The Songs We're Singing Sunday

Songs for October 16, 2011:

Great is Thy Faithfulness    

Words: Thomas Chisholm, 1923. Music: William Runyan

As we begin walking through the book of Philippians with Pastor Wade, one thing I anticipate hearing about in chapter one is the faithfulness of God. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”(Philippians 1:6 ESV) God is faithful to us, even when we are faithless. What a blessing that He continues to work in us and sanctify us till the very end.

Blessed Assurance  

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1873. Music: Phoebe Knapp

When I sing this song, it always reminds me of my days at Biola. There was a particular time that I attended a Talbot chapel and we sang this hymn. Everyone sang so LOUD, it was almost deafening. And why shouldn’t it be sung with gusto?! Blessed assurance! Jesus is mine! How great it is that we can be sure of our salvation; that nothing and no one can remove us from His hand.

Jesus Shall Reign Where Ever The Sun

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719; Music: “Duke Street,” Refrain: Resolved Music

This is a great transition from the last song that ends with, “Watching and waiting, looking above.” The King is coming! Let’s not forget to watch and wait for His appearing. I especially love the refrain’s words that say, “Bless His name and praise the sovereign King!”

Before the Throne of God Above    

Original lyrics by Charitie Lees Bancroft; Music by Vikki Cook, 1997

This song is so, SO beautiful. Theologically... excellent.  It needs to speak for itself. Here is Shane and Shane’s version.

We are God’s People    

Words: Bryan Jeffery Leech, 1976. Music: Brahms, 1876.

Again, inspired by our introduction to Philippians, this is a great hymn that expresses the beauty of the visible church. It is amazing to me to think that we are part of the same body of believers that Paul and the church at Philippi were members of. And one day, we will all be together, with our King! Amen!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I look forward to signing with you Sunday!

The Songs We're Singing Sunday

Well, it has been a while since I’ve posted anything... Been C R A Z Y busy, that’s all. Last month we all had the stomach flu and braved Resolved Conference - at the same time. When we left for Resolved, we thought that it was only yours truly who had some sort of food poisoning thing, which I was over in 24 hours. Then, surprise!!!! Eliora got it. Then Derek... It was pretty awful.

Anyway, If you would like to listen to the wonderful messages from the conference, they are available here.

Songs for July 10, 2011:

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Words and music: Martin Luther, 1529.

Love, looove the last stanza: “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
 The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, 
His kingdom is forever!” Amen!

This Is My Father’s World

Words: Maltbie Babcock,1901; Music: “Terra Beata” F. L. Sheppard

We’ll be singing 2 verses of this hymn... I have a hard time with the words in the other verses like, “In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.” Hmmm. I know it is probably not meant to be literal, but I can do without the mysticism. On a more positive note, I was feeling drawn to this song because it rejoices in God’s glory in creation. Since my entire family (all 11 of us – 9 month old Elly included) will be camping next week, I have a special craving for songs that thank God for His amazing handiwork.

Jesus Shall Reign Where Ever The Sun

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719; Music: “Duke Street,” Refrain: Resolved Music

This is a great transition from the last song which ends with, “The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!” More specifically, Jesus is King and He “shall reign where ever the sun does its successive journeys run!” The verses are a familiar tune to us at First Baptist, and hopefully the refrain has become increasingly familiar, written by the folks in Enfield and sung frequently at Resolved. Take a gander here.

I Will Glory in My Redeemer    

Words and music by Steve and Vikki Cook © 2001 Sovereign Grace Worship

This song has definitely become a favorite modern hymn for me.  It boldly speaks the glories of the gospel and it borrows a lot of poetic language from the Psalms. “Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails and hung Him on that judgment tree.” Overall, I love using that phrase, “I will glory in...” We don’t speak like that normally, but it expresses a longing that can’t be put into words otherwise.

Go to Dark Gethsemane    

Words: James Montgomery, 1850. Music: Richard Redhead, 1853

I often search our hymnal for jewels that maybe we’ve forgotten about... I think this is one of them (though I’m sure it didn’t escape Chet Smith’s eye and he probably often uses it for evening service). My only gripe about it is that it mistakenly leaves off the last verse in our hymnal for some reason. One of me and my husband’s favorite blogs posted about this song last Easter. Read about it here.

Wish us luck with camping – or better yet, pray for us! I am excited but nervous that we won’t be sleeping very well. And as always, please let me know if you have any comments or questions! I look forward to singing with you Sunday! 

The Songs We’re Singing Sunday

Songs for June 5, 2011:

Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty

Words: Reginald Heber, 1826. Music: John Dykes, 1861

I’m so glad that this song is a monthly tradition. I love how clearly it speaks of the trinity and for that reason, it just can’t be sung by groups who claim the name Christian, yet deny this basic and fundamental belief. My favorite line is, “Only Thou art holy! There is NONE besides Thee!” Amen!

The Power of the Cross  

Written by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend, 1995

This is a perfect song to sing on communion Sunday. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” Watch and listen to this great song  here.

Jesus, Thank You    

Written by: Pat Sczebel, 2003

An excellent response to the truths we acknowledged in the last song. “Your blood has washed away my sin – Jesus,  thank you! The Father’s wrath completely satisified – Jesus thank you! Once your enemy, now seated at your table – Jesus, thank you!” I so so so love that last line. I was once an enemy – a hater of God. He crushed His Son so that I could join Him at His banquet table! What a love feast! Read more about this song as well as watch and listen to it here.

