What a fun month this has been in my little blog world. A full month of celebrating the music I love, and I feel as though we've barely scratched the surface. There are so many genres that we have yet to explore, that I feel certain that in another few months, The Adventures of Rachel (Lost in Wonderland) will revisit music in all it's glorious varieties.
I've been agonizing all day trying to find a song with which to end this month of musical celebration. As I scanned through my rather extensive itunes collection, the song How Great Thou Art caught my eye. It is without a doubt my absolute favorite hymn of all time.
Often, I receive looks of surprise when I tell people about my great love for hymns. I guess they find it strange because I'm so young, and hymns are often associated with times gone by, in the church services our grandparents attended.
Don't misunderstand, I do like the modern day worship songs brought to us by Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, and many others. But there is just something about the ld time hymns that minister to me on a different, deeper level.
Two years ago, after the break up of a relationship that meant everything to me, I encountered my first severe episode of depression. My visits with a counselor, coupled with medication, helped tremendously, but I had still yet to get over that "hump".
One day, after a counseling session, I stopped at a Family Christian Bookstore. I picked out a new book, and made my way up to the counter to pay. As always, the cashier offered me discounted books and CDs, since I was a Perks member. Normally, I refuse, but on this particular visit, a Selah: Greatest Hymns CD caught my eye. At 5 bucks, it was a steal, and I purchased it.
As soon as I got into my car, I put it in the CD player. As I listened to hymn after hymn, I realized something amazing had happened by the time I got home. I felt better. I felt like smiling, and my soul felt a little lighter. From that moment on, that CD, along with a Carman Hymns CD played constantly, whether I was in my car or at home. I believe, that it was those anointed hymns that helped me finally step completely out of the depression that had plagued me for almost a year.
There is such an unbelievable power in those old songs. The writers of those lyrics were not talking about things they had not experienced. It was because of their experiences they were able to pen such awesome words. What an experience Horatio Spafford must have had with God to be able to write It is Well after the drowning deaths of all 3 of his daughters.
And the blood songs! And the songs about the Name of Jesus! The Bible says that "...at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow" and when listening to these awesome songs, my depression had no choice but to surrender to the power of the Name and Blood of Jesus.
Call it old fashioned, tell me I'm behind the times...whatever! Hymns have saved my life.
I hope you all enjoy Selah's rendition of How Great Thou Art, and thank you to all my readers and followers, for sticking with me during this last month of celebration of the music I love!
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