Wednesday Hymns-Day: Down to the River to Pray

River Baptisms

The exact origin of this song is unknown. It has also been called by other titles, to include: “Down in the River to Pray”, “Down in the Valley to Pray”, “The Good Old Way” and “Come, Let Us All Go Down”. It is described as a Christian folk hymn, Appalachian song, gospel song and an African- American spiritual. This song was often sung at outdoor baptisms in the good old days.

Please watch this video of what used to be common place:

This is our Christian American heritage. One of faith in the Almighty. This is the path our ancestors walked. We have veered so far from this straight and narrow path to the broad, destructive one. We live in the day of a prosperity preachin’, watered-down-gospel. Can you imagine what our world would look like if the “good ol’ way” was the norm again?…Tent revivals and river baptisms…souls being won for the Lord!

Billy Graham (borrowed from Wheaton.edu)

America needs another Great Awakening. I think it’s high time.

What say you? Ready to study that “Good Ol’ Way”?

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Wednesday Hymns-Day: Amazing Grace

To kick things off I figured I might as well start off with one of the most well-known and beloved hymns of all time: Amazing Grace.

I’d venture to say there’s nary a soul who hasn’t heard this precious hymn at least once in their life. It was penned by John Newton and published in 1779. He was a slave trader who was later saved by God’s amazing grace!

This song provokes different emotions for different people. It also may arouse many different memories; some sweet, some sad. I recall sweet memories of my grandmother beautifully singing this tune as well as it being played at my great grandmother’s funeral amidst many tears.

“Amazing grace!

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but, now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been quite a wretched mess. Thankfully, I’ve been saved by God’s grace. His beautiful, amazing grace and perfect timing have saved my soul from an eternal hell.

Do you like this hymn?

Have you experienced God’s amazing grace?

If not, would you like to?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not or yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Please watch this moving video! Tells of the origins of this song and how it was written! Watch all the way through. Really listen. It gives me goosebumps!!

Wednesday Hymns-Day

As I informed you in my “About Me” page, I’m a lover of the old hymns. Something about them lifts my spirits like no other music. Now, before I go any further let me just say that Contemporary Christian Music is fine and dandy. I like it too. But my personal preference is the old traditional hymns. Just another reason I’m probably dubbed old fashioned!

The thought that many generations of kin before me have sung these songs really moves me. Standing in the pews, gripping their hymnals, lifting their voices in praise to Almighty God. Many of these beloved hymns were committed to memory. They lived deep within and surfaced when needed to carry them through. I’ll never forget my Papa (grandfather) telling me his Mama (Granny) made him stand up every time they sang “Standing on the Promises of God”.

Another reason I may be so fond of them is because I grew up listening to a gathering of family singing them. There is nothing sweeter and more comforting as a child than to lye your head on your Mama’s lap amongst a crowd of family and listen to them belt out one hymn after another. Such precious memories.

These days you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place that regularly sings these faithful songs of old. I don’t want our traditional songs of the faith to be lost in this fast paced world, a world that is quickly tossing the old ways out. I will cling to them, as they bring me comfort. I play them around my children in hopes that they too will grow fond of them. I like to play my collection of hymns while I’m going about my day and tending to the housework.  It truly lifts my spirits and shifts my focus off the things of this world and onto the things of God.

I would love to share some of my favorite hymns with you. I shall make Wednesday’s Hymn Day here at Keeper of My Home. I hope you will follow along and share your favorites too. Let’s preserve our Christian heritage! How ’bout that old time religion?! It’s good enough for me!

Stay tuned….

Mrs. G