Saturday 17 February 2007

Songs we like

Some of the contemporary songs available are reaching many in their worship of the Lord. One of my favourite such songwriters is Cadet Lieutenant Nathan Rowe. He's reaching me with good verse blended with good song.

One of my all-time favourite songs is in the SA Songbook. It's credited to the most famous author in the book: Anon. It's the second verse that grabs me, although the whole song is compelling.

Song# 521 - "Saviour I long to be..."

Make me a blazing fire
Where'er I go,
That to a dying world
Thee I may show:
How thou hast bled and died
That none may be denied,
But in thy bleeding side
A refuge find.

Isn't that great?

How about you? Favourite song? Composer?

Psalms 100:1 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I too love this song and only today was singing it as I prepared worship for tomorrow. I have so many favs - songs that exalt God, songs that ignite passion and purpose and song that express what Christ has done for me eg. My Jesus I love Thee.
Isn't it amazing how songwriters can express the prayer of our hearts!!

Anonymous said...

I keep a collection of digital files with my favorite scripture verses, songs, quotes, poems and photographs which I visit regularly for inspiration.

Here is my latest favotite song - from Graham Kendrick. I love it.

Richard Munn
_________________________

Crucified Man

I have placed all my hope in a crucified man
In the wounds in his side, his feet and his hands
I have traded my pride for a share in his shame
And the glory that one-day will burst from his pain

I’ve abandoned my trust in the wise and the proud
For this fragile, mysterious weakness of God
And I dare to believe in his scandalous claim
That his blood cleanses sin for who ever
Will call on his name
Live or die here I stand
I’ve placed my hope in a crucified man

I believe as they beat on his beautiful face
He turned a torturer’s chair into an altar of grace
Where the worst we can do met the best that God does
Where unspeakable hate met the gaze
Of unstoppable love
At the crux of it all there he hangs
I’ve placed my hope in a crucified man

When the purest and best took the force of our curse
Death’s victory armada juddered into reverse
And either we bow or we stumble and fall
For the wisdom of a suffering God
Has made fools of us all
I gladly admit that I am
But I’ve placed my hope in a crucified man

I have buried my life in the cold earth with him
Like a seed in the winter, I wait for the spring
From that garden of tombs Eden rises again
And Paradise blooms from his body
And never will end
He’ll finish all he began
Creation hopes in a crucified man

When I stand at the judgment
I have no other plan
I’ve placed my hope in a crucified man

Like the thief nailed beside him
I have no other plan
I’ve placed my hope in a crucified man

Graham Kendrick

Larry said...

My favorite song from the song book is:

"My Life Must Be Christ's Broken Bread." followed closely by another Orsborn song:

1.
I know thee who thou art,
And what thy healing name;
For when my fainting heart
The burden nigh o'ercame,
I saw thy footprints on my road
Where lately passed the Son of God.

2.
Thy name is joined with mine
By every human tie,
And my new name is thine,
A child of God am I;
And never more alone, since thou
Art on the road beside me now.

3.
Beside thee as I walk,
I will delight in thee
In sweet communion talk
Of all thou art to me;
The beauty of thy face behold
And know thy mercies manifold.

4.
Let nothing draw me back
Or turn my heart from thee,
But by the Calvary track
Bring me at last to see
The courts of God, that city fair,
And find my name is written there.

Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)

My favorite new songwriters Chris Tomlin and my friend, Phil Laeger

Unknown said...

Many songs have special places in my heart but the one which will always have number one spot, my theme song so to speak is:

SB 354 Harriet Eugenia Peck Buell

1
My Father is rich
In houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth
Of the world in His hands;
Of rubies and diamonds,
Of silver and gold,
His coffers are full,
He has riches untold.

Chorus:
I'm the child of a King;
I'm the child of a King;
With Jesus my Saviour,
I'm the child of a King!

2
My Father's own Son,
The Saviour of men,
Once wandered on earth
As the poorest of them,
But now He is reigning
For ever on high
And will give me a home
In Heaven by and by.

3
I once was an outcast,
A stranger on earth.
A sinner by choice,
And an alien by birth;
But I've been adopted,
My name's written down
An heir to a mansion,
A robe and a crown.

4
A tent or a cottage,
Why should I care'?
They're building a palace
For me over there;
Though exiled from home,
Yet still I may sing:
All glory to God,
I'm the child of a King.

Evie said...

My favorite is "It Is Well With My Soul." The third verse (Methodist version) is wonderful:

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, oh my soul!

Jim Knaggs said...

This is a rich collection in itself. God's provisions again, are much more than material.

Anonymous said...

Matt Redmans 'Justice and Mercy' should be included in the next SA songbook. (What do you think Campbell?)

You've put a new song in my mouth
It is a hymn of praise to You
Justice and mercy are its theme
And I will live it back to You

The kind of fast You've chosen, Lord
It must reach out
To broken lives and to the poor
So change me, Lord

I know You are the orphan's hope
I know You are the widow's song
O Lord, You're showing me what's on You're heart

Lord, I wont bring an empty song
It's meaningless
Without compassion in my life
And holiness

You're Father were no father lives
And to the lonely You're a friend
O Lord, You're showing me what's on You're heart - Matt Redman

Allison Ward said...

There are soo many it is so hard to choose a favorite. My new favorite more contemporary song is DId you Feel the Mountains Tremble. My Favorite part is DId you feel the darkness tremble? when all the saints join in one song and all the streams flow as one river to wash away our brokeness.
heres the rest of it.
Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble?
When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokeness

And here we see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Another favorite is Be Thou My Vision.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Just to name a couple. I could go on forever. As for favorite new artists. Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Casting Crowns, Phil Laeger, Marty Mikles. again just to name a few :)

Anonymous said...

I have found a couple of good songs by a guy called Andy Park. May favourite for a long time has been this one:

Multiply your love through us
To the lost and the least
Let us be your healing hands
Your instruments of peace
May our single purpose be
To imitate your life
Through our simple words and deeds
Let love be multiplied

Multiply your love through me
To someone in need
Help me Lord to freely give
This grace that I've received
Let my single purpose be
To imitate your life
Through my simple words and deeds
Let love be multiplied

Will chase up the Matt Redman song as well - looks great.