Oh, What a Savior!

When I first heard “O What a Savior” it brought me to tears. Over a decade later, I still love to listen to and sing the song. It caused me to wonder about the origin of this beautiful song. I couldn’t find a lot of information, but did discover it was written by musician Marvin P. Dalton in 1948. Dalton […]

Read more

Hymn Story: God Leads Us Along

God Leads Us Along is a beautiful hymn that is not as well known as many of other hymns.The hymn was written by George A. Young, an obscure preacher and carpenter. He often struggled to support his family on the meager amount he made. No exact date of birth is known but it is believed he was born sometime around […]

Read more

Hymn Story: Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on Me, Breath of God was written by Edwin Hatch. Hatch was an English theologian born in Derby, England on September 4, 1835. He eventually became Bishop of Manchester and noted for his strong mental independence and extreme study habits. By the 1880s, he was a well-known lecturer. Hatch published the song privately in 1878 in a pamphlet titled […]

Read more

Hymn Story: Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Charles Wesley wrote Jesus, Lover of My Soul only months after he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He titled his hymn “In Temptation”. Little is known about the details and inspiration of the writing of the hymn. The title “In Temptation” clues us in to he meant it to help with fighting sin. The poem was first published […]

Read more

Song Story: Lord, I Lift Your Name on High

This popular praise and worship song was written by Rick Founds in 1989. Founds began writing music at an early age and has written over 300 songs. He moved to California, where he served as Minister of Music for a church in California. He recounted the writing of this popular song. “The song was born out of a typical Bible […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

Patriotic Songs: The Liberty Bell Song

John Phillip Sousa composed a song for his unfinished operetta The Devil’s Deputy before financing for the show fell through.           A short time later, Sousa an his band manager, George Hinton, attended the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. They attended a spectacle of “America” in which a backdrop of the Liberty Bell was lowered. Hinton suggestion to Sousa the title “Liberty […]

Read more

Hymn Story: This Is My Father’s World

This Is My Father’s World was written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock in 1901.           Babcock was a minister living in Lockport, New York. He enjoyed taking frequent walks along the Niagara Escarpment which provided a “panoramic vista of upstate New York scenery and Lake Ontario.”  Upon leaving for his walk, he would tell his wife Katherine, he was “going out to […]

Read more

Hymn Story: I Would be True

          I Would Be True is a hymn written by Howard A. Walter in 1906. He is credited with writing the first three verses while living in Japan. He sent the lyrics to his mother and she forwarded them on to Harper’s Magazine, who published them.           The last three verses are attributed to S. Ralph Harlow around 1918. According […]

Read more

Song Story: He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Needs

This beautiful song was written around 1970 by Dottie Rambo.           Dottie felt inspired to write a song about the grace of God, but had been unable to finish the song.           After a concert, she visited her brother who was dying of cancer and given only weeks to live. She prayed for him and encouraged him to give his […]

Read more

Behind the Song: Redemption Draweth Nigh

Scripture promises Jesus will return and only God in heaven knows the day and hour.  Not even Jesus or the angels know when he will return. {Mark 13:32} Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”  The song was written by Gordon Jensen […]

Read more

Behind the Hymn: Blessed Redeemer

Harry Dixon Loes, was a popular music teacher at the Moody Bible Institute for almost three decades in the early 20th Century.One day he was listening to a sermon on Christ’s atonement, titled “Blessed Redeemer”. Mr. Loes was inspired by the sermon to compose a tune.He then sent the melody and title to his friend, Avis Christiansen, and asked her […]

Read more

Behind the Song: If We Never Meet Again

Elvis recorded the song If We Never Meet Again on his 1960 album His Hand in Mine. The song was written by Albert E. Brumley. Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma in 1905. His childhood was spent in a sparse agricultural community, working the family farm. He studied at Hartford Musical Institute and later purchased the Hartford Music Company in […]

Read more

Behind the Mother’s Day Hymn: Hail Queen of Heaven

In recognition of Mother’s Day, Hail Queen of Heaven is a song about the Virgin Mary.Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star is a Marian hymn, which means it is focused on the Virgin Mary. The hymn was written by Father John Lingard a Catholic priest and historian, who helped smooth the passage of the Catholic Emancipation Act in England, […]

Read more

Behind the Song: Whatever it Takes

Surrendering everything to the Lord and be willing to do whatever it takes to get there is difficult. I’ve both experienced and heard stories of the struggle to get to this point to state “Whatever it takes to draw closer to you Lord.” Stating “Whatever it takes”, is a statement of faith and a way to boldly approach the throne. […]

Read more

Behind the Song: On Eagle’s Wings

Father Jan Michael Joncas was returning from a meal with his friend, Doug Hall, when he discovered Hall’s father had died of a heart attack. Father Joncas longed to find a way to console his friend. In a published  interview he recalled  “I knew this was a hard, hard experience in anybody’s life, [and I] just wanted to create something […]

Read more

Behind the Song: Holy Ground

Have you ever had an experience where you felt you were standing on Holy Ground? Moses was told “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” {Exodus 3:5; see also Acts 7:32-33} The song We Are Standing On Holy Ground was written by Geron Davis. The song […]

Read more

Behind the Easter Hymn: They Could Not

They Could Not is an inspirational song sung by Sandi Patty, which reminds us they could not keep Jesus in the grave.The popular Easter song was written by Ron Harris and Claire Cloninger. The song was first published in 1981 by Ron Harris music.What a great reminder that the grave could not hold Jesus. For this reason, we have the […]

Read more
1 7 8 9 10 11 23