How Great Thou Art

One of my all-time favorite hymns is "How Great Thou Art."

We sang this in church on Sunday.  I have to give props to Moody - they do the full orchestra + full choir + organ thing very well.  Combined with a large room of people loudly singing and the Spirit of God moving, there are moments when I think we are getting glimpses of Heaven...  This Sunday, during the final verse of How Great Thou Art, it was one of those moments - a small glimpse into what it will be like when we are forever worshiping God.  Check out the hymn's lyrics below:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

how great Thou art, how great Thou art.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

how great Thou art, how great Thou art.

 

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

During that last verse, I felt like I actually wanted to be home... home in heaven.  I mean, as Christians we intellectually know that heaven is supposed to be better than life on earth, but if we're honest (or maybe it's just me), we have things we want in this life - dreams for the future.  Yet, we read in scripture that this isn't our real home, and that our life here is fleeting... I understand that truth and pray for God to make that a real desire in my heart, but it is rare when I truly have moments where my heart and head align in this area, where I truly want to just go... go up to heaven to worship God forever and ever.  But, this Sunday morning, with complete sincerity, I could sing...When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.  Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim "My God, how Great Thou Art!"

What are you standing on?

This one line from a well-known hymn has been on my mind all day:  On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Think about that for a minute.  I've been asking myself, is that true of me?

Here's the rest of the hymn's lyrics, for further pondering... (the first and last speak the most to me personally)


My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

It is well

Here are the lyrics to one of the best hymns of all time.  My favorite verses are the first and last, but even the ones no one ever sings in church ring with great truth.   

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,
lest this blest assurance control, 
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul. 
(Refrain) 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain) 

And, Lord, haste the day when my 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.
(Refrain)