Getting "Hymned"

Recently I realized with a start that I've nearly stopped listening to Christian music.  I don't know when that happened, but I am guessing it has to do with moving to Toronto and never figuring out where the Christian stations are.  (Yeah, I should probably Google that...)  I don't drive as often now, so I normally only have music on when I'm exercising, which means that I'm overwhelmingly listening to cheesy dance music, with the odd Newsboys song thrown in for good measure.   Anyway, I've been trying to be intentional especially with the radio in my car, so that I am not filling my head with musical "candy" and have something meaty as well.

This past week, after making the switch, I've been moved several times when listening to hymns.   Today at prayer group, we sang "Guide Me Thou O Great Jehovah" and "And Can It Be".  Man, those songs are beautiful and meaningful!  I almost started crying at the beauty.  (And how I love singing from a hymnbook with an alto line, and not having to choose between screeching my way through or sounding like a man, but I digress...)

I also threw on some Bart Millard while driving, and developed a newfound appreciation for the hymn "Brethren We Have Met to Worship".  I'd never heard it before purchasing the "Hymned Again" album, and had never listening that closely, but this time, wow, the lyrics really stood out to me.  I especially like the third verse:

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses' sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Isn't that a beautiful picture of how we ought to support one another?  How often to I fail to look out for others who are struggling with sin?  There is such richness in Christian hymns, and it's sad how seldom I actually take time to listen and think them through.

What are your favourite hymns??

Oh, and you can check out Bart Millard's rendition here.