I’m going to do a little series on my blog about my favorite songs and how they speak to me and they can to you too. There will be a wide variety of songs from some of my favorite artists (Mandisa, Toby Mac, Third Day, JJ Heller, etc… ) and little known artists as well. I hope you enjoy this series of blog postings. And you are invited to share your favorite songs in the comment section.

When I hear a song that speaks to me, it’s because there is something in the song that I can relate to. There may be times I have listened to the same song, and it didn’t strike a cord with me. There have been times I was driving down the road, hearing a song a hundred times before, but at that point the message is clear. God is speaking to me and assuring me of His presence.

If we look at the Book of Pslams, we will see that David wrote many songs about his life experiences. We read them and at times we forget that those words are used in the songs we listen to today. My favorite Psalms is Psalms 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, ever present in times of trouble. Refuge and Strength Song

When ever I’m having a bad day, I like to listen to music. I guess I should say that I listen on good and bad days. The Christian genre is my first choice of music. KLOVE radio station is my music station of choice.  Music has a way of getting through to me more than any other way of listening to God’s Word. If I’m at church, I’m OK with sermons. But I have a difficult time hearing preachers on the radio or the TV. When I learn new things, it is usually to a beat or to music. I have a hard time buckling down and reading and listening. My mind wonders in all kinds of directions and doodle art takes over, lol. I have never played an instrument or sang in public. That would be a scary thing for those who listen and love music. But I can appreciate the talent and gifts of others. 🙂

There was a time when I was in the hospital for close to 6 weeks in 1998 or so. I was having a very hard day and just tired of being in the hospital and not wanting to hear anything about why I had to be there. I had a bad heart infection. When I’m in the hospital, three things comes with me. My fan, radio and books to read. One night before the nurses were making their rounds, I was saying my prayers and was reading my Bible. I wanted assurance that God was listening and that I was beyond frustrated. I turned my radio on and in the next ten minutes the answers came. They came through songs. There were three songs that came on and by the time the third one was done, I was in tears. Then my nurse came into the room to do my vitals and all that stuff to bug ya before going to sleep, or so they want you to think you will sleep. She was wondering why I was crying and all upset. I told her, she gave me a funny look and kept doing her thing.

For me, I know that when my mind is going in all directions or having a hard time, He assures me He is there through the messages of songs. I did find that after that night in the hospital the nurses would come in and it took them longer to do the vitals. I found out that one of the nurses was Christian and she enjoyed listen to the music I played all night long. They could hear the radio even though I tried to keep in down in through the hallways. If I feel asleep before turning it on, they would come in and turn it on. I’m guessing it was them at-least. I was asleep and didn’t see anyone come and go. But that is my assumption.

Like I said earlier I’m not musically inclined, but I can appreciate music. Well, unless there are no words to it. Then I can honestly say I don’t like it. There has to be a message or words to a song. Classical music is pretty low on my list of music choices. My daughter Jessica tries to get me to go to some of the things she likes. I may go, but then I’m kicking and screaming inside, lol.

One of my favorite old time hymns that still touches my heart are, ‘When the Roll is Called up Yonder”. For me, this song is all about standing before God and hearing your name called out. God knows my name and I’m on the list. This song speaks about the resurrection and how when our work on earth is done, we will be with God.  There is something about this song that brings peace. When someone has gone to be with the Lord and to know they are there, it is as if they are on the best vacation ever. And if we are listed on that roll call, we will get to have the very same reward and vacation of a lifetime. the cool part is that we get to stay there.

Revelation 20:12- And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

I included a video link and you can also read the lyrics. This version is by Dolly Parton, Alison Krous, Suzanne Cox and a few others and includes part of the song, ‘Power in the Blood”. There so many people that have recorded this song, but I guess for me, I like the old country ones. It just seems right to hear it from those that have that twangy sound, lol. My parents watched a lot of Hee Haw and this song was sung on there every now and then by Buck Owens. I’m not big into the whole country music thing, but some songs just fit and sound better with a guitar, banjo and piano. Besides it is better than rap, lol

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder– Listen to Song

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Here is a little history on the song…

James M. Black, 1893 – James Black was a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. James Black was calling the roll for a youth meeting. A young girl named Bessie was the daughter of a drunk. Bessie didn’t show up, and he was disappointed that she wasn’t in attendance. James Black visited the child’s home and calling on a doctor to attend her for pneumonia, he went home and wrote the song after not finding one on a similar topic in his hymn collection. The thought of someone not being in Heaven haunted Black.  He made a comment to the effect, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to respond with an appropriate song, but couldn’t find one in his song book:

According to Cyberhymnal– Black start­ed his mu­sic­al ca­reer with John How­ard of New York and Dan­iel Town­er of the Moody Bi­ble In­sti­tute. He moved to Wil­liams­port, Penn­syl­van­ia, around 1881, and was an ac­tive mem­ber of the Pine Street Meth­od­ist Epis­co­pal Church from 1904 un­til his death, serving as a song lead­er and Sun­day school teach­er. Black al­so found time to ed­it a doz­en Gos­pel song books, write al­most 1,500 songs, and serve on the com­mis­sion for the 1905 Meth­od­ist hymn­al.