What is your “Song Story”?

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:19-20 NIV)

What is your “song story”? The hymn tells us “Good Christian friend rejoice and Sing!” Singing is an important way of sharing our faith stories. Songs have a way of getting into our head and not letting go of us. They have a way of allowing us to express or experience feelings that aren’t easily expressed in other ways. Even hearing certain songs can bring to mind places and people in our past. These songs don’t just live in our minds—they work their way into our hearts, into our lives and even into our beliefs.

Some songs find their way into our hearts because of a powerful message that stays with us. The song, “Be Still and know” is meaningful to a friend because it reminds her that when things aren’t going well, she needs to be still and recall that God is God and she is not, that whatever is going on, God has it under control. Other songs have more personal meanings. The hymn “Children of the Heavenly Father” was sung at my grandmother’s funeral. Singing that hymn reminds me of her and that “neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever.” “Song stories” help us see how the Spirit worked and continues to work in our hearts. We can see how our life’s journey has been shaped by the words of Scripture and the words of songs relaying the truths of Scriptures. Is there a song that has special meaning for you? Think about why it became important to you and then, if you like, let me know your “song story.” I’d love to hear it!

Good Christian friends Rejoice and sing
Now is the triumph of our King
To all the world Glad news we bring
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

The Lord of life Is risen this day
Death’s mighty stone is rolled away;
Let all the earth rejoice and say
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Praise we in songs of victory
That love, that life Which cannot die
And sing with hearts Uplifted high
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Your name we bless O risen Lord
And sing today with one accord
The life laid down The life restored
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Comments

[Karen]

One of my favorite hymns is "I Love to Tell the Story". My mom used to play this on our old, out-of-tune piano about mid-morning, taking a break from her cleaning and housekeeping. I would sing along as I got older and could actually understand the words. It still makes me smile.

[Lenora]

My parents both died during "Holy Week" although several years apart. In both funeral services we sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and that song can still bring tears to my eyes. Great song! Thanks Denise, for all these "song stories".

[Sara]

My Grandmother's funeral was on a snowy Sunday afternoon in November. That morning at church we sang Crown Him With Many Crowns. I'll never forget that worship service. Verse 4 meant so much to me as I thought about my Grandma's death.

"Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o'er the grave. And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high, Who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die."

I also learned the words "scepter," "potentate," and "ineffably sublime" from this hymn.