Old hymns

 Recently, I was "laid up" with lower back & hip problems. I spent a lot of time sitting. There is only so much reading and crossword puzzles that I could do until I was BORED. Friends on Facebook had some good suggestions, but I still wanted a project or something to work on.

My hubby suggested that I help him with his work. He'd been wanting to do this project for a while but never made time to do it. I could do this proofreading on the computer, I could sit, and I could do it when I had time. Generally, my girls are on the computers in the morning during homeschool. I took time on several afternoons and evenings to proofread for him.

He has computer software that we use in our church. He had downloaded the lyrics to many old hymns but hadn't checked them against OUR hymnal. That is where I came in. I sat down with the hymnal, chose a song (they were in alphabetical order), and then I would read the lyrics on the screen and in the hymnbook to compare them. Many of the hymns had one or two words different, some had a phrase different, and some had extra verses or mixed verses that I fixed. Many times I would change a word like favour to favor or add a comma here and there. I like to proofread, so it was a good job for me.

What I didn't realize about this task was how much I would enjoy it. I love the praise songs that we sing in churches today. People always say that old hymns have better theology. Yes, some of them do. But many are just as repetitive as the praise songs. I love old hymns. I vividly remember singing them in church as a little girl, surrounded by my extended family. I especially remember hearing my grandmother singing (a little off-key) to "How Great Thou Art" and "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

There are so many great lyrics that I remembered as I reread them. One song I didn't know was a hymn was made popular several years ago by Aaron Shust, called "I Am Not Skilled to Understand." He added a chorus to the hymn and renamed it, "My Savior, My God." Casting Crowns did a similar thing a few years ago with their song, "Glorious Day."

Here are some verses of songs that I really liked...

"O worship the King all glorious above,

And gratefully sing His wonderful love,

Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise." (O Worship the King)

""Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word,

Just to rest upon His promise, just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for grace to trust Him more!" ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus)

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing,

He chastens and hastens His will to make know;

The wicked oppressing now cease fro distressing:

Sing praises to His name-He forgets not His own." (We Gather Together)

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!

O my soul praise Him for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near,

Join me in glad adoration!" (Praise to the Lord, the Almighty)

And this one was an old favorite...

"Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?

Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all? 

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

He is always there, hearing every prayer, faithful and true,

walking by our side, in His love we hide all the day through,

When you get discouraged just remember what to do-

Reach out to Jesus, He's reaching out to you." (Reach Out to Jesus) 

There are many others that I love too... including "For Those Tears I Died," "Come, ye thankful people come," "Holy, Holy, Holy," and "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee." Just to name a few!

What are some of your favorite hymns? Any of the ones that I chose?

1 Chronicles 16:9
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Psalm 13:6
I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

James 5:13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.