Hymns

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19-20

Every morning before I begin my devotions, I sing a hymn.  When I'm happy I sing songs of rejoicing, when I'm sad I sing songs of comfort, when I'm discouraged I sing songs of praise and when I'm worried, I sing songs about peace.

Sometimes I make up my own words and melody to express what is in my heart:  mostly thankfulness.

The very first hymn I learned by heart was 'Jesus loves Me.'  Most people think this is just a song for children to sing, but it is an actual hymn that was written by Anna Warner in 1860.  William Bradbury later composed the music and the chorus to this song in 1861.  It's still my favorite hymn to this day.  It's the first song that comes to my mind when I'm scared, sad, anxious, and happy.

Even Jesus sang hymns.  (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26)  

Paul and Silas sang in Jail.  (Acts 16)

The more I studied this out, I found that there are over 185 songs in the Bible without including the Psalms and Song of Solomon.  Songs about battles, funerals, victories, defeat, praises, and even about the jaw bone of a donkey.  (Judges 15:16.)

Moses and Miriam had a song-Exodus 15

The song of the well in the wilderness-Numbers 21

The song of Moses and Joshua-Deuteronomy 31

The song of David-1Samuel 18:7, and even the song of the Bow-2 Samuel 1.

The song of David's deliverance in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18

Mary's song of praise-Luke 1:46-55

And the song praising the Lamb Who is Worthy-Revelation 5:9-10

Too many songs to count!

So, why aren't Christians singing?

I will keep singing Jesus Loves Me.  Such a simple song yet holds the greatest of all Truths:

I am loved by the Creator and Saviour of all those who will put their faith and trust in Him.

And that is enough.

A thankful heart can't help but sing.....

    but that's just me!

"Jesus!  It is the name which moves the harps of heaven to melody.  Jesus!  the life of all our joys.  If there be one name more charming, more precious than another, it is this name.  It is woven into the very warp and woof of our psalmody.  Many of our hymns begin with it, and scarcely any, that are good for anything, end without it.  It is the sum total of all delights.  It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring; a song in a word; an ocean for comprehension, although a drop for brevity; a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters."  Charles Spurgeon