Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)

We continue looking at hymns and songs that impacted my spiritual life – with yet another reminder to check out the other blog I contribute to, ProverbialThought.com, and the daily thoughts on the Bible (specifically Proverbs) – with another song (that flows out of last week’s hymns.)

How Great Thou Art

Lyrics

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
(Repeat Refrain.)

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
(Repeat Refrain.)

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
(Repeat Refrain.)

It Is Well with My Soul

Lyrics

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul!”

Refrain:
It is well with my soul!
It is well, it is well with my soul!

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
(Repeat refrain)

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Repeat refrain)

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If dark hours about me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
(Repeat refrain)

A Few Thoughts …

On April 1, 2014, of all days (April Fools’ Day), my mom was diagnosed with terminal Stage-4 Lung Cancer (she succumbed a mere four months and eleven days later). I got the call while driving from work to class at the seminary. The first student to preach in class that day also happened to offer the opening prayer for class with a singing of the hymn “How Great Thou Art”.

It was exactly what I needed. To worship the One in control who took my mom home to be with Him. It is this knowledge – that God is all-powerful, sovereign, loving, and saved us through His Son – that frees me to then turn around in any circumstance, including seeing my mom die of cancer, and sing “It is well with my soul.”