A Song of Gratitude

 

“… For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:15-16 (NLT)

Music and song often express the deepest emotions of our hearts. Personally, my time of worship is one of the main elements in my relationship with God. During this time, I have written song lyrics, composed music, or I simply mediate on the words of so many amazing songs of worship to God. Worship songs help me express what my brain cannot put into words at the moment. This is especially true in moments of sadness or grief.

Whether you are alone or in the midst of fellow believers, God desires us to worship him. But what kind of song is pleasing to God? Does he prefer hymns, contemporary, with instruments, acapella…? Actually, these distinctions are not what matters to God. He wants to hear our hearts. He wants our expressions of praise to be humble and authentic.

Worship should not be about us, but rather express our gratitude for all that God has done for us in Christ. Our goal is to exalt the goodness, grace, and unconditional love of God with grateful hearts. Constantly proclaiming his faithfulness to us in every season.

• from Faily Encounter

Lauren Daigle: How Can It Be

From the singer songwriter Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be. You plead my cause, You right my wrongs You break my chains, You overcome You gave Your life to give me mine You say that I am free, how can it be? Yes How can it be?

Phil Wickham: Living Hope

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Jesus Christ, my living hope

The full words:  

How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope

Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope

Oh, hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope

Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Oh, Jesus, Yours is the victory!

Why Singing Hymns the Traditional Way is Better than Singing the Pop Worship Way

Jonathan Aigner has some styrong opinions. Good to read and think through his ideas.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/ponderanew/2020/11/24/why-singing-hymns-the-traditional-way-is-better-than-singing-the-pop-worship-way/

Hymns for Seasoned Citizens

The Old Rugged Face

Precious Lord, Take My Hand, And Help Me Up

It is Well With My Soul, But My Knees Hurt

Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have Seeing

Amazing Grace, Considering My Age

Just a Slower Walk With Thee

Count Your Many Birthdays, Name Them One by One

Go Tell It On The Mountain, But Speak Up

Give Me That Old Timers’ Religion

Blessed Insurance

Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, I’ve Forgotten Where I Parked

Hymns of Hope and Comfort: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Hymns of Hope and Comfort: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Top 10 Best Easter Songs

Hmmm?

https://michellelesley.com/2020/04/07/top-10-best-easter-songs-3/

In My Humble Opinion…The One with the Modernized Hymns

https://michellelesley.com/2020/03/31/in-my-humble-opinion-the-one-with-the-modernized-hymns/

🎶 Joy Of The Lord” by Rend Collective

 

Why You Need To Be Singing Sad Songs At Your Church

https://corechristianity.com/resource-library/videos/why-you-need-to-be-singing-sad-songs-at-your-church