Man of Sorrows! What a Name!    

Written by: Philip P. Bliss, 1875

I think this has to be my most favorite hymn ever. It is pretty close up there with “And Can It Be.” I am really thrilled that it has become a tradition for First Baptist every month. I can’t think of a more perfect way to close our communion service. And I love the piano arrangement my mom wrote for it too. “Full atonement, can it be?! Hallelujah, what a Savior!” Watch here to see Enfield leading us at Resolved.

As always, please let me know if you have any comments or questions! I look forward to singing with you Sunday! 

The Songs We’re Singing Sunday

Songs for May 29, 2011:

O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing    

Words: Charles Wesley, 1734; Music: Carl G. Glaser

What amazing words. I love this hymn. I was reading a little about its history here. I want that heart of worship in me – the kind that says along with Peter Böhler, “Had I a thousand tongues I would praise Him with them all!” What a deep longing - an almost unutterable - unsingable longing to honor and bless our great God. 

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us  

Words and Music by Stuart Townend, 1995

I love songs that acknowledge who we are without God’s amazing grace. In this song we call ourselves wretches, that it was our sin that was on His shoulders, holding Him to the cross and that we too were calling out with those who scoffed and ridiculed Him. Amazing. O how I need to remember this daily, hourly... When I am ready to boast and feed my pride, what a blessing to return to the cross and hear my voice among the scoffers. Thank you God for Your rescuing love that saves us from the Your deserved wrath.

I Stand Amazed     

Written by: Charles H Gabriel, 1905

This song is an excellence response to the truths we acknowledged in the last song. “How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!.” I love how hymns so often have a last verse that talks about death and heaven. Here we sing, “When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, ’Twill be my joy through the ages to sing of His love for me." When we sing verses like that, I think how awesome it would be for God just to take us all to glory so we can continue singing in His presence.

All I Have is Christ     

by Jordan Kauflin, 2008

We sang this song together for the first time a month or so ago. LOVE it. Again, we are remembering where we’ve come from: running – not walking, tiptoeing or being pushed along with hesitant hearts – running a hell-bound race. But Christ looked upon our helpless state and bore the wrath and now all we know is grace. We have NOTHING but Him and HALLELUJAH for that! “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:25  Watch here to see us singing along with Bob Kauflin and Enfield at Resolved, 2010.

It is Well With My Soul   

Words: Horatio Spafford, Music by Philip Bliss

Wade asked that we sing this song this week. It is wonderful. If you don’t know its history, read about it here. “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul!”

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I look forward to signing with you Sunday!

The Songs We're Singing Sunday

It is fitting that this would end up being my first blog post as it is the foremost reason I wanted to start writing in the first place. I of course want to post on other wonderful things like my little Eliora, what I'm sewing, glueing, painting, adoring, reading, cooking, and so on. But ever since I was asked to lead worship at First Baptist, I felt like God was leading me to write about the songs we are singing on Sundays. 

I love my church. I love that I go to the church in which I grew up, was baptized, and was married... a church that still uses hymnals and has pews and a steeple. It isn't because a body of believers needs to be housed in any particular fashion - a warehouse, beach pier or backyard will do just fine for the people of God. I guess it's because we aren't ashamed to be "churchy" or old. I happen to like old (except when it comes to old movies - they just aren't my thing). And even though it makes planning the songs a pain sometimes, I kinda like that you don't see a big screen with Power Point on it...kinda. 

Speaking of old, I heart hymns so so so very much. What depths of theological bliss can be found in them. In addition to hymns, I love, love modern hymns (especially from the Getty Family), vintage and new praise songs (Sovereign Grace rocks my world) and just about anything that combines accurate doctrine and beautiful music. I am passionate about expressing affection for God through our music while keeping His holiness and sovereignty in full view. There is a lot of worship music out there. Some should never EVER be sung... ever. And sometimes a new song is so killer-wonderful that I can't rest until we sing it together as a church family. I am extra-super-duper careful about the songs that I choose, so much so that I am thinking about what we are singing pretty much all week long. 

Anyway, with all this thought and time and wracking my brain about whether to sing that new song that no one knows yet, it feels right to tell someone besides my dear husband about the songs we are singing every week. (I have THE best husband by the way.) So, here we are. I'd love to show you this Sunday's songs.

This week's Songs:

Come Thou Fount    Words by Robert Robinson, 1757; Music: John Wyeth

All Creatures of Our God and King   Words: Francis of Assisi, 1225. Music: 17th Century German

Bless His Holy Name     By Andrae Crouch, 1973

I Will Glory in My Redeemer     By Steve and Vikki Cook © 2001 Sovereign Grace Worship 

And Can it Be That I Should Gain   Words: Charles Wesley, 1738  Music: Thomas Campbell, 1825. Listen to Enfield leading us at Resolved.

No new songs this week. We've sung I Will Glory in My Redeemer once before so it is on the newish side. Such a great song. Listen to it here. I love the words that say, "I will glory in my Redeemer whose priceless blood has ransomed me, Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails, And hung Him on that judgment tree." I look forward to singing with you Sunday!