Last night D. and I were driving home, enjoying the quiet (read: absence of squawking toddler) while listening to a contemporary arrangement of “Fairest Lord Jesus” on the CD player.
I decided right then and there that it is my favorite hymn ever.
Followed closely by “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Sang that one at church today, as a matter of fact.
Oh! And “It Is Well With My Soul.” I mean, I like all kinds of music – but those old hymns just make me, well, weep. I’m so grateful that I grew up singing them.
And since I’m on the subject of church music, I’ll go ahead and share this: my favorite contemporary Christian song ever is “How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin (Addie is SHOCKED by that – SHOCKED, I tell you). :-) I also think “Untitled Hymn” (“Come To Jesus”) by Chris Rice is gorgeous.
What are your favorites? Old and new? What are the songs that touch you way down deep in your soul?
I can’t wait to read your answers…mainly because I’m curious, but partly because I can make a list of all the stuff I want to download after I see your comments. :-)
“How Great Thou Art” was my grandpa’s favorite and he taught me to play it on the piano when I was 6. I never looked back.
Its funny- I just quoted “It is Well” on my blog a few days ago. That’s #2.
“All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” rounds out the Top 3.
Current fav’s?
All kidding aside? “Hallelujah” the cartoon song, by Chris Tomlin.
My all time fav- “Jesus, Something About That Name”. I really do love the song “Held” by Natalie Grant because of a ministry I have for moms who have lost a newborn. Also get on fire when I sing or hear “Victory In Jesus”-but only at the right tempo. You just can’t drag Victory! :>)
as for hymns, I like “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
I don’t know too much of the contemporary stuff. I like “How Great is our God” (WE sang at church today!) I also like “Alleluia” by Chris Rice (I think that’s the name of it) and an all time favorite is “If I Stand” by Rich Mullins.
If you don’t already have it, you must fo purchase Selah’s Greatest Hymns CD. It’s truly wonderful! And while you’re out picking up that one, you must also get Jars of Clay redemption. those are 2 of my favorite CD’s!!! wonderful!!!!
We have the Selah Greatest Hymns CD – LOVE IT – best of all musical worlds. :-)
-boomama
New Ones:
“There’s a Stirring”, “A New Anointing”, “PRaise You in the Storm”, “In Christ Alone”, “Blessed Be Your Name”
Oldies, but goodies:
“WHen We All Get to Heaven”, “How GReat THou Art”, “Holy, Holy, Holy”
this is my favourite hymn of all time. We had it at our wedding, but the tune is different on this page, and we’ve never seen the second verse.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/d/ldalexcl.htm
Again the tune is not as I know it, but it never fails to move me to tears, and was the first hymn I remember listening to just after I became a christian about 30 years ago.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/v/ivefound.htm
And this is another fantstic hymn, and I had this at my wedding too.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/u/guideme.htm
Can’t you tell I was brought up as an Independent Methodist.
Hello Boomama I am an avid lover of music, these are my favorites.
My Savior My God .. By Aaron Shust
Blessed Assurance… Toby Mac
Salvation belongs to my God…Crystal Lewis
Brave… Nicole Nordemon
Wish I could let you wander through my itunes, If you want to keep up wiyh some awesome Christian music go online to 94.9 KLTY.com and you will not be disappointed
Hello again go to itunes on your computer you can purchase everything online and it is alot cheaper than buying C.D. where you might only like 1 song out of all of them.
Favorite hymns would have to be:
Grace Greater Than All Our Sins
My Jesus I Love Thee
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
and of course ALL the ones that you mentioned!
Contemporary stuff …
Lord Most High (#1 favorite – you must check out the version done by The Martins)
Trading My Sorrows
You are God Alone (version by Phillips Craig & Dean rocketh)
and so many more…
Favorite old hymn, “Come thou fount of every blessing.” Current fav contemporary song, “Lifesong” by Casting Crowns.
I found your blog through a friend’s link to your tour of homes. It has been a lot of fun touring all of the homes (I still have a lot to go) and seeing how many bloggers, particularly Christian women bloggers, are actually out there.
