Music is powerful and we can intentionally use it to invest truth and wisdom into our family’s minds and hearts. Here are albums to help you do just that.
What kinds of music did you listen to as a child? I’m sure you can remember the songs and sing along with ease when you hear them on the radio. Music tends to stick with us like that.
I, for instance, can sing along to dozens and dozens of golden oldies and classic rock songs. Those are the songs of my childhood— countless hours were spent in my parents’ cars listening to Build Me Up Buttercup, Love Shack, Another Brick in the Wall, and more of the same.
Music is powerful. It sticks in our minds more easily than what we hear spoken or what we read. It brings back memories and feelings just with a few notes. It instructs us, enlightens us, and motivates us. We make playlists for working out, for cleaning, for romance, and so on.
When you consider all the songs you can effortlessly recall from childhood, it’s easy to realize what a great opportunity we have as parents to use music to invest truth and wisdom in our children’s minds and hearts.
More than I want my kids to be able to sing karaoke hits, I want them to be able to sing songs that point their hearts to Jesus and that will serve as gospel reminders for the rest of their lives.
I was introduced to musicians in college who were taking old hymns and putting them to new music. It was music I wanted to listen to and truth I needed to hear. I knew then that that was the kind of music I wanted my children to grow up hearing most often.
And not only hymns, but any music which is Bible-saturated and useful for helping them to understand God and His ways.
By God’s grace, my oldest son has found a love for hymns and spends a good part of the day serenading us all with his favorite selections. Currently, hymns like Grace Greater Than Our Sin and A Mighty Fortress are on repeat. And even though there are times when I would love just a little silence, how could I really complain that he is singing lines like grace, grace, grace that can pardon and cleanse within, and the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him.
Of course, it is not only our children who need to listen to good music. We need it just like they do.
I have shared how God used hymns during one of the hardest seasons of my life. But even on the ordinary days, the songs we listen to can be used to encourage and comfort us, to stir us up to obedience, and simply to deposit more scripture in our minds.
Recently I have had the joy of listening to (over and over and over again) a new album that does all three of those things.
Cody and Melody Curtis are two incredible composers and musicians who have spent the last five years studying the book of Romans, writing songs and putting the entire book to music.
The album was first conceived when the Curtises were attending our church. We were studying Romans, and Cody was asked to write a song for the doxology in Romans 11. Not too long after that, they moved to Nashville and connected with the talented musicians who would eventually make up their group, PSALLOS.
Last week, PSALLOS came and put on a concert at our church.
You guys, the album is AMAZING. And that word does not even do it justice.
The book of Romans is FULL of doctrine and gospel hope, and so is this album. But far from being cheesy Christian music, the music is beautiful and truly helps to carry the lyrics. I am not a musician, so I will not attempt to describe it in musical terms. Suffice it to say, it is very easy on the ears and can be played on repeat without losing its appeal.
PSALLOS is generously giving away three albums to my readers. I am so happy to introduce you to them and I wish you could all win!
Hear me when I say, though, that even if you do not win a free copy, this is not an album that you want to miss out on!
The giveaway will be open all week so be sure to submit as many entries as you can. Be sure to also check out the website for the Romans album, preview the songs, and bookmark the page so you get your own copy if you do not win (it’s only $10!).
More Music to Feed Your Family’s Soul
I love playing music while we are home and when we are on the road. But I don’t want to listen to kids bop music all day long. If you do, more power to you. But for me, I would rather we listen to music we can all enjoy–grownups and kids alike. The albums below are just that.
- Seeds Family Worship :: Seeds is super popular for a good reason. Old and New Testament verses are set to music that both parents and kids can enjoy. The songs are catchy, too, which means you will go to bed singing Zephaniah 3:17 about God rejoicing over you with shouts of joy.
- Rain for Roots :: I have not listened to these albums, but they come highly recommended and I hope to check them out for myself soon.
- Indelible Grace :: This is the group I mentioned earlier. I LOVE their music. The hymns are rich and the music is great. There are several to choose from. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to, I would suggest starting with Pilgrim Days (I love it so much I named my blog after it, haha).
- Scripture Lullabies :: These are certainly the most peaceful songs in this list. They truly are lullabies. The songs are sweet and beautiful. A few have become regular bedtime songs in our home, and the album is great to play in the van driving home late at night.
- Fighter Verse Songs from Desiring God :: I just discovered these and I can’t wait to get an album (or two or three). We use Desiring God’s list of memory verses with our kids and these will be a great supplement!
- Shai Linne’s Attributes of God :: Like rap? You may like this one. Shai Linne is a rapper/theologian and has written a brilliant album. Challies says it’s the best rap album he’s ever heard and I tend to agree.
- Slugs and Bugs Sing the Bible :: I had to add this one after just discovering it. We have Slugs and Bugs Lullabies and we LOVE IT. I had no idea that there were several other albums in the series. We are now listening to the Sing the Bible albums and are loving them too. Randall Goodgame is a favorite here!
Nice post!!
Thanks for the recommendations, nothing like feeding the SOUL!
We love Spring Of Hope music http://www.aspringofhope.com.
Will definitely check these out!!!!
Thank you for these! I found a few of the artists in our Amazon Prime music service. I have played the Scripture Lullabies albums to put my youngest to sleep every nap and nighttime for the past two years and I never get tired of them.
Our family loves Sing the Bible from Randal Goodgame’s Slugs and Bugs series. It’s is SOOOOOO good! It is geared toward a kid audience, but Josh and I love listening to it with the kids 🙂 They’ve memorized so many verses since we’ve gotten both albums 🙂 Fun and funny and quality melodies and music.
We have one Slugs and Bugs, but not the Sing the Bible one. It’s one of our favorite albums! You’re right, it’s just as great for Jeff and I to listen to as it is for our kids. Thanks for the recommendation. I’m going to check it out now!
Thanks for the recommendations; I’m going to look into them! Our favorite albums are The Oh Hellos’ “Through The Deep, Dark Valley” and Slugs & Bugs “Sing the Bible, Volume 1”.