Tag Archives revived hymn

0 Precious Is The Blood

I wrote this song on April 24, 2005.

This song is slated to be on a few upcoming projects as it fits for both my Hymns project and Easter project. I’ve been inspired lately after hearing several recently “revived hymns” by artists like Owl City and Jadon Lavik. So I decided to put my hand to reworking some of the rich lyrical heritage found in so many hymns, and hopefully breathe some revival into these songs that, for many congregations, have been gathering dust. This is one that I had written awhile ago and fits along with some of the others like “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” that I have done.

Instead of being a complete revisiting of an existing hymn, this song is more of a tip of the hat to the classic hymn by Robert Lowry, “Nothing But The Blood”, which is included briefly in the bridge. The rest of the song was inspired mostly from this passage in 1 Peter 1 that reminds us that we were redeemed and bought by the “precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. —1 Peter 1:18-21

The song begins by painting the beautiful picture of Jesus being the sinless, perfect Lamb of God, who stepped down to become a man and pay the penalty for our sins.

In the image of a Lamb
Holy God stepped down
To become a man
But remain a spotless
Sacrifice

It is hard for us to truly understand or imagine what it must have been like for God to step down and leave heaven to come and dwell among us, and yet He did so for wretched sinners like us!

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! —Philippians 2:6-8

The chorus then reinforces the main theme from the passage in 1 Peter 1 that we were redeemed and bought by the “precious blood of Christ”.

How precious is the blood
That washes me, that crimson flood
Now I’m as white as freshly fallen snow
I am clean and forgiven
This I know

It combines this with the beautiful imagery from Isaiah that compares how clean we become, after being washed by Jesus’ blood, to pure white snow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. —Isaiah 1:18

The song goes on in the second verse to offer thanks for Jesus’ amazing sacrifice on the Cross. In light of this amazing gift we recognize that, though once we were lost and separated from God by our sin, now we are found and His! That is such fantastic good news that we should shout for joy and celebrate!

For the gift of the cross
I humbly bow and give you thanks
For without You I was lost
Now I am found, I am Yours
I’ll celebrate

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Truly how precious is the blood of our Savior that washes us clean!

The bridge neatly ties into the timeless lyrics of the traditional hymn, “Nothing But The Blood”, by Robert Lowry. It may have been penned in 1876, but is still just as relevant and true today! “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

So tell me what can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
And what can make me whole again?
Oh, I say, nothing but the blood of Jesus

I hope you are encouraged and blessed by this song!

Truly, how precious is the blood!

You can listen to the audio for the single and find out more on the discography page or listen to the player below: View Discography

We also recently added a lyric video for the song that you can watch here: Watch Video Now

Scriptures referenced by this song:

0 And Can It Be (live)

Here is another “revived” hymn for my hymns project “Hymnody” that we are hoping to get completed soon. This song will be joined by my versions of “Turn Your Eyes”, “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”, “Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin” and others. This is another one of Charles Wesley’s from 1739, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”. I took parts of the stanzas to create verses, a chorus and an out at the end and created a new melody as the backing.
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0 O Wondrous Cross (live)

This is a brand new song that I just wrote a few months ago (November 10, 2010). It is another one of my remixed hymns with a more modern melody and new chorus added. This is based on the hymn “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” with a bridge taken from “Amazing Grace” and will be featured on my upcoming hymns project, “Hymnody” hopefully releasing sometime soon.
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0 Hymn #342 (Live at Mystic)

My friend Tanner Johnson came down to Southern Oregon to record his amazing violin talents on some songs we were working on in the studio, and this impromptu concert is what happened later in the evening after a full day in the studio.

This first song we did is my new rendition of Charles Wesley’s first hymn, “Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?”, which is found today as Hymn #342 in the United Methodist Hymnal. I took some liberties to convert the hymn into more of a modern worship chorus, and this is the result. Enjoy as Nick Garrett-Powell, Tanner and I jam it up in my parent’s living room.
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