether I do it for more than one week in a row remains to be seen. But for now, here is "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" which I believe we'll be singing in church tomorrow.
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food, Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye, If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known, And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne; While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.
Rebecca was asking this week about favourite hymns. I commented that this is mine. I think I have probably posted it before under Sunday hymns but a little repetition never hurt anyone.
I think this is my favourite because of the confidence expressed in God's provision and peace. I also love the alto line.
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace, Over all victorious, in its bright increase; Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.
Refrain Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand; Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Refrain
Every joy or trial falleth from above, Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love; We may trust Him fully all for us to do. They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? 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!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
**Note: I know that others will probably post the same one this week but it truly is my favourite Easter hymn and I look forward to singing it all year. I took the words from Cyber-Hymnal but ended up changing quite a few. There's about 10 verses there and some of them have the same words but in a different order. This is the version I grew up singing.
Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang; Through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, Who had blessed them close folded to His breast, The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd, The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of men and angels rode on in lowly state, Nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait.
“Hosanna in the highest!” that ancient song we sing, For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise Him with heart and life and voice, And in His blissful presence eternally rejoice!
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 spilled.
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, Brighter 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?
Praise the Lord: ye heavens, adore Him; Praise Him, angels in the height. Sun and moon, rejoice before Him; Praise Him, all ye stars of light. Praise the Lord, for He hath spoken; Worlds His mighty voice obeyed. Laws which never shall be broken For their guidance He hath made.
Praise the Lord, for He is glorious; Never shall His promise fail. God hath made His saints victorious; Sin and death shall not prevail. Praise the God of our salvation; Hosts on high, His power proclaim. Heaven and earth and all creation, Laud and magnify His Name.
Worship, honor, glory, blessing, Lord, we offer unto Thee. Young and old, Thy praise expressing, In glad homage bend the knee. All the saints in heaven adore Thee; We would bow before Thy throne. As Thine angels serve before Thee, So on earth Thy will be done.
Jesus, everlasting King Accept the tribute which we bring Accept the well-deserved renown And wear our praises as Your crown
1. O send Your Spirit to impart Rest and repentance to our hearts, Like the dear hour when from above We first received Your pledge of love. Repeat chorus
2. The gladness of redemption’s day, Our hearts would wish it long to stay, Nor let our faith forsake its hold, Nor comforts sink, or love grow cold. Repeat chorus
3. May every time of worship see Your grace revealed more rich and free, Till we are raised to sing Your name At the great supper of the Lamb. Repeat chorus
4. O that the months would roll away And bring the coronation day; The King of Grace shall fill the throne With all His Father’s glories on.
Jesus, everlasting King Accept the tribute which we bring Accept the well-deserved renown And wear our praises as Your crown (repeat)
I just finished reading A Garden to Keepby Jamie Langston Turner. It's one of my favourite books and I hadn't read it for a while. This hymn popped into my mind after finishing the book, which is a beautiful example of grace.
Grace Greater than All Our Sin
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 spilled. 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, Brighter 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
This was the first hymn that popped into my mind this morning and I've been humming it ever since. As Lynne mentions in her recent post, the phrase "teaching from a place of rest" has been discussed lately and I've been thinking about it quite a bit. Jumping off from what Lynne said, I think that this hymn is a perfect one to help keep us in that place of rest.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us; And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed; And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given; The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven; The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
I generally think of this hymn as a hymn for Thanksgiving. But I found as I read the background on it, that it is actually a hymn of thanksgiving. Here's what Cyber-Hymnal says:
Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, was in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its gates. The Swedish army surrounded the city, and famine and plague were rampant. Eight hundred homes were destroyed, and the people began to perish. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors who had to conduct dozens of funerals daily. Finally, the pastors, too, succumbed, and Rinkart was the only one left—doing 50 funerals a day. When the Swedes demanded a huge ransom, Rinkart left the safety of the walls to plead for mercy. The Swedish commander, impressed by his faith and courage, lowered his demands. Soon afterward, the Thirty Years’ War ended, and Rinkart wrote this hymn for a grand celebration service. It is a testament to his faith that, after such misery, he was able to write a hymn of abiding trust and gratitude toward God.
That puts a different perspective on my life and reasons why I should be thankful to God for salvation!