I attempted to set up a blog this summer, but never got beyond the first post. My kids have kept me very busy this summer and being off from work for the summer gave me ample opportunity for other creative/social outlets. I also just seem to enjoy the good, old-fashioned personal e-mails coming into and going out of my box.
My favorite new song is from Todd Agnew called “My Jesus”. I also like his “Grace Like Rain”. And, I love Sarah Kelly’s whole album.
My favorite him is “Be Thou My Vision”.
Ahem……that should by “hymn” not “him”.
Love the topic! Can’t wait to see all the different music.
Favorite old hymn:
Great is thy Faithfulness
I’ll Fly Away
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Contemporary:
Strong Tower by Kutless
Sea of Faces by Kutless
Only You by David Crowder
Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns
Gloria by Watermark
Why we Sing by Kirk Franklin
Anything by Chris Tomlin but especially Amazing Love (lots of personal testimony related to that one!)
Totally forgot Unashamed Love by Ten Shekel Shirt. It’s awesome!
we had “Great is Thy Faithfulness” playing when I walked down the isle at our wedding. Love it!
Hymns also make me weepy. I’m sad that we sing so many contemporary songs these days that the oldies are not being learned by the next generation.
I love “How Great is Our God” — sang it today, too.
Hearing my then 5 and 3 year olds rendition of How Great is Our God…in childish lisp…I could listen to that all day!!!
:-D
Oh, there are many, but here are 2 favs o’ mine:
“For All The Saints”
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh711.sht
“Lift High The Cross”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/lifthigh.htm
I’m favorite hymns are “I’ll Fly Away” amd “Amazing Grace:. Favorite contemporary songs include, “God Will Lift Up Your Head” (Jars of Clay), “Let it Rise”, “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin…the list could go on and on…
Gosh, I’m just having a Songfest reading all these lists….what a fun thing to do….I think other than the 100 or so listed here, my top favorite might be Rock of Ages, to a new tune which y’all have probably heard before. I love that. I also would have a hard time choosing/ranking after that, as I love Christian music…and love each one listed above!!!
I agree re: Selah..they are just awesome! Boomama, have you heard Sara Groves version of Great Is they Faithfulness, it is a mix of a new song with the old..it is WONDERFUL. LOVE SARA GROVES!
I also like Blessed Assurance (anything by fanny crosby), In the Garden, Chris Rice and Chris Tomlin are great..i love the hymns and feel strongly we need to teach them to our children, they are full of great theology but i also love choruses like “here i am to worship”
my nieces and their friend sang “he knows my name” this morning..it was precious!
I often sing hymns to the girls at bedtime, I love having that in my heritage. LOVE all the ones you mentioned. (Although who is this Chris Tomlin you mentioned? Does he have any recordings out that I could check possibly out?) ;-)
Someone else mentioned Be Thou My Vision, love that one too. I also like O Sacred Head Now Wounded. But the tempo has to be slowed down. And I LOVE David Crowder’s version of “I Saw The Light”, done in, as he says, the “complicated rythmn structure known as the boom-chuck.”
New Fave’s:
Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Your Name” & “Lord You Never Let Go” (Both make me a little weepy to sing) Most David Crowder songs but especially “You are My Joy” and “Here is Our King” (written after the recent devastating Tsunami)
Oh, and there’s this artist with the first name of Chris (not real sure of his last name) Has a song called “How Great Is Our God” I almost lost my voice belting that bad boy out at our worship night this last week. Oh, it was SWEET! Also love Mighty Is The Power Of The Cross, Enough, The Way I Was Made. OK, pretty much all his stuff.
Oh, and then Watermark, but we’ve crossed that bridge already. Oh, I do love this topic! :D
Oh, dear, I see I’ve written a blovel above. Oops!
Excellent topic.
My favourite hymn is Day by Day. I was recently playing it on the piano and started to weep. My 2 yo came over and started stroking my head because she knew I was sad.
