Songs To Share

Over the years, periodically, I have shared favorite hymns and spiritual songs with the readers of this blog, and seeing I have not done it in awhile and seeing that I have learned some new songs since I last made a post recommending certain songs and singing groups, I will make this entry and share several of those new songs and some new singing groups from both the past and present. First, however, let me add some additional introductional thoughts.

I recently wrote to blog contributor Ken Mann (we correspond regularly - he is such a dear brother, even though we represent different Baptist traditions) these words:

I love gospel music. I love becoming enraptured when contemplating the messages of these songs. Singing is good for us, physically and spiritually. I am not, however, a good singer myself. I used to try to sing tenor in my younger days, but now sing baritone or bass. The Lord put a new song in my mouth when he brought me up out of the mire of sin and set my feet on the rock. Praise the Lord! Like the Ethiopian - it was that way with me. I was converted and went on my way rejoicing. One of the easiest commands to keep is the one which says "rejoice in the Lord."

I have learned so many new songs over the past few years and many have blessed my soul. The one you introduced me to recently sticks in my mind - "I know my name is there." Oh praise God, I am so happy to have my name in the Book of Life! Rejoice that your names are written in heaven said the Lord. Why would any Christian not do that? Is it not because Christians do not stay focused on Christ and on the prize? Paul and Silas rejoiced while in the worst of prisons! Many martyrs have died praising God. Wonderful. 

The Psalms are filled with exhortations and commands to sing unto the Lord. Singing to the Lord should be just as regular as prayer and bible reading and studying. The apostle John said that the commandments of the Lord are not grievous, something difficult and dreadful (I John 5: 3). To me the commands to read and meditate on the word of God, to pray, to worship, and to sing are not burdensome or grievous. I enjoy when, by the Holy Spirit, I am in prayer and communication with God, or deeply affected by thoughts about God and his word, literally when I sense or feel his presence. 

Here are some of the new songs (and lyrics with some of them). 

(I make bold certain expressions in the songs which move my spirit exceedingly)

His Yoke Is Easy (as sung acapella here)

1. I’ve found my Lord and He is mine,
   He won me by His love;
   I’ll serve Him all my years of time,
   And dwell with Him above.
   • Refrain:
     His yoke is easy, His burden is light,
     I’ve found it so, I’ve found it so;
     His service is my sweetest delight,
     His blessings ever flow.
2. No other Lord but Christ I know,
   I walk with Him alone;
   His streams of love forever flow,
   Within my heart His throne.
3. He’s dearer to my heart than life,
   He found me lost in sin;
   He calmed the sea of inward strife,
   And bade me come to Him.
4. My flesh recoiled before the cross,
   And Satan whispered there,
   “Thy gain will not repay the loss,
   His yoke is hard to bear.”
5. I’ve tried the road of sin and found,
   Its prospects all deceive;
   I’ve proved the Lord, and joys abound,
   More than I could believe.

My Name Is Written There (as sung here) 

1 My name is in the book of Life,
Oh, bless the name of Jesus;
I rise above all doubt and strife,
And read my title clear.

Refrain:
I know, I know,
My name is there;
I know, I know,
My name is written there.

2 My name once stood with sinners lost,
And bore a painful record;
But by His blood the Savior crossed,
And placed it on His roll. [Refrain]

3 Yet inward trouble often cast,
A shadow o’er my title;
But now with full salvation blest,
Praise God! it’s ever clear. [Refrain]

4 While others climb through worldly strife
To carve a name of honor,
High up in heaven’s book of Life,

My name is written there. [Refrain]

Working On The Road (as sung here)

I OFTEN THINK OF THE DAYS SO SWIFTLY PASSING AWAY
THE ROAD TO HEAVEN SEEMS HARD TO FIND
BUT I'M DOING MY BEST TO REACH THAT HOME OF THE BLEST
AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.

CHORUS

OH YES I'M WORKING THE ROAD WORKING THE ROAD
HELPING THE WEAK AND BLIND
I WANT TO SMOOTH OUT THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN ABOVE

AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.               

