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Open Your Hymnal- Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song Paperback – September 18, 2012
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Introduce yourself to the rich spiritual heritage that hymnals contain or gain a new perspective on songs you’ve sung since childhood. Whether you sing in the choir loft, pew, or shower, the refreshing biblical insights in this book will enhance your appreciation of the words you sing every time you open a hymnal.
- Print length138 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateSeptember 18, 2012
- Dimensions5 x 0.35 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100982206577
- ISBN-13978-0982206577
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Editorial Reviews
Review
- Kathleen Hayes, Editor, The Secret Place
Few things are quite so moving, reassuring, and comforting as the familiar texts of inspiring hymns we have loved and sung for generations. Thank you, Denise, for rekindling these messages and shedding new light on songs so near to the hearts of people of faith!
- Dave and Cheryl Ellington, Career Worship Leaders, Covington, KY
Denise Loock's Open Your Hymnal powerfully relates Scripture, hymns, and biblical knowledge to everyday life. Her 30 devotions are written in such a way that it creates in the reader a desire to reflect upon what has been shared and then to delve deeper. These easy-to-read insights also make the reader want to become familiar with hymns once again and be blessed by their inspired words.
- Jane Carrier Allen, Minister of Worship and Bible Professor, Sneads Ferry, NC
"These devotions have poured into my soul a deep love for the God we serve, rooted in the history of biblical and religious figures throughout the ages. What a gift. Denise's style is light but penetrating. It convicts and comforts and draws my heart to the Lord."
- Connie Cartisano, PhD, Stay-at-Home-Mom and Retreat Speaker, Hackettstown, NJ
Reaching across all denominations, Denise Loock ties together beloved hymns with their scriptural backgrounds. She brings old-fashioned wording to life by adding a contemporary twist to her devotions. The reader is enlightened, not bewildered, by her inclusion of Greek roots for key words. I would recommend Open Your Hymnal to anyone who enjoys singing hymns or wants to give a treasured gift.
- Cathy Smith, State Newsletter Editor for United Methodist Women, Ocean, NJ --State Newsletter
From the Publisher
"Through witty, insightful, and sometimes poignant writing, Denise draws on the richness of the doctrine and the personal nature of these hymns to encourage us in our Christian faith. Whether or not hymns are a part of your worship tradition, you will find the timeless truths expressed in these meditations a blessing and encouragement to your soul." Mark Hahn, Minister of Music, Montgomery Evangelical Free Church, Belle Mead, NJ Endorsements:
"As wonderful as contemporary Christian music is to me, I would miss singing the great hymns of the faith. Their words tell the gospel, provide great insight and inspiration, and lift my faith. In this book of devotions, Denise Loock skillfully reflects on some of these hymns by connecting them with Scripture and with our personal spiritual lives. The result is a unique collection of devotions that will touch your heart as you Open Your Hymnal along with your Bible." - Kathleen Hayes, Editor, The Secret Place
"Few things are quite so moving, reassuring, and comforting as the familiar texts of inspiring hymns we have loved and sung for generations. Thank you, Denise, for rekindling these messages and shedding new light on songs so near to the hearts of people of faith!" - Dave and Cheryl Ellington, Career Worship Leaders, Covington, KY
"Denise Loock's Open Your Hymnal powerfully relates Scripture, hymns, and biblical knowledge to everyday life. Her 30 devotions are written in such a way that it creates in the reader a desire to reflect upon what has been shared and then to delve deeper. These easy-to-read insights also make the reader want to become familiar with hymns once again and be blessed by their inspired words." - Jane Carrier Allen, Minister of Worship and Bible Professor, Sneads Ferry, NC
"These devotions have poured into my soul a deep love for the God we serve, rooted in the history of biblical and religious figures throughout the ages. What a gift. Denise's style is light but penetrating. It convicts and comforts and draws my heart to the Lord." - Connie Cartisano, PhD, Stay-at-Home-Mom and Retreat Speaker, Hackettstown, NJ
"Reaching across all denominations, Denise Loock ties together beloved hymns with their scriptural backgrounds. She brings old-fashioned wording to life by adding a contemporary twist to her devotions. The reader is enlightened, not bewildered, by her inclusion of Greek roots for key words. I would recommend Open Your Hymnal to anyone who enjoys singing hymns or wants to give a treasured gift." - Cathy Smith, State Newsletter Editor for United Methodist Women, Ocean, NJ
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
- Publication date : September 18, 2012
- Language : English
- Print length : 138 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0982206577
- ISBN-13 : 978-0982206577
- Item Weight : 5.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.35 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,816,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,254 in Christian Music (Books)
- #20,671 in Christian Devotionals (Books)
- #32,691 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Denise Kelso Loock's