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Magical Moment 360, "Hymns for Him"


Hard, wooden pews. Old, brick building. An organ, a piano, and a hymnal. There is a subtle charm inside the walls of a small, faithful church. And something inspirational when they still use the old fashioned hymnals on the backs of the pews. I appreciate the contemporary sound in some services with drums and a rehearsed worship band, it can be very powerful and compelling. But I'll always have a special place in my heart for the hymns I grew up with, their poetic heartfelt lyrics, and familiar melodies.

Today we sang one I haven't heard in a long time.
"Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus name."
How true that is. I've seen it. If that statement is true, "little is much when God is in it," then the reverse must also be true, "much is little without God." How many times have we seen that sad story?

A moment later, a man walked to the pulpit to sing a special song. Usually this means an instrumental solo, or singing along with an accompaniment track. But this man carried the same hymnal we had been singing from and opened it to a new page. He said, "This song is for my parents. They had a marriage made in Heaven, and now they're there." The song he sang was,
"In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore."
He sang the song acapella. Such a simple, un-elaborate gesture with no frills, yet it became so beautiful to all who saw it. Why? I suppose because God was in it.
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Comments

Dawn said…
Acapella is amazingly beautiful. You don't hear songs sung like that much anymore.
Love that song.
January 30, 2011 at 8:04 PM
Steve Gravano said…
This is the first year I didn't have an assignment on MLK day. I miss going to a Baptist church and hearing the beautiful music. We have a a very musical pastor with a good at our church, but it's not the same as the Black churches.
January 30, 2011 at 9:46 PM
MaggieGem said…
Wonderful thought... keeping faith in God, and not in the material world so much can do wonders for the soul!
January 31, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Mom said…
I love the old hymns...all 4 plus verses! I love the Old Bible, too, the KJV aka AV. There's something about a copyrighted Bible that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Just can't...
January 31, 2011 at 11:38 PM
laughwithusblog said…
Beautiful post! I'd just like to shout a big, "Amen!" Did ya hear it?
February 1, 2011 at 3:39 PM
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