Videos & Stories Behind Hymns

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Else / On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand History My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less or On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand is the best-known hymn of Edward Mote who wrote it in 1834. The original title of this hymn was, "The Immutable Basis for a Sinner's Hope".
Edward Mote was the pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham West Sussex in the United Kingdom. It looks as if the inspiration for this hymn came from Christ parable of the wise and foolish builders. In the parable, Christ speaks of the foolish builder who built his house on sinking sand while the wise builder built his on solid rock. As you would imagine a storm easily swept away the one built on sand. Christ is the solid rock upon which we can build our house of faith. Any other foundation is like one on sand and will ultimately fail.

On the authorship of this song Mr. Mote's explanation, communicated to the Gospel Herald, is:— "One morning it came into my mind as I went to la…

In Christ Alone Hymn Story
In Christ Alone, is probably the most popular Christian hymn at the moment in both the US and the UK. There are actually surveys that have it on position 1 among popular hymns.
This hymn is the result of a collaboration between Keith Getty of Northern Ireland and Stuart Townend of England in 2001. Both are hugely popular songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music.
In this collaboration, the music was by Keith Getty and the original lyrics by Stuart Townend.
According to Stuart Townend, both he and Keith Getty were at a conference and a mutual friend suggested they get together. The friend said Keith was good at creating melody while Stuart was good at lyrics. 
The two met and as a result of that meeting Keith sent Stuart a CD with a melody for Stuart to add some lyrics. After listening to the melody Stuart thought the best would be to compose lyrics on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
He called Keith who also liked the idea. S…

Who Wrote How Deep The Father's Love For Us
How Deep The Father's Love For Us is a composition by an English Christian worship leader, Stuart Townend (born 1963).
Stuart says he decided to write these hymns to try to shift the attention that modern worship style that focuses more on our emotions rather on God. He says that the focus should be on our Lord more than on ourselves. 
Emotions are important as they are a part of us but the problem comes in when they became the center of our worship. Emotions can come and go and are easily influenced but only faith in God abides. We need to have a firm foundation in our Christian experience.
Christ should be the center of our worship no matter the situation. Whether we are happy, excited or sad let us make Christ the center and we will never be disappointed.
Stuart Townend gave the following reason for composing this hymn: 
"The danger now is that we are so focused on the experience our worship can become self-seeking and self-…

A nationwide survey in the United Kingdom by the British Broadcasting Corporation found Be Thou My Vision to be no. 15 on people's favorite list. The survey was called UK's Top 100 Hymns.
I would not be surprised if it also among the top twenty hymns in the United States and other parts of the world. It is certainly one of the beloved hymns at least in my church.
This hymn was originally a traditional Irish hymn. It was known as Rop tú mo baile or Rob tú mo bhoile in old Irish. Tradition states that the song was composed by the sixth-century Irish Christian poet Saint Dallan.
The English version is the result of the work of Eleanor Hull who translated it in 1912. It was however in 1919 that the lyrics were set to the tune of the Irish folk tune, "Slane". The tune has stuck to this very day in both English and Irish.
The Irish have contributed many popular hymns to the Christian church. Some of those songs include Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Below are the lyric…

Who Wrote Mary Did You Know?
The first time I heard this Christmas carol, I thought it was one of those classic old hymns. I was surprised that it was actually written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene in the 1990s.
Judging from the response it has received this is now truly a modern Christmas carol classic and has been recorded by many artists all over the world.
Famous artists who have recorded this Christmas song include Kenny Rogers, Mary J Blige, Don Moen, Clay Aiken, Cee Lo Green, and Pentatonix.
The first recording was done by Michael English in 1991 and reached no. 6 on the CCM Magazine AC chart.
Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene are regular features on the Bill and Gloria Gaither music concerts. Mark Lowry is also a member of the Gaither Vocal Band and so was Michael English when he recorded his version of this song.

Mary Did You Know Lyrics
Here are the lyrics of this Christmas carol, Mary Did You Know.

"Mary Did You Know"
(originally by Mark Lowry (lyrics) and Buddy Green…

History of Blessed Assurance Hymn  Blessed Assurance is at the top of millions of Christians's top ten hymns of all time. It is such a powerful
expression of our love for the LORD.
The words of this hymn were written by the blind singer Fanny Crosby after listening to a melody composed by Phoebe in 1873.
It is based on Hebrews 10:22 " Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (KJV)
How else can we respond to this assurance but by saying Here I Am Lord
Blessed Assurance Lyrics.
Below are the lyrics of this beautiful hymn.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight! Visions of raptu…