Thinking ahead to Easter and in writing my blog post last week, I have been reminiscing a lot lately about the old hymns that we sung in church while I was growing up. I really miss those songs of old. So, in this post, I thought I would share with you some of my all-time favorite hymns. Check them out below. They are in no particular order. I was trying to decide which is my favorite, and I just can’t choose. I hope you enjoy!

1. Just a Little Talk With Jesus – by Cleavant Derricks
   This version sung by the Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins) is tops! I just love how Elvis sings, "Just a little talk with MY Jesus!"
   
   
2. Old Rugged Cross – by George Bennard
   The Gaither Vocal Band brings such power and emotion to their version of this classic. It gives me all the feels.
   
   
3. Blessed Assurance – by Fanny Crosby
   If you have never seen this performance by CeCe Winans and Terrence Blanchard for Cicely Tyson at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, you are missing out. Hold on to your seats, because this performance will blow you away!
   
   
4. Swing Low Sweet Chariot – by Wallace Willis
   There is just something about Satchmo's voice, and his trumpet playing, that always brings a big smile to my face. Louis Armstrong definitely does his version justice.
   
   
5. Love Lifted Me – by James Rowe and Howard Smith
   I am a country girl at heart, and I have a special place in my heart for Alan Jackson. (He is a Georgia boy, after all.) His simple, clean version of Love Lifted Me  drives home the pureness of this song.
   
   
6. Softly and Tenderly – by Will Lamartine Thompson
   The legendary Mormon Tabernacle Choir's rendition of this classic has such an angelic tone to it. It is so peaceful and soothing!
   
   
7. When We All Get to Heaven – by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt
   Mark Hall from Casting Crowns has this voice that draws me in. This Christian rock group is a staple on my play list. This group is Georgia based as well. Mark Hall serves as  youth pastor for Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough.
   
   

So, what about you? What is your favorite old hymn or hymns? I would love to hear from you! I wish you and your family a blessed Easter!

Easter will soon be upon us once again. I love Easter for many reasons—warmer weather, pretty flowers and trees blooming. (And, if I am completely honest, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. Those little peanut butter and chocolate eggs are divine!) But, mainly Easter is an awesome reminder of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus gave himself willingly to die on the cross. He shed his blood to pay for all of our many, many sins. It’s truly the most humbling thing I know, or can even think of.

Easter also reminds me of that song, “Are You Washed in the Blood?” written in 1878 by Elisha A. Hoffman. (I love the internet and being able to look this kind of stuff up!) It is one of those great old hymns that we sang often in the church I grew up in.  As a kid, when you hear the words “washed in the blood” your mind can think of some crazy stuff. Well, in my case, I was often literal.  I remember picturing in my mind a bathtub full of blood, and having to take a bath in it. Eww! I also remember thinking that blood couldn’t possibly get you clean, only soap could do that. Thank goodness, I have grown up and learned about metaphors!

Being a theatre nerd, I also think of Jesus being crucified in conjunction with Jesus Christ, Superstar – the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I can hear the chorus members shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” over and over. (I have to give a shout out to my awesome college professor, David Moore, who gave my friend TeeJay and I tickets to see Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. I think it was 1994. It had Carl Anderson as Judas and Ted Neely as Jesus—it was spectacular!!)

Thanks to seeing that performance, it was easy to picture the real Jesus being tortured and crucified. What I can’t imagine is what it must have been like actually be Jesus. It would be horrible enough to see that happen to someone, but I’m sure it doesn’t even begin to compare with having it happen to you.

Of course, I have a feeling that what caused Jesus to suffer most was not necessarily the corporal punishment he received, which was horrendous and brutal, but the sadness he must have felt for humanity. Why do I think this? I guess because it has always stuck with me that while he was on the cross dying, he prayed to God and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Forgive them. Forgive them. Can you imagine asking for forgiveness for the people who are killing you?

But, that is what Jesus came to earth to do. He came to die on the cross so that our sins would be be forgiven. He didn’t die because of anything that he did, but what we did. Our sins. Ours. Not his. And, he gave his life willingly. I doubt that there are very many people alive today who would do that.

Let’s all take some time to reflect on this gift that God gave us: His son, Jesus. His son, who died on a cross for our sins. With a crown of thorns on his head, and nails through his hands and feet, He suffered mightily. (J. Lee Grady has an eye-opening blog post on How Jesus Endured the Pain of the Cross – read it. You won’t look at Jesus the same afterwards.)

The fact that He gave His life, means that we can live. I don't know about you, but I believe that this is the greatest of all gifts ever. It is certainly something worth celebrating. This Easter, I will thank Him and praise Him, for He is worthy!

Listen to Willie Nelson sing "Are You Washed in the Blood?"