by Kimberly | Oct 14, 2014 | 31days, hymns
I love reflecting on our wedding day! We just celebrated 3 years last week so it is always good to think about the actual wedding ceremony.
One of my husband’s groomsmen is an exceptional guitarist. I asked him if he would play my bridal march because I wanted something simple and acoustic. I told him I wanted Fairest Lord Jesus played as I walked down the aisle. He arranged an amazing version and I love the song even more now.
We sang this hymn yesterday in church. As my husband and I were talking about it, he pointed out verse 2 and the abrupt change in the lyrics. The hymnwriter begins focusing on creation – but then does an about face to talk about Jesus.
The Agent of Creation!
When I was walking down the aisle, a dream every woman has…I knew every eye would be on me. But, no matter how my hair or dress or boots looked that day – my Bridegroom is much fairer.
Thanks Craig for helping others see that!
by Kimberly | Oct 13, 2014 | 31days, hymns
I do believe this modern hymn is one of the clearest pictures of the Gospel, EVER.
But how often to do we want to think about the suffering that the line afforded: here in the death of Christ I live.
Paul says in Philippians 3 that he wants to share in his sufferings – grow in them, pursue them, be like Christ so that he does suffer.
We don’t like suffering. But, without suffering we have no life.
by Kimberly | Oct 10, 2014 | 31days, hymns
I’m so thankful for modern hymnwriters. I’m also thankful for those who can take an old hymn and set it to new melody – or just take the old melody and make it to where you want to sing it today. Usually that means different set of instruments or more emotion in the voice.
This song is fairly new to me, since we’ve been going to our new church here in the ATL area. It was written in the 1600s. That’s old. Well, old compared to most hymns. Most modern churches won’t sing it. But, I love it. This version is my husbands favorite of the song. While I love Fernando’s version with the incredible harmonies. The lyrics are so rich and have so much depth of the gospel in them.
And keeping with the personal pronoun theme, I love how the song ends – speaking of our time in Heaven:
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
by Kimberly | Oct 9, 2014 | 31days, hymns
I’ve been reading the Bible lately and all the personal pronouns are jumping out. So, when thinking through what hymn to do today – this is the one I started singing in my head.
If Jesus is your Savior – He HAS to be personal to you. You can’t keep Jesus at a distance. He longs to be there, right with you – all the time. And the Spirit lives in you to make that happen.
This song, as a hymn, builds in power when being sung. You can’t help but meditating on the first few stanzas than singing at the top of your lungs the last one. I love it. And I have a deep desire for the Church to sing this with hands lifted high, smile on their faces, head flung backwards, gaze lifted upward.
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
by Kimberly | Oct 8, 2014 | 31days, hymns
I’m reminded even as I write this that I’m not the only person learning this truth today. God is in the business of bringing himself much glory through our lives – and we rejoice that His name will be made great.
I got to tell of the provision that God made today to the officer who came to the house to fill our the police report.
This is an old hymn that I don’t even know but the words are great (what do I expect from John Newton). I pray that the words are a blessing to you today, dear friend, as well.
When Satan appears to stop up our path,
He fills us with fears, but won’t lose our faith;
He cannot take from us though hard he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide.
In the midst of this morning’s wallet fiasco, I yelled at Elijah, I cried to my husband, I was short with some ladies at Bible study, I was impatient. Blah.
God is good and his grace abounds.
by Kimberly | Oct 7, 2014 | 31days, hymns
Hymn number 205.
Growing up in a small country church we had times where we could just yell out numbers and that’s the song we would sing. My Mom loved this song – and therefore I loved it. (The link is to an Alison Krauss version of it).
It was great in the teenage years – because you never know what your life is going to hold.
It was great in college years – because the rest of your life seems so hopefully and scary at the same time
It was great in the seminary years – because who in the world am I going to marry and will I ever get my dream job?
It was great in the rough years – because it made me remember the faithfulness of God.
It was great in the dream job years – because only He knew if the writing I did would be accepted and successful (which it was).
It was great when I was courting my now Mister – because He knew His great plan for us as a couple and as a family.
It was great in pregnancy years – because He knew that He formed the boys growing in my belly.
It is great in the unknown future phase we are in right now – and in the parenting phase – and in the daily life with toddlers phase – because He is faithful and knows all things.
I’m thankful for old hymns.
