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Faith Topics
Hymns for Your Kids
Collection of Hymns
Does your child have a special collection that he or she treasures –– baseball cards, coins, rocks, bracelet charms, sea shells, dolls or stamps? Or maybe you collect something like teapots, angels, cookbooks, golf balls, tools or cars? Whether huge or small, it’s fun to have a collection and always be on the lookout for something to add to it. If your child is a collector, he’ll enjoy this story:
A young man in London, England, had a special collection. His name was John Rippon, and he collected hymns. When he was in college, he decided to hunt for the best hymns he could find and put them into a book. He searched and asked his friend to help him. He knew that people needed strong and helpful words from the Bible. He had a great idea. “Why not teach people with music?” If he could get the people singing words from the Bible, he knew they could be bold and courageous for God.
John selected “How Firm a Foundation” for his hymn collection. Some of the people who sang it were facing terrible trials. They were tired and discouraged. This hymn helped them to be brave. Whether out loud or silently in their heads, they could sing the words all day and remember that God would help them. The smallest children could sing, even if they couldn’t read. John Rippon’s collection made a difference because it helped people think about God’s Word.
“How Firm a Foundation” became a favorite hymn in England. Soon people in America started to sing it, too. Presidents, military leaders and soldiers sang it when they were afraid. It gave them strength when they were at war. They knew that God would not forsake them.
— Bobbie Wolgemuth
After sharing this story with your child, encourage him to memorize a verse of this hymn. The next time he is afraid or discouraged, he can sing the verse out loud as a prayer.
Adapted from Focus on the Family’s new book Hymns for a Kid's Heart by Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.
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Guide your children to a deeper faith and sweeter walk with God through the timeless hymns and biblical truths taught in this latest volume from Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth.
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