Fav contemp hymns would be In Christ Alone (Newsboys? don’t quite like their rendition, but excellent words) and Matt Redman’s Blessed Be Your Name.
One that we sang today that really touched me was We Speak to Nations! I prayed that over my missionary friends as we sang.
My favorites are:
What a day that will be
Go and tell somebody what the Lord has done (think its by the McCamey’s?)
I’ve got a feeling, everything’s gona be alright
In the garden (I remember my Nana singing this beside me in church one time, ok ::tears:: RIP my sweet Nana, I’ll see you someday :)
How great thou art
I bowed on my knees and cried Holy
There are just so many! New song I like is I can only imagine. Good topic I cant wait to read everyones! xoxo melzie
My favorites are all the old ones. Numero uno is Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Then there’s Be Thou My Vision, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and of course who can forget How Great Thou Art. Oh, and Victory In Jesus, because I guess I’m still a good ol’ Southern Baptist girl at heart.
Older hymn – Amazing Grace, never fails to move me to hear the whole church singing it. Contemporary – Nicole Mullen – My Redeemer, already marked that as a “play at my funeral” which I dont think is morbid at all. Fabulous song.
Boomama, I have to tell funny story – years ago our Baptist church sang, “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus”, sitting down (a bit dry church…) and our middle daughter, Leslie heard the words and shot up out of her seat. She was about 8 years old and I still laugh to remember how cute she looked, standing there in the midst of all those sitting down people.
I love all of the traditional hymns, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I love “He Leadeth Me,” “He Lives,” and “Great is They Faithfulness.” As far as new songs go, I love “In Christ Alone,” “Forever,” and “Shine On Us.” Great post!!
We sing the very same hymns in church as you do. I really love Angel Band (also known as My Latest Sun in Sinking Fast); we sang it at my mother’s funeral a couple of years ago and now my kids have adopted it as sort of their theme song – they always request it at church. I love Come Thou Fount. I saw a special on PBS a few years ago and there was one point where they showed a choir performing Come Thou Fount and there were women in the chorus openly weeping as they sang. It really touched my heart with the sheer power of the song, and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. Another one is God Moves in a Mysterious Way, especially this line: Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head. You can listen to a lot of hymns at The Cyber Hymnal: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/
Blessings!
I forgot to include Nearer My God to Thee, which is probably my favorite. I can’t hear it without thinking of the story of the musicians playing it as the Titanic sank.
His Eye is on the Sparrow, Great is Thy Faithfulness, It Is Well With My Soul…I just picked up the Selah Hymns cd and love it. Also, Shane and Shane are wonderful – my favorites are their Psalms CD and Clean CD. Rock Harbor is a church in CA that put out a Sabbath CD which is awesome AND I was going to email you with this and just haven’t had a chance, but the new worship/lullaby cd called Sing Over Me is a compilation cd with Bethany Dillon (another I LOVE), Nichole Nordeman (another I LOVE), Erin O’Donnell, Christy Nockels (of Watermark) and one other woman (can’t remember who right now). There’s a version of How Great is Our God on there, as well as a great song from the verse in Zephaniah called Sing Over Me and Nicole Nordeman recorded a beautiful song (similar to the theme of that of Blessed be Your Name) called You are Good. I have only listened to this song over and over and over the past few days…
Now that I’ve taken over your comment box….I’ll head out. :)
Music is my favorite topic…especially praises to the Father! I have actually just started a new ministry…Harmony in Hymn…where I lead singing/worship at Ladies’ retreats/Ladies’ Days, etc.
Music plays a vital role in my worship with the Lord. I feel the closest to Him as I commune with Him in song. There are so many that I love…different ones have carried me through different times of my life. God Has Smiled On Me is one that I love to sing! Also, How Great is Our God! How true are those words.
God is God was our song when I was diagnosed with cancer. When we lost our stillborn son, music is what I used to cling to the Father…seeking comfort from Him through those darkest days. Held by Natalie Grant, as well as He Will Carry Me (I can’t remember off-hand who sings it).
