Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Things that make me cry

As I was driving down the back roads of Clarke, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties today I started thinking about songs that tug on my heart strings and make me teary eyed. I welcome any comments.
5. My Old Kentucky Home. I spent four years of my life in the Bluegrass state. I just love this Stephen Foster classic. I often get teary eyed when the crowds sing the state anthem at the start of the annual Kentucky Derby.
4. The Church's One Foundation. Whenever we sing the third verse I can't help but get teary eyed as I sing "Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, "How long?" And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
3.Sweet Sweet Spirit. This is the song or anthem of Salem Campmeeting. At Salem we sing this wonderful hymn at every worship service. When you get sawdust in your blood, you too will get teary eyed when you start to sing this great hymn.
2. Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross. We did not sing this hymn in the church of my childhood. I was introduced to this great hymn of faith in the United Methodist Church. I make sure the churches I serve sing this hymn during Lent and on Good Friday. When we sing "Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me," I get teary eyed. Fanny Crosby's lyrics speak of the gracious power of the Cross.
1. And Can It Be. We jokingly call this the Asbury fight song. At chapel services we would sing it loud and often. I encourage you to look up the background story of this hymn. It is a great story. By the end of the fourth verse I am often in tears. "Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, for O my God, it found out me! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee."

What songs tug at your heart strings? What songs make you cry? Use the comment to share them.

1 comment:

  1. don't cry too often cuz of a song but And Can It Be is a good'n and It Is Well WIth My Soul has probably brought me close to tears. "My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

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