come, thou fount of every blessing.

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
mount of thy redeeming love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I'm come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.

i never had too much love for hymns. i used to find them dry and theologically loaded--combine that with the high-octave ranges of a lot of hymns and it doesnt make for an exciting worship session make.

a few years ago, however, we sang this hymn during Sunday service and it resounded so deeply within my heart that my appreciation for all hymns like it was sparked. the truth loaded in them stirs in my heart reminders of struggles acute to any redeemed sinner. im a thankless wanderer, a sinner who drifts away from the knowledge of Him. the only thing that anchors me are the fetters of His goodness that bind me to His courts above.

since then, i've learned to take a lot of joy in the hymns i took for granted as dusty and stuffy. but this one will always take the cake for me.

it's difficult to keep my mind focused on the fullness and saturating presence of El Shaddai who sustains everything in this world. it helps that fellow saints, past and present, give words to the desires of our heaven-bent souls.

speaking of good songs......some favorites playing on the ipod:

1. hello love album--chris tomlin (Jesus Messiah, You lifted me out, God of this city)
   
2. Your beloved-by the tree
3. everlasting God-chris tomlin
4. all that is within me album-mercy me (God with us, my heart will fly, finally home)
   
5. shane&shane (water of the word, Your grace is sufficient, wounded, healed)
   
6. because of you-ne-yo
7. better together-jack johnson

know of any good hymn cds? (preferably ones that are available for itunes purchase)