There are just so many more I could list…Blessed Be Your Name…Thomas’ Song (a hymn), Surely the Presence always brings tears! Jesus Loves Me is a favorite of our three year-old :)
The list could go on and on…literally! :) A song is in my heart, and joy abounds!
I hope that God blesses you through EVERY song that you lift to Him!
Check out my post on August 1. Funny that so many blogs I’ve read int the last few days have been about the musice scene.
I heard another one today at church, but of course I don’t remember the name, but the words were wonderful.
Love ALL of your songs — hymns and contemporary alike. The only hymn I would add is “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” — amen and amen!! And Chris Rice’s “Untitled Hymn” (why can’t it be “Come to Jesus????”) — makes me weep again and again.
Tree 63’s “Blessed Be Your Name” ROCKS, and my current theme song in life is “Had It Not Been the Lord (who was on our side)” (The anger of the enemy would have swallowed us alive.. .) Debbie Dorman wrote it, according to Google, and I’ve only heard acapella arrangements of it — don’t know if it’s “out there” in contemporary land!
BooMama, I think we’re on the same wavelength! My Thursday Thirteen last week was thirteen of my favorite hymns/Christian songs, though I could have made a list of fifty easily. You can see all of them here: A Southern Girl’s Guide to Almost Anything
I also love “Fairest Lord Jesus” and “It Is Well.” The latter is one of my father’s favorites so it always makes me think of him. And yes, Chris Rice’s “Untitled Hymn” is amazing, really one of the few contemporary pieces I love beyond reason. I’m much more of a traditional hymn/Southern Gospel kinda girl. ;)
Pretty much everything! Seriously! And you should come to my church and watch/hear my music minister. He is SOO filled with the Holy Spirit and doing what the Lord has called that you can’t help but think every song is your favorite! He get’s you into a worshipful mood too!
From ’94 to ’98 I was priveleged to be part of a wonderful Christian theatre company. With about 25 members, we traveled throughout the Midwest, performing Christian theatre. The most popular piece we did was an original play called “Hymns-The Breath of the Saints”. We performed that play over 100 times. It told the stories behind nine of the most beloved hymns. I was honored to play Louisa Stead (among other characters). Mrs. Stead tragically lost her husband on a holiday at the beach. He rushed into the ocean so save a boy who was drowning, and was drowned himself. Mrs. Stead and her daughter, Lily, stood by helplessly. After this tragedy, when questioning God as to why He would allow this to occur, leaving her a widow and her daughter an orphan, that she wrote my favorite hymn.
The enduring “Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus.”
Take My Life And Let It Be is always one that I focus on every word and realize how far I have to go to make it a reality in my life. But it’s a great challenge and a great reminder of how everything we have is all for Jesus.
My all time favorite, though, is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Again, the words are just so amazing.
I’m one of those old foggies (lol, I’m 34) who thinks that there is nothing like the words of OLD HYMNS. Not that I’m opposed to contemporary music (I love rock and roll) but I like the hymns at church. I’m sure that there are some newer songs that I’d like the words if I knew them but my church does hymns so I don’t get exposed to a lot of the “praise & worship” music (not that hymns aren’t praising and worshipping, another pet peeve) that’s been written in the last 25 years.
I like lots of the old hymns people have mentioned already, and others:
How great thou art
Great is thy faithfulness
Amazing Grace
Love Divine
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
And can it be?
When I survey the wondrous cross
As for newish ones – there are some that stand out, which I’m sure will be around for years to come amidst the light trite ones. Current favourites:
My Jesus, my Saviour
As the deer pants for the water
Purify my heart
There is a Redeemer
In Christ alone
Beauty for brokenness
How deep the Father’s love
My “new” favs are: “Blessed Be Your Name”, “We Will Dance”, “I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say” and “Because We Believe”.
My Old hymn favs are: “Softly and Tenderly”, “Rock of Ages”, “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”.
