Your Favorite Hymn and why (Jesus Christ, Earth, Eden, salvation)

[doppelgänger]

Inspired by Becky's thread in the LDS DIR.

My favorite is "Morning Has Broken" because it helps me center myself to look upon the world with a sense of wonder. And the Cat Stevens version has incredibly beautiful music.

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

[*Paul*]

Author:Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888Musician:Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Refrain:
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 blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin— oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when the 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!

There are so many reasons to love this hymn. The third verse especially chokes me with tears everytime as I have such a sinful nature, it just reminds me afresh of the good news of what God has done for me. The fourth verse reminds me that I will meet Him face to face one day and gaze at that face that was brusied for me, touch those hands that were pierced for my sins, and fall at that perfect redeemrs feet and worship Him as I ought to. Oh how I love Him.

The story behind this hymn is amazing too:

Horatio G. Spafford lived, with his wife and four daughters, in Chicago. He was a lawyer by profession and a devout and sincere Christian.

One day in 1873 he stood on the quayside in Chicago and bid farewell to his family as they set sail to visit relatives in far off Europe. He was not to realise that he would never see most of them again.

Some days later their ship, bound for Le Havre in France collided with another steamship in mid-Atlantic, and sank almost immediately.

Before it did so, however, Mrs Spafford was able to have a prayer with her children and commit them to the mercy of the Lord. That was the last time she would ever see them on this earth.

Fortunately, a lifeboat spotted Mrs Spafford and she was rescued. When she arrived in Britain, with the rest of the survivors, she sent her husband this terse, but telling message: 'SAVED ALONE.'

The words struck Horatio Spafford with full force, and, understandably, plunged him into deep sorrow. He left for England, without delay, to comfort his grief-stricken wife.

The great American evangelist D.L. Moody and his associate, singer Ira D. Sankey, were conducting a campaign in Edinburgh at the time. They were personal friends of the Spaffords and came down to London to give whatever help and comfort they could. They found their friends in surprisingly good spirits, strong in faith and able to say through their tears, 'It is well; the will of God be done.'

Three years after that tragedy, Mr. Spafford wrote his hymn "It Is Well With My Soul", in memory of his four precious daughters. Happily each of them had personally received Jesus Christ as Saviour before embarking on that fateful voyage.

It would be very difficult for any of us to predict how we would react under circumstances similar to those experienced by the Spaffords. But we do know that the God who sustained them would also be with us.

No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood fro my soul!

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

[*Paul*]

I get so excited, Lord, ev'ry time I realize I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven. Jesus Lord, You've done it all, You've paid the price, I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven. Hallelujah, Lord, My heart just fills with praise, My feet start dancing, my hands rise up, And my lips they bless Your name. I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven.

Though this chorus is slightly shallow, i love to sing it, my favourite line is:"Jesus Lord you've done it all you've paid the price (for my redemption from sin and it's power)"
It is a very upbeat and joyful tune and the words give glory to Jesus and attributes our full salvation to Him and reminds us that God no longer imputes our transgressions against us but we are forgiven for Christs sake.

It's just about the joy of our salvation too, sometimes we can forget that we have every reason to be so full of joy.

[Bishka]

Another one of my favorites is:

"Be Still My Soul"

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Another one of my favorites is:

"Be Still My Soul"

I love this one, too. I suspect it is not familiar to non-LDS Christians, but for anyone who takes the time to read the words, it might be interesting to know that it is sung to the theme from Jean Silelius' "Finlandia," which I believe in the melody for the national anthem of Finland.

[ChristineES]

Blessed Assurance has always been my favorite hymn.

Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1839-1908
Tune: ASSURANCE, Meter: 9 10.9 9 with Refrain

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)

[dawny0826]

I guess this is technically part of a hymnal .

I've always been quite fond of the Doxology.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/r/praisegf.htm

[dawny0826]

Here's my favorite "full" hymn. Reminds me of my sweet Grandpa rocking in his rocking chair, singing. He would burst out in praise and song out of the blue!

"How Great Thou Art"

http://synergy_2.tripod.com/lyrics/howgrt.html