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Sunday, July 20, 2008

Songs of Zion

For those of you who know me, even if only a little, you probably know that I love to sing... (yes we've covered the weirdness of my singing kids songs although no kids are around). But I especially love to sing the songs of Zion. We are very blessed at Little Union to have a good song service each Sunday morning. And I almost always find myself humming or whistling or singing a hymn that pops into my head. Mostly I will hear a word that triggers my thoughts to a particular song and then that song will be stuck in my head for hours (sometimes days on end) and then come Sunday, I can't for the life of me think of the song to call it out... (GRRR!)

I was talking with someone that shared a story behind a hymn that means a lot to them and turns out is now their daughter's very most favorite song. And it led me to think about some songs that have special meaning to me and why.

When I was out of the church for the 3 LONELY HORRIBLE years, I returned with the thought that I just didn't deserve God's mercy... I can remember tears streaming just about every Sunday morning listening (and trying to sing) the song "Show Pity Lord"- Not that the meaning of the song has changed for me, I sure don't feel worthy of God's mercy, but I can now sing the song without crying (although I do get a knot in my throat almost every time).

There is also a special meaning to me with the song "Be Thou My Vision". When Jim and I were blessed to meet and eventually started dating, neither one of us had ever put the Lord first in any of our past relationships. This was the first one for both of us. From the minute we started dating, we always wanted to keep the Lord as our vision and as we stood together before God and our church professing our love and devotion for one another and for the the Lord, we only thought it appropriate to sing that song with our church family!

I am thankful to the Lord for these songs, and for the many other songs that we have to keep me sane during the week and keep my mind at peace at night! If I could never physically sing a note again, I will always have the words and melodies in my heart!

I would love to hear from any of you that read my blog if there is a song(s) that has special meaning to you and why!

4 comments:

misslissa78 said...

When Connor was born I started singing three songs to him every night before bed and it has carried on with our other children. " Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" , "O May I Worthy Prove to See" and my all time favorite " Jesus My Lord My Shepherd Friend". You probably know the first two ,but for years the last one was only in the Harp of Ages. Which is the book I grew up with in south Texas. I think it is in the new PBH. Everything about that song lifts me to a better place. There are great memories of church when we were kids and this is the song we were singing when I joined the church 16 years ago. If you have never heard it I hope you will look it up and at least read the words. It is my perfect "Praise" song.

Bekah said...

You'll have to forgive me on this one because I am terrible with titles and don't have a hymnal handy, but my favorite is "God has not promised..." During my parent's divorce this song was an unexpected source of comfort for me and my mom. During my divorce, it was there for me again. I can't think of certain phrases in the song without tears welling into my eyes and an overwhelming sense of unworthiness and gratefulness.

"But God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way. Grace for the trials, help from above..."

Anonymous said...

YOU LOVE TO SING???? I didn't know that. DUH!
When I was a kid (back in the stone age) you know, Rolling Stones, that is. the PB's use to have sings at a different persons house each week. The adults would gather in the living rooms to sing while us kids would play outside. In my mind I still hear those dear old saints singing those songs of Zion with all the love and passion that you and I feel today. I miss those sings and the fellowship and even though maybe we were not in the singing those songs had an impact on me. Some of you may not be old enough to remember Sunday morning church services would begin with 4 to 6 Deacon Brethren up in front of the congragation leading singing. The power and strength of the song leaders carried into the congregation and voices lifted up to the heavens in praise for the Lord. Folks sang out back then as though they wanted the words to reach heavens door. That is one of the reasions why I appreciate Brother Gary B. so much in that his voice of strength & confidense carries into the congragation and they feel that they can sing out and not be heard over the song leader.
I remember growing up and many times on saturday nights there were local gospel sings with Quartets, and in those days most of the songs that were sung were familiar to us all. Sunday morning T.V. was one quartet after another.
As You and your sisters grew up you were sung to by me and your Mom at every turn. Church songs, silly songs but all songs of love. One of my greatest loves is listening to my girls sing. My heart just fills with joy to hear their sweet voices blend together in song. I remember trying to learn to play the guitar and play church songs and kelly would be right there with me singing praises to the Lord. So you love to sing....I guess you didn't have much choice. I know that some of the church songs may have some flaws and I know that they are not the Bible. But, I believe God bless men with his spirit to pen words of praise and the gift of singing songs of praise and making melody in our hearts. I belive off times that God uses his spirit inside us to stir us when the first we truly hear of him is in the songs of Zion and I think that those songs of Zion that God blessed men to write were written at different times in the lives of the writer to carry us through the different times of our lives. What a wonderful God we have. I don't know that my favorite song is not ever changing due to the spirit and seasion of my life. But I am still very much moved by "Amazing Grace". Thank you and all your readers for their voices lifed up in praise to the Lord.

I love You and Your Song
Dad
aka:Borrowed Dad
aka:Borrowed Poppa

Dani said...

I think that my two favorites are "Come thou Fount" and "Child of Grace". I have always loved in particular the last part of the last verse in "Come Thou Fount", Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandring heart to Thee. Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love, take my heart, o take and seal, seal it for thy courts above."

I also really love the orginal verison of "How Happy's Every Child of Grace" there are five verses total, and tell a more complete and moving story than just the three in the Old School Hymnal.

I also really like "Cornith" which orginally has seven verses. The final verse which is in the Good Old Songs says something very important I think. "His institutions would I prize, Take up my cross, and shame despise, Dare to defend His noble cause, And yield obedient to His laws.