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I just finished reading Then Sings my Soul (Special Edition) by Robert J. Morgan. Reading more like a devotional, it contains the words, music and a story behind 150 classic hymns. Some of the stories include trivial facts, like:

• O Holy Night  was an unintentinal collaboration between a wine merchant, a penniless Parisian pianist and a liberal theologian;
• that even though adults throughout history have bemoaned the decadency of the next generation, God often chooses to speak and touch lives through His young followers. The hymn "My Jesus, I love Thee" was written by 16 year old William Ralph Featherstone;
• "Jesus Loves the Little Children," was originally composed as a Civil War battle song;
• "The Sweet By and By" was written by a pharmacist as a prescription to combat a friend and customer's depression.

Other stories pull on your heart strings:

• Philip Bliss's tragic death
• the well-known story behind "It is Well with my Soul;"
• the special significance to Bill and Gloria Gaither behind the second verse to "Because He Lives." 
• the powerful imagery in the first verse of "O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus" bubbled out of a heart that was ready to end his life in suicide and was God's healing hand upon his life.

While not a book to read straight through, cover to cover, if you savor little snippets or are looking for a coffee table books that inspire, encourage and challenge, this bookmight be a valuable addition to your library.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Book Sneeze as a part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 244: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and and Testimonials in Advertising.