Also, on a side note, I just love to come over here and visit you! I look forward to reading your blog daily! Thanks for your inspiration!
i don’t really know if I have favorites, but I also love the Untitled Hymn by Chris Rice. I love almost anything by Shane and Shane. If you haven’t heard them, check them out because they are great. My favorite CD of theirs is Psalms. It is incredible.
I have been reading your blog for several months thanks to my friend Toni. I am now officially addicted.
My current favorite song is “Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns. I discovered it in the midst of a family crisis several months ago.
“one” that makes me cry-Amazing Grace
“one” that makes me happy-Up From the Grave He Arose(i love singing that on Easter Sunday-
“one” that my family loves-Open the Eyes of My Heart
We’re supposed to choose? To pick a favorite? I don’t know that I can. Is it fair to just say I love music… all music.
The good old hymns have such powerful messages and like you, that is what I grew up on.
The newer praise and worship choruses often seem to be able to cut to the core of spirit and soul.
I enjoy a good mix of both… and I definately love learning new songs as well.
There are so many great hymns! I think my current favorite is “Amazing Love” by Charles Wesley. I also love the Newsboys song by the same name. Both excellent songs to remember all that Christ has done for us and how absolutely amazing His love really is!
http://gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/wesley/hymns/umh363.stm
Old Hymns :
“Amazing Grace” = http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/m/amazgrac.htm
“Blessed Assurance” =
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/l/e/blesseda.htm
“It is well with my soul” =
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.htm
I agree they just make me weep also…
But I also love ALOT of the newer songs as well! (Matt Redman, Donnie McClurking, Sara Groves)on and on:
“All things are possible” by Darlene Zschech http://www.hitslyrics.com/d/darlenezschech-lyrics-6263/allthingsarepossible-lyrics-241515.html
Amazing Grace (old and new version) has to be my favorite. Our friend piped it on his bagpipes for the processional at our wedding. Love all the old hymns. And I love any of the Reformed University Fellowship songs even though I’ve been out of the college scene for 10 years now. They have some great cds.
The first time I heard Holy, Holy, Holy, was at SCHOOL, in my seventh grade music class. (1951)
Our Christian (and proud of it) Music teacher, taught our class to sing this hymn in three part harmony. I thought is was beautiful, and I still love it.
Old – many of the Old Hymns, they are timeless — Blessed Assurance, Amazing Grace, Power in the Blood
New – Casting Crowns “Praise you inthis Storm”; “Cry out to Jesus” – unsure of artist (either Third Day or Mercy Me; “Communion” – Third Day
AND – one that touches me WAY DOWN DEEP and just releases the power of God in my heart, “Days of Elijah” – I have no idea who sings it and do NOT have a copy at home, but WOW!! I love it!
I am a total fan of Chris Tomlin! He is one of the top song writers- hands down. How Great is Our God is one of my most faves as is God of Wonders, Here I am to Worship, Famous One, Wonderful Maker, Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down . . . . I have all his CDs and there isn’t a bad song on any of them.
I also love Newsboys and their worship albums- “Adoration” and “Devotion”. Right now I am listening to Jars of Clay’s Redemption CD- it’s a *modern* take on old hymns/songs. You HAVE to check out their rendition of “It Is Well” + “I’ll Fly Away”.
Man this comment would be way too long if I kept sharing . . . . I just love worship music and we surround ourselves with it in our home.
Okay- one more Aaron Shust’s debute CD- the song “My Savior, My God” is INCREDIBLE!!!! [Matchless is another good one by him.]
Oh, goodness I gotta stop now!
I remember when I was at St. Richard’s Elementary school where we would go to mass every few days or so. There was this children’s hym called “Big Giant Love Ball” which was one of my favourite songs and was completely ridiculous sounding-you know the ones where a hundred kids are screaming/singing all off key at once as they jump up and down during the chorus. I tried to Google it some years ago, but I came up empty. I’m sure it’s a dreadful sounding song without and merit or beauty, lyric-wise, but oh, how I loved that song.
I could go on forever with this one… music is my passion.
Favorite Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
Current Favorite “Modern Day” Worship Song: When I Think About the Lord, from Hillsongs.
My favorite hymns are “Victory In Jesus”, How Great Thou Art, I Must Tell Jesus, I’ll Fly Away, Amazing Grace, just to mention a few.
Ok now, let it be known that I am more traditional, rather than contemporary. Just my age I guess. Some of my other favorites are “The Harvest is Plenty, The Workers are Few”, “Too Many Times”, “He Looked Beyond My Faults”, “Beulah Land”, and the list goes on and on.
I just love being ministered to through song.
I’ve been a songleader in a Southern Baptist church since I was 17 years old, so for 25 years now. Old hymns: Amazing Grace, Because He Lives, Alelujia, Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross, When We All Get To Heaven, When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder, O, I Want To See Him, Sweet Hour of Prayer and almost anything Southern Gospel.
Newer stuff: Amazing Love, Lord, I Lift Your Name On High, Above All Kingdoms, I Can Only Imagine, Oh, God, You Are My God, Sweet Baby Jesus, Watch the Lamb, Thank You, Arise, My Love and on and on and on. :-)
I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s favorites. Brought some to mind that I haven’t thought of in a while. :-)
I won’t win any points for originality, but Nearer my God to Thee – hands down. My grandmother passed away 2 weeks ago and her favorite is “He walks with me and he talks with me” and that always makes me think of her because she sang it to me. The most beautiful thing ever is my grandmother singing to me.
it’s In the Garden, just looked it up. Love your Blog! :)
As you probably already know, I’m an atheist, but I do love church music. City of God is a favorite, as well as “Blest Be the Lord,” “The King of Glory Comes,” and every time I hear “I’ll Fly Away” I just lose it.
Rich Mullins, baby. all of it. It’s been “it” for me so long I’m tired of saying it, but I’m still not tired of his music so I guess I’ll keep on. I like a lot of Third Day too.
The soundtrack to Cold Mountain is totally awesome. There’s this one song…It’s like a hundred people singing their heart out. No music, just their voices. Lemme look it up real quick…
Ah yes, I’m Going Home by the Sacred Harp Singers.
“Right up yonder, Christians, away up yonder, O, yes my Lord, for I don’t care to stay here long.”
“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. . .”
And
“Father of Mercies day by day, my love to thee grows more and more. Thy gifts are strewn upon my way like sands upon the great sea shore. . .”
I’ve attended church all of my life and went to a small christian university (Harding in Searcy, AR) where we had chapel every day to boot–most of the hymns listed here are on what we called “The Harding Top 10.”
“New” songs: Jason Crabb of the Crabb Family’s “Through The Fire,” and “This Is How We Overcome” by Hillsong, Darlene Zchech. Hands down my favorites right now. I love, love, love Beulah Land, There’s Something About That Name, He Is Here, What A Day That Will Be, I’ll Fly Away, and Hallelujah To The Lamb. I have these written in the front of my favorite Bible. I think besides a short salvation message, I want my funeral to be a song service of all my favorites. TMI, I know, hey, I’m kinda famous for that. :-)
My two cents…
Old Ones:
Blessed Assurance
He Lives
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Holy, Holy, Holy
New ones:
Everlasting Place
Thy Word
I Can’t Live a Day
Defining Moment
I Can Only Imagine
This was hard to list just a few, nonetheless there are some of my faves!
“It is well with my soul” is one of my all time favorites. I have told my DD and DH that I want that played at my funeral. Of course, they think I am nuts to plan that but what better gift could you give a grieving loved one than assurance that it is, indeed, well with my soul.
I’m a choir woman, myself but when I want to get down, Kirk Franklin or Mary Mary does it every time. I like to DANCE to my music and my kids do too. When I need that quiet fix, they are still just as good.
“Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin… especially when sung by my 3 year old listening to his Daddy’s iPod!
Our church just learned a new praise and worship song… I think it is called “I’m alive” ?? – my sister just bought the new WOW worship CD and she says it is on there – awesome song.