Every time I go home to visit my parents, I attend their church where they still have a choir and sing hymns right out of the pew hymnals. In a time where most churches have progressed to more contemporary worship music (which I also love), it’s beautiful to return to these hymns that have stood the test of time! Clarence Haynes compiled an awesome list of hymns that will never get old here.
One of my favorites is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Singing along with the congregation to “Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not” gives me chills every time! What is a hymn that will never get old, no matter how many times you hear/sing it?
I love it in four-part harmony… and I love the story behind the song- one who experienced such tragedy and loss… and still declared 'It is well with my soul."
Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago, had a number of traumatic experiences:
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 damaged his property and ruined him financially
The economic downturn of 1873 further impacted his business interests
His ship, the Ville du Havre, collided with the Scottish ship, the Loch Earn, and sank in the Atlantic Ocean, killing 226 people, including all four of his daughters.
Donnie McClurkin’s rendition of “We Come This Far By Faith” resonates deeply with me, touching on the very essence of my upbringing in the Pentecostal church. Growing up in that environment, faith was not just a Sunday service experience; it was the heartbeat of our community, the rhythm of our lives.
When I hear McClurkin’s powerful voice lift that song, I am transported back to my childhood, the vibrancy of the choir, the fervor of the sermons, and the spirit of joy that swept through the congregation. His soulful delivery captures the struggles and triumphs that have accompanied my journey. The lyrics speak to the resilience and unwavering belief that defines our heritage.
There are too many, but It is well with my soul is my very favorite. When I was a new mom, and had just found out I was pregnant again after 6 months, I was distraught. One day, I was outside with my first daughter and the thought went through my head that I should just kill my child. The thought that I would ever do anything to harm my child, was a horrible thought and I knew that this was the enemy talking to me. The next thought that ran through my head was this song It is well with my soul. I knew then that I would not and could not harm her even for the sake of another child. My two daughers are now grown and that moment stands out to me as a time when God was working in my life and I knew He had a plan for both of my children. They are both grown now and have children of their own. I am so thankful for both of them and the fact that God kept me that day from making the biggest mistake of my life.
Psalms are important not only for the Jewish people – they also play a significant role for Christians. Jesus himself quoted the Psalms more than any other book of the Old Testament. In fact, at the darkest moment of his life, when he was hanging on the cross and his life was slowly fading away, it was Psalm 22 that was on Jesus’ lips. If Jesus turned to the Psalms to express his deepest prayer, then surely we can do the same.