II

THE ROAD TO HEAVEN IS STRAIGHT AND OH SO NARROW THE GATE
AROUND YOU TRIALS OF EVERY KIND
BUT IF WE CLEAN OUT THE SNARES THAT HINDER OUR PRAYERS
WE'LL MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.

             III

I'm trying daily to live for others, something to give
my brothers, groping in darkness, blind;
I want to hear them some day, in Glory, lovingly, say,
you made it easy for those behind.

A Beautiful Prayer (as sung acapella here)

1 In the bible [sic] we read of a beautiful pray'r,
A pray'r sent to heaven above;
it was prayed by a heart that was laden with care,
And filled with such wonderful love.

Refrain:
When the Savior was praying,
In the garden of Gethsemane,
He said, "loving Father,
let his cup pass from me;"
I know He was thinking
Of the anguish death would bring to His own
How deep was His sorrow
When Jesus was praying alone.

2 You can catch the sad tone of His voice as he said,
"Thy will not my own must be done;"
As a lamb to the slaughter He soon must be led
To die as the Crucified One. [Refrain]

3 As he prayed there alone in such deep agony,
It was a most beautiful pray'r;
Just to think His great heart was all broken for me,

That He may great sorrow must share. [Refrain]

He Bore It All (as sung acapella here)

My precious Savior suffered pain and agony
He bore it all (Freely bore it all)
That I might live (I with Him might live)
He broke the bonds of sin and set the captive free
He bore it all that I might live (in His presence live)

CHORUS:
He bore it all (Jesus bore it all) that I might see His shining face
He bore it all (Freely bore it all)
That I might live (I with Him might live)
I stood condemned to die but Jesus took my place
He bore it all that I might live (in His presence live)

They placed a crown of thorns upon my Savior's head
He bore it all (Freely bore it all)
That I might live (I with Him might live)
By cruel man, with spear, his side was pierced and bled
He bore it all that I might live (in His presence live)

Repeat Chorus

Up Calvary's hill in shame the blessed Savior trod
He bore it all (Freely bore it all)
That I might live (I with Him might live)
Between two thieves they crucified the Son of God
He bore it all that I might live (in His presence live)

Repeat Chorus (x2)

The Fourth Man (by the newly discovered group of the past, the Boyd Family. This song is different than other songs about the fourth man in the fire (book of Daniel - listened here here)

Some Old Songs from my early days as a Christian, but have not listened to in awhile, and am glad for hearing and singing it again

I'll Wake up in Glory some Wonderful Day (sung by the Inspirations (my favorite group) (here)

MY LIFE HERE ON EARTH...
SO SOON WILL BE ENDED (SO SOON WILL BE OR'ER)
THIS BODY OF FLESH...
RETURNED TO THE CLAY...
BUT GLORY TO GOD...
ON HIM I'M DEPENDING (ON HIM I DEPEND)
HE'LL WAKE ME IN GLORY...
SOME WONDERFUL DAY...

            II

YES I SHALL AWAKE...
TO BE WITH MY SAVIOUR (TO BE WITH MY KING)
AND WALK ON THE STREET...
WHERE ANGELS HAVE TROD...
IN THAT BLESSED PLACE...
I'LL LIVE ON FOREVER (YES I'LL LIVE FOR AYE)
JOHN SAW IT AS HEAVEN..
THE CITY OF GOD...

            CHORUS

SOME WONDERFUL DAY...
I'LL WAKE UP IN GLORY (IN HEAVEN SO FAR.)
WHERE SORROW AND PAIN...
AND DEATH ARE NO MORE...
WITH DEAR ONES TO STAY...
AND SING THE SWEET STORY (STORY OF LOVE)
WITH ALL THE REDEEMED...

AROUND THE GREAT THRONE...

On The Sea of Life (also sung by the Inspirations (here)

Sailing On The Waves Of Glory (sung by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver here)

I've Got My Foot On the Rock (sung by the Inspirations here)

Hallelujah I'm Heaven Bound (sung by the Inspirations - here)

This I Know (sung by the Inspirations - here)