Favourite Hymns and Songs

The hymns and songs chosen here are all ones which focus on God the Father and on the Lord Jesus Christ, and on what He has done for us on the cross, what He does for us as we walk with Him day by day, and His eventual return in glory to take us home to be with Him. They are hymns and songs which words are rich in doctrine and biblical truth, which music soars our spirits and restores our souls, which melodies are simple and beautiful, contemplative and rousing,
and which are easily learned and remembered thus enabling truly joyous corporate worship.

The Church's One Foundation  (28 April 2023)

"The Church's One Foundation has always been one of my favourite hymns.  I think, perhaps, because I love history and it tells the history of the Church..."

Will Your Anchor Hold?  (30 October 2020)

"This YouTube of the wonderful Boys' Brigade hymn, Will Your Anchor Hold?,  is just magnificent!  Throughout the video are shown numerous photographs of BB companies dating back many decades, and at the end is played the march, Mechanized Infantry..." 

He Is My Defence  (February 2020)

"Our church text this year is Psalm 62:5.  Helen Shapiro has written a song based on the theme of Psalm 62, and I thought maybe she won't mind if I do a bit of unsolicited promotion on her behalf..."

Silent Night  (November 2019)

"In the November issue of our fellowship's newsletter, I wrote a little about my father-in-law's years in the POW camp in Poland. I don't know for sure, but it's very possible that each Christmas the prison bands played carols, and they may have played the well-loved carol, Silent Night.  There are varying legends of the origin of this carol ... But there is also a second and very poignant part to the story..."

In the Sweet By and By  (October 2019)

27th October to 3rd November 2019 is Suffering Church Action and Awareness Week.  The Barnabas Fund describes this annual week as "an opportunity for us to stand alongside our suffering brothers and sisters, in every corner of the globe, and demonstrate Christ's love to each one of them, whatever they are facing."  As one incredibly brave family was martyred in North Korea, they started to sing the old and beautiful hymn In the Sweet By and By..."

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing  (May 2019)

"Ezekiel 34:26 says that the Lord refreshes the earth with showers of rain and refreshes us with showers of blessing..."

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted  (March 2019)

"Whilst on YouTube recently I happened across a hauntingly beautiful version of this hymn ... it is my choice of hymn for April as this month we meditate on the Lord's death and resurrection..."

We Rest On Thee, Our Shield and Our Defender  (February 2019)

"One of the favourite hymns of our fellowship sung in our Sunday meetings is this wonderful hymn ... Like many hymns, this hymn has a story - in fact, it has two stories..."

Articles, Quotes, Comments

"In June, during one of our church's sharing services, a song, written by Max Boyce, titled Ten Thousand Instant Christians, was played, and my ears pricked up at the following words, '...hymns of yesterday, only half remembered; I wondered what He'll say?'  A couple of weeks previously I had been chatting with one of our technical chaps about some of the 'hymns of yesterday' we've been singing in recent services, commenting that there were so many great hymns I remembered from my childhood which I would love to sing again, and he suggested that I email him any good hymns I come across, to be stored in their database for future services.  So, what makes a good hymn?..."

What is Truth? Part Four: Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth  (26 April 2022)

"In John chapter 4 we read of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well.  During the course of their conversation the woman raised the issue of where men should worship God, and Jesus replied that it was not where we worship but how we worship God that is vital..."

The Effects of Different Kinds of Music: Is Music Neutral?  (10 November 2015)

"What constitutes music? Is there good music and bad music? Or is it merely a matter of individual taste? Isn't music just notes and chords, etc? How can notes be 'good' or 'bad'?..."

The Effects of Different Kinds of Music: On the Health of the Body and Mind  (10 November 2015)

"Music influences and manipulates us more than we know... the human body and mind can be controlled and altered with music..."

The Effects of Different Kinds of Music: Some Examples  (10 November 2015)

"Examples of music that have proved healthful / Examples of music that have proved harmful."

The Effects of Different Kinds of Music: Some Experiments  (10 November 2015)

"Many scientific and medical studies have proved conclusively the tremendous effects of music upon the human physiology and anatomy..."

The Effects of Different Kinds of Music: Two Kinds of Music  (10 November 2015)

"There are really only two kinds of music:..."

Jesus: The Way or the Way Show-er?  (1997)

"Beware the 'Christian' song, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High:..."

"As the pianist started to play the first notes of the next hymn, I turned to the lady next to me and said excitedly, 'I love this tune!'  She smiled at me, and gently replied, 'When you are older, Elizabeth, you will realise that the words of the hymns are more important than the nice tunes.'  I was ten years old, and I have never forgotten that lady's wise words to me that Sunday morning in the Elim church in Clapham, South London..."

YouTubes and Videos

YOUTUBE:  Dwelling Place  (21 May 2018)

"King David's declaration in Psalm 132 that he wouldn't let himself rest until he had made a dwelling place for the Lord" A song by Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Vessel of Truth  (16 March 2018)

"A song written by Ruth Hill to reflect God's refining work in shaping us as vessels of truth and light."

YOUTUBE:  The Battle Belongs to the LORD  (02 November 2017)

"Based on the passage in 2 Chronicles 20."  A song by Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Be Still  (29 July 2017)

"By your grace I boldly come, by faith receive what you have done..." A song by Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Something Stolen  (02 October 2016)

"Lord, only you know the days long ago, filled with shame and darkened with sorrow. Heal this broken heart..."  A song by Ruth Hill and Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Eagles  (19 April 2016)

"I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself" (Exodus 19:4b).  A song by Ruth Hill and Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Hide Me in the Secret Place  (18 April 2016)

"A beautiful ballad with gorgeous strings. In English, some Hebrew"  A song by Christene Jackman.

YOUTUBE:  Fear Not My Child  (31 January 2016)

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1-2).  A song by Ruth Hill and Sarah Begaj.

YOUTUBE:  Peace  (06 November 2009)

"Peace, be still, lay all your worries down. Be still oh my soul, for our GOD is in control..."  A song by Sherri Youngward.

YouTubes and Videos - Classical Music

YOUTUBE:  G.F. Handel: Messiah  (Recorded on 21 August 2011)

By: Collegium & Collegium Vàclav 1704.  Director - Vaclav Luks;
Soprano - Hana Blažiková; Contralto - Delphine Galou; Tenor - Markus Brutscher; Bass - Marián Krejcik.
Recorded at L'Abbatiale Saint-Robert de La Chaise-Dieu.

Viewers' comments:  "That is surely the most joyous, even riotous, performances I have ever heard or seen! The tenor is magnificent; he is not just singing words but rejoicing in the story of the Messiah"  /  "Every now and then, I bump into something so unimaginably wonderful I forget the dark side of humanity and lose myself in awe, beauty, and inspiration"  /  "This has to be the most beautiful presentation of the most beautiful, faith-filled, Oratorio by Georg Handel ever"  /  "It is the glorification of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world and how He is felt in this. My soul is overwhelmed by His Majesty and the wonders of the prophecies of the scriptures that have come together to announce Him in this grand masterpiece by Handel"  /  "...the exquisite melodies and the pure 'sola scriptura' which gives this Oratorio its power to touch the hearts of believers as well as those who have chosen to disbelieve"  /  "Truly a wonderful performance"  /  "All honour and praise and worship to our Messiah Jesus"  /  "Herein is love, not that we loved, but that God loved us"  /  "Magnifico. Glory to God. Worthy, worthy, worthy, is the Lamb"  /  "And He shall reign for ever and ever"

Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls
(Jeremiah 6:16)

© Elizabeth McDonald     https://www.bayith.org     bayith@blueyonder.co.uk