Milford Sound, New Zealand - “My Chains are gone, I’ve been set free”

 

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below
Will be forever mine, will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / Louie Giglio

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina - “Unending Love”

 

“My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace”

Lyrics by Chris Tomlin / Louie Giglio

Sunrise - “Above All Wonders the World has ever Known”

 

“Above all powers above all kings

Above all nature and all created things

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man

You were here before the world began.”

By Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche

Appalachian Mountains - "Time is in His Hands Beginning and the End"

 

How Great Is Our God 

(Excerpt)

The splendor of a King, 

Clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice

He wraps himself in light

And darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice

Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me

How great is our God, and all will see

How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands

And time is in His hands

Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One

Father Spirit Son

The Lion and the Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me

How great is our God, and all will see

How great, how great is our God

Lyrics By Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves

Scripture Reference:

Psalm 104:1

Bless the LORD, O my soul!  O LORD my God.  You are very great; Your are clothed with splendor and majesty.

1 Chronicles 16:31

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among nations, The Lord reigns.

Psalm 104:2

Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.

Joel 3:16

The Lord roars from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble.  But the Lord is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.

Ft. Matanzas Beach - “In the Garden Alone...the Dew is Still on the Roses”

In The Garden

 "I come to the garden alone⁠

while the dew is still on the roses,⁠

and the voice I hear⁠

falling on my ear,⁠

the Son of God discloses.⁠

And He walks with me⁠

and He talks with me.⁠

And He tells me I am His own;⁠

And the joy we share as we tarry there⁠

none other has⁠ ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice⁠

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,⁠

And the melody that He gave to me⁠

Within my heart is ringing.” ⁠

Lyrics by C. Austin Miles

Jasper Park, Canada - Ten Thousand Years and Forevermore

 

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still, my soul will sing Your praise unending

Then thousand years and then forevermore

Excerpt:  Ten Thousand Reasons by Matt Redman

Psalm 30:12 NASB95

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O' Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 86:12 NASB95

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart.
And will glorify Your name forever.

Psalm 145:21 NSAB95

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

Fort Matanzas Beach - The Sun Comes Up, It's a New Day Dawning

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

Excerpt:  10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Psalm 34:1 NASB95

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Lamentations 3:22 -23 NASB95
The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease,
for HIs compassion never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Wayfaring Stranger

 

Wayfaring Stranger

Song by Emmylou Harris

I am a poor wayfaring stranger

While traveling through this world of woe

Yet there's no sickness, toil or danger

in that bright world to which I go

I'm going there to see my father

I'm going there no more to roam

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather around me

I know my way is rough and steep

Yet beauteous fields lie just before me

Where God's redeemed their vigils keep

I'm going there to my mother

She said she'd meet me when I come

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home.

Let's Go Down to the River

 

Let's Go Down to the River

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown

Good Lord, show me the way

O sisters, let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

O sisters, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the robe and crown

Good Lord, show me the way

O brothers, let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

Come on,  brothers, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown

Good Lord, show me the way

O father's, let's go down

Let's go down,  come on down

O father's, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown

Good Lord, show me the way

O mothers, let's go down

Come down, don't you wanna go down?

Come on mothers, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown

Good Lord, show me the way

O sinners, let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

O sinners, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown

Good Lord, show me the way

public domain

Jesus Commands my Destiny

"No guilt in life, no fear in death--
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or  calls me home--
Here in the pow'r or Christ I'll Stand."

Lyrics Stuart Townsend

In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found

"In Christ Alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand."

Lyrics by Stuart Townsend

Be thou my vision

 

Be Thou My Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my Wisdom, and thou my true Word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, and I thy true son,

Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Thou and thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Ancient Celtic Hymn is a traditional Irish ballad melody  translated by St. Dallan, a 6th century Celtic monk, poet.

Mine is the Sunlight

" Morning Has Broken"

(3rd Stanza)

Mine is the sunlight,
Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light
Eden saw play,
Praise with elation,
Praise every morning,
God's re-creation
Of the new day!

Sweet the Rain's New Fall

 

"Morning Has Broken"

(1st and 2nd Stanza)

Morning has broken
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
Fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall

Sunlit from Heaven,

Like the first dewfall

On the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness

Of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness

Where his feet pass.

Bunessan

Bunessan is a Gaelic tune that was first published in Lachlan Macbean's Songs and Hymns of the Gael (1888) as a setting for Mary Macdonald's carol "Child in the Manger."  The tune is named after Macdonald's birthplace on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.

Child in the Manger

Author: Mary Macdonald (1789-1872)

Translator:  L. Macbean (1888)

Child in the manger,

Infant of Mary;

Outcast and stranger,

Lord of all;

Child who inherits

All our transgressions,

All our demerits

On Him fall.

Once the most holy

Child of Salvation

Gently and lowly

Lived below'

Now as our glorious

Mighty Redeemer,

See Him victorious

O'er each foe.

Prophets foretold Him

Infant of wonder;

Angels behold Him

On His throne;

Worthy our Savior

Of all our praises;

Happy forever

Are His own.

Morning has Broken

 

"Morning has broken" is the title of a Christian hymn first published in 1931.  It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and was inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, "Bunessan".  It was recorded by English pop musician and folk singer Cat Stevens in 1971.

As the Waters Cover the Sea

"Night and day I seek Your face
Long for You in the secret place
All I want in this life
Is to truly know You more

As the waters cover the sea
So Your love covers me
Guiding me on roads unknown
I trust in You alone

As the waters cover the sea
So Your love covers me
Guiding me on roads unknown
I trust in You alone..."

Lyrics: Michelle Annette Fragar

Peace Like A River

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know;
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

   Tho' Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

   My sin - oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin - not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

   And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend-
"Even so - it is well with my soul."

   For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live,
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou shalt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

   It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

By Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888)

Kings River Canyon

Muddy Water

Look out for me, oh muddy water
Your mysteries are deep and wide
And I got a need for going some place
And I got a need to climb upon your back and ride

You can look for me when you see me comin'
I may be runnin' I don't know
I may be tired and runnin' fever
But I'll be headed south to the mouth of the Ohio

Look out for me, oh muddy water
Your mysteries are deep and wide
And I got a need for going some place
And I got a need to climb upon your back and ride

Well, I been down to the pain and sorrow
Of no tomorrows comin' in
But I put my pole to the river bottom
And I've got to hide some place and find myself again

Look out for me, oh muddy water
Your mysteries are deep and wide
And I got a need for going some place
And I got a need to climb upon your back and ride
By Roger Miller

Blowing in the Wind

I love red barns against a endless cloudy horizon.  It was a very windy day and the tall grass blowing in the wind framed this picture.  I can look at this image and still feel the wind challenging me standing in the grass with my hair and unsteady hands 'blowing in the wind."

Blowing in the Wind
By Bob Dylan 1962

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.
How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head
and pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.