Today's a really big day in the Pressley household.
As I've already posted, it's the day before Freddie presumed birthday, but it's also the day when we start learning a new "Hymn of the Month." For months, I've been meaning to write about this, as an attempt to keep track of the songs we've sung, but as you may or may not have noticed, I'm hardly consistent about blogging.
How do people do it?!
Anyway, at Charlotte, NC's Northside Christian Academy, where I attended some of second and all of third grade, we learned a "Hymn of the Month." At the end of each month, we'd be tested on that month's hymn, the same way we were our memory verses. It worked; those songs STILL stick with me.
So in September, I started a "Hymn of the Month" with Jones. Granted, there's no test or anything (though, when the boys get bigger, there may be!), but it keeps me from singing whatever sixteen songs randomly come to mind whenever I'm getting him ready for bed, thus significantly short-ening the sleep process. I figure if I keep track of the songs, we can revisit them every so often, and if the boys are anything like me (which they probably aren't), they'll learn as much doctrine from song as they do from Scripture.
Here are the Hymns of the Month that we've had so far:
SEPTEMBER = "
No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus" (1st verse)
(verse)
I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
since I found in Him a Friend so kind and true.
I would tell you how He changed my life completely.
He did something that no other friend could do.
(chorus)
No one ever cared for me like Jesus.
There's no other Friend so kind and true.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
Oh, how much He cares for me.
OCTOBER = "
I Asked the Lord"
I asked the Lord to comfort me when things weren't going my way.
He said to me, "I will comfort you and lift your cares away.
I asked the Lord to walk with me when darkness was all that I knew.
He said to me, "Never be afraid, for I will see you through."
I didn't ask for riches.
He gave me wealth untold!
The moon, the stars, the sun, the sky
and gave me eyes to behold!
I thank the Lord for everything, and I count my blessings each day.
He came to me when I needed Him. I only had to pray,
and He'll come to you, if you ask Him to!
He's only a prayer away!
NOVEMBER = "We Thank Thee"
We thank Thee for the morning light, for rest and shelter through the nite,
for health and food, for love and friends,
for all Thy goodness sends.
Our God is great; our God is good, and we will thank Him as we should!
By His great hand, we all are fed.
He gives our daily bread.
We thank Thee for the summer breeze, for song of bird, for shade of trees.
For stars that glitter in the sky,
we thank Thee, Lord on high.
DECEMBER = "
Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven"
Jesus, Joy of the highest Heaven,
born as a little baby
under a wondrous star.
Like us, crying He takes His first breath,
held by His mother, helpless,
close to her beating heart.
Jesus, laid in a lowly manger,
facing a world of dangers,
come to turn me, a stranger,
into a child of God.
Jesus, King of the highest Heaven,
learning to take His first steps,
that He might bring us life.
Like us, knowing our smiles and sorrows,
He showed the way to follow,
a way that is true and right.
Jesus, take away every darkness,
steady my simple footsteps
that I might, in your goodness,
live as a child of God.
JANUARY = "My Very Best Friend" (picked because it seemed appropriate for Jones to learn a song about "Jesus sticking closer than a brother" in the month that he becomes a brother.)
Jesus is exalted. Every knee shall bow to honor Him.
Praise the Prince of Heaven. Join the angels and the seraphim.
Though he rules creation, even though He reigns above,
from His throne on high, Jesus came to die.
Taste His wondrous love.
(chorus)
Jesus sticks closer than a Brother, every moment He is near.
I know He never will forsake me.
He has conquered all my fear.
Jesus sticks closer than a Brother;
on His love, I can depend!
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, conquering Son,
though all of these, He's my very best Friend.
Glory to the Savior. All my praise shall be to Christ alone.
He is my Foundation. He's my Rock, and He's my Cornerstone.
Like a mighty Fortress, He is ever more the same,
yet he died for me on Mt. Calvary.
Now I bear HIs name.
(chorus)
I'm going to try to keep this updated monthly, purely so I can remember what we've learned - or at least, what they've heard.
Thanks for indulging me.
