Hi Raskdog

I can think some least favourite hymns:

“I tried the broken cisterns Lord and ere the waters failed

E’en though I stooped to drink they fled and mocked me as I wailed”

In later life I understand this a bit but I laughed hysterically as a teenager at the thought of people drinking out of toilets.

I’m not much of a hymn person but I must admit I’ve had a fresh view of Amazing Grace since the movie came out last year. Isaac Newton was the captain of a slave ship that ran slaves from West Africa to America and the Caribbean, undoubtedly shipping rum and molasses (treacle produced from sugar cane) when the slave hull was empty enough. Many slaves died in transit … a total attrocity!

William Wilberforce was a British politician that opposed the slave trade and eventually brought about an end to slavery in the British empire and western society. (I’m flattered that he is a distant relative of mine). William, this is an example of morality and politics working together for the good of humankind, something you clearly disbelieve in.

When Isaac Newton was converted to Christianity he gave up slave trading and took up hymn writing instead. What insight to see us all as wretches? “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” How we forget that we consider our own opinions are far superior to everyone around us.

I told my mother for the sixty millionth time last weekend that I work with people who have HIV/AIDS. You see, my mother has dementia and can’t possibly remember the conversation even a few minutes later. I told her: “I think I”m doing what Jesus would do if he was here.” It was something she still understood, even if just for a moment.

Grace … wretch … found! Doesn’t it say it all?

Kit

Don’t have one single favourite … I love these currently as they speak most to my life and situation (but there are many others hymns I love).

BE THOU MY VISION

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

I cling to the words of the first verse since I’m needing new visioning and purpose for my life currently … after being adrift for so long. Similarly – the words of the next hymn provide great comfort – like a lighthouse / beacon.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

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 will be.

Refrain

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.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Lastly – one of my wedding hymns which still stands true for me today 13 years later on – just reminds me to look past my worries and woes to the ‘greater’ transcendent beyond:

CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.

Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,

And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.

His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways

From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.

His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet

Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,

Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.

No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,

Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;

Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

Wow love all these, just reading through them with happy tears welling up of just praise. 😀 Theres one I love called “Inside Outside” by Delirious.

Inside Outside

Inside outside, under my skin

Never ending love I don’t know where it begins?

I don’t know where it ends, I don’t know how high

I don’t know how deep, I don’t know how wide

Outside inside around the world

Never ending love envelops me like a cloud

I feel you in front, I feel you behind

I feel you up above, And I feel you at the side

And you, you’re all over me, you’re all over me

Your banner is over me, I give it all ‘cos

You still captivate me, fascinate me

You still captivate me, saturate me

Inside outside, pulling me in

No matter where I run I know you’ll never give in

I see you in the storm, I see you in a kiss

I’ve been around the world and never found a love like this

You’re all over me, you’re all over me

You’re everything I want to be

I’m all over you, you’re everything I want to see

You’re all over me

You, still captivate me, fascinate me

You still captivate me, saturate me

You still captivate me, liberate me

You still captivate me

I love hymns – find them to be food for my soul. I Love this one….

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blessed assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

and I love this one by Martin Luther…..

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth;

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

My favourite this this song sung to Amy Grant’s version… play it everymorning driving to work… its sure beats any other songs at the moment. Giggle.

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;

Save me from it’s guilt and pow’r.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to the cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

http://www.mamarocks.com/rock_of_ages.htm