Christians have magnificently expressed gratitude through sacred songs poignantly expressed by gifted and inspired writers and composers.
Hymn singing has been a part of Protestant church services most especially encouraged by Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, and a hymn-writer himself. The list below includes best loved traditional hymns. They have remained favorites among Christians.
Count Your Blessings
- Writer – Johnson Oatman, Jr (1856-1922)
- Composer – Edwin O. Excell (1851-1921)
Chorus:
"Count your blessings. Name them one by one;
Count your many blessings See what God hath done."
For the Beauty of the Earth
- Writer – Folliott S. Pierpoint (1835-1917)
- Composer – Conrad Kocher (1786-1872)
- Tune Name – "Dix"
- Scripture Reference – Hebrews 13:15
First stanza:
"For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies:
Christ our God, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."
Now Thank We All Our God
- English Translation – Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
- Music – Johann Crüger (1598-1662
- Tune Name = "Nun Danket"
- Scripture Reference – Psalm 147: 7
First stanza:"Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms, HAth blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
Thanks to God!
- Writer – August Ludvig Storm (1862-1914)
- Translated into English by Carl E. Backstrom
- Composer – John Alfred Hultman (1861-1942)
- Arranger – Norman E. Johnson (1928-1983)
- Tune Name – "Tack O Gud"
First Stanza:
"Thanks, O God, for boundless mercy, From Thy gracious throne above;
Thanks for every need provided, from the fullness of Thy love!
Thanks for daily toil and labour, And for rest when shadows fall;
Thanks for love of frienda and neighbour, and Thy goodness unto all!"
We Gather Together
- Writer – Unknown
- English Translation – Theodore Baker (1851-1934
- Music – Netherlands Folk Melody
- Arranged by Edward Kremser, 1838-1914
- Tune Name – "Kremser"
First stanza:
"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his name he forgets not his own."
Related Link:
Sources:
101 Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1982
101 More Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1985
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan. Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003
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