Hymns of Praise

Last Sunday, As I sang the hymns during service and the choir anthem, I had to wonder what in the world Rev. Massey was thinking when he picked those hymns. They just did not seem to fit together.

The Choral Response to the Call to worship was "I shall call upon the Lord." This is a very upbeat tune. It has a real rocking beat to it and you just want to bounce to the music.

I shall call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised. So, shall I be saved from my enemies. I will call upon the Lord.

The Lord liveth, blessed be the Rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted. The Lord Liveth and blessed be the Rock; and let the god of my salvation be exhalted.

Then the first hymn the congregation sang was an old John Wesley tune. "And Can It Be That I should Gain." This song is one LONG song. An old Traditional Hymn.

And can it be that I should gain an int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis myst’ry all! Th’Immortal dies: who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite His grace!),
emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
’Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me!
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

The Choir then sang for its Anthem, "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus." This is a beautiful song. But the tune to the song can drag if you do not do it just right. One very beautiful piece of music. It is a slow traditional hymn.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

The Congregation then sang for our Hymn of preparation "Pass It On." This is a modern Hymn and very popular.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wonderous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it.
You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

And to finish off our sermon, We sang "Victory in Jesus." This is by far one of my favorite hymns. Something about that gospel sound. It leads your heart straight to the Lord and His love.

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I can not imagine what led our preacher to pick the songs he did next Sunday. But each touched me in such a special way. The combination of different styles of music. All praising God. Something, truly for everyone. How wonderful it is to be surrounded and touched by God's love.