Greetings. 

The old hymns were the songs of my youth.  Truly. Huh, it seems my contemporaries remember the songs of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and the Who—either from the radio or their siblings’ record albums.  Not me.  The songs I remember from my youth are old-fashioned hymns.  I played the music by the hour on my piano, augmenting harmonious chording, arpeggios and supporting octaves from the bass clef.  As for the lyrics, I still love the poetry, the beauty of well-written prose, the ability of the hymn writers to tell stories, and convey theology.  And there is nothing like the hymn writers’ forward-looking views of glory, walks with the Savior in the garden, setting Scripture to musical scores, and even the inward thoughts directed to our individual souls.  [As I write, I think of the beautiful ‘Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side…’]

Then there was this one, written in 1866, which captures the story, and the reason, and points us to God’s Word.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above

Of Jesus and his glory

Of Jesus and his love

Click to watch/listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0aiahIo8Sw

I love to tell the story because I know tis true

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do

I love to tell the story

Twill by theme in glory

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest

And when in scenes of glory

I sing the new, new song

Twill be the old story that I have loved so long.

I know its words from memory, and do so love Alan Jackson’s easy-going rich baritone version.  But for our purposes, I Love to tell the Story, also points us forward.  The whole of the Bible can be summed up with this:                      God loves you,                                                                                                  God loves me,                                                                                                   Jesus is the proof of that,                                                                                            and to make sure we know, God recorded it for our understanding.

Perhaps I now have you reminiscing about songs you sang from wooden pews with hymnal in hand, blending your voice with that of those around you … my favorites It is Well with my Soul, Chris Rice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HLyhEdh92E;

Be Still, My Soul, David Archuleta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV3DEtJtho8;

 Blessed Assurance, Third Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFyp880DEiA

This beautiful melodies lift my mind and soul to God.  Of course, then there is

How Great Thou Art, Carrie Underwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that I love beautiful music that points me to my Jesus.  I love music that comes from the pages of Scripture ~ oh, the beautiful word of God, which we are now on course, heading for the gospel of Matthew.

Be still and know that HE is God.  Psalm 46.10