Behind the Hymn: Sweeter As the Days Goes By

Sweeter as the Days Goes By was written by Genser Smith. The song has a 1984 copyright with LeFevre-Sing Publishing. The sweet hymn is often performed in the Gaither Homecoming videos. I’ve been unable to find any additional information on Genser Smith or the song. However, I love the lyrics and the reminder “The more I trust Him, the more […]

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Song Story: There’s Something About that Name

There’s Something About that Name is another popular song by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  The song expresses how there’s something special {although that words not used} about the name of Jesus. In 1970, they watched as their grandparents neared the end of their lives and passed away.  At the same time they were embracing parenthood and the joys of having […]

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Song Story: Something Beautiful

Something Beautiful is a wonderful reminder by Bill and Gloria Gaither about how God can take all our dreams and hopes which have crumbled into ashes and turn them into something even better and more beautiful. Gloria Gaither shares the story came from their oldest child, Suzanne.  One day she was painting and spilled some paint. Vigilantly she tried to […]

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Behind the Song: Why Me Lord?

When trials come into our lives it is easy to question the circumstances and ask Why Me, Lord? The classic country gospel song, Why Me, Lord? was written by Kris Krisofferson. The song was inspired by Larry Gatlin’s song Help Me Lord. Kristofferson attended a church service where Gatlin’s song was sung. “As Kristofferson explained that the pastor asked, “Is […]

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Song Story: This Ole House

I’m familiar with the song This Ole House, but knew nothing of it’s origin. Only when researching the story behind another song, did I discover the story behind this song. The song was written by Carl Stuart Hamblen, who was the author of Until Then and It Is No Secret {What God Can Do}. Hamblen and his friend and fellow […]

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Hymn Story: Sweet, Sweet Spirit

There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit was written by gospel songwriter Doris Mae Akers. She was born in Brookfield, Missouri on May 21, 1923. She was one of ten children and developed an interest in music at an early age. By the age of six, she had taught herself to play piano by ear. She wrote her first song, “Keep the […]

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Behind the Song: The Family of God

The Family of God is a song that I grew up singing in church and is ingrained on my heart and soul. At one church, we gathered together and held hands as we sang this song. Even four decades later from the toddler I was at the time, this song remains deep in my soul and heart. The Family of […]

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Behind the Song: Let’s Just Praise the Lord

This month we will be exploring popular praise hymns from the last few decades. Let’s Just Praise the Lord was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. In their book Something Beautiful, Gloria shares that one evening at one of their concerts in 1972, the praise and applause moved from praising God to praising them. This led them to become very […]

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Behind the Song: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Ira Stanphill was an accomplished musician and minister. Ira served with 9 different organizations in the capacities of youth director, music director and pastor. He preached across America, and in 40 other countries. He wrote over 500 gospel songs, such as “Mansion Over The Hilltop”, “Jesus and Me”, “We’ll Talk It Over” and “Happiness is the Lord”. On April 23, […]

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Behind the Song: Mary, Did You Know

             Mary, Did You Know? is a popular Christmas song that was written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene.  The song originated from Lowry’s desire to ask Mary, “what was it like to raise God?” Mary Lowry is a popular comedienne that has also been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band off and on […]

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Behind the Song: Lovest Thou Me?

Lovest Thou Me? is another beautiful song by Bill and Gloria Gaither. This song is based on John 21. To provide a little background, Peter denied Jesus three times “before the rooster crows” on the night Jesus was crucified. Jesus had predicted this to Peter before he was arrested.  {John 18: 13-27} After Jesus was crucified and rose from the […]

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Song story: I Believe in A Hill Called Mt. Calvary

Corrie Ten Boom had an amazing testimony for Christ.  However, her faith and story came from the horrors of life that took place in Nazi Germany during World War II.   Ten Boom was the only one of her family to survive the concentration camps. She later recalled a conversation she had with her father in which she could not imagine […]

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Behind the Song: The King is Coming

  Recently, I heard a sermon relating the first days of the church of Christ to the uncertainty of our future as Christians in this world.  The sermon ended by assuring us that although we live in an uncertain world today, one thing is for sure.  Jesus Christ will return again one day just the way he promised. When I […]

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