An Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing

On Wednesday morning of this week, Ken and I helped lead the Spring Sing at EV Free Fullerton Church – more than an hour of harmonizing on some of the best hymns of the faith. Our good friend (and former co-host for the “Joni and Friends” radio program), Al Sanders, helped pull the whole thing together. People from other congregations attended; after the hymn sing, one pastor wrote, “We had a young lady in our group who is going through some rough times with medical issue that are causing some serious disabilities in her life. She came away with new assurance that God is in control and that what she is going though will bring honor to Him.” That’s how ‘healing’ the words to these hymns can be! And here’s one that touched me so deeply that morning…

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone,

And there’s a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,

Who once went sorr’wing here!

But now they taste unmingled love,

And joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear

Till death shall set me free;

And then go home my crown to wear,

For there’s a crown for me 

O precious cross! O glorious crown!

O resurrection day!

When Christ the Lord from heav’n comes down

And bears my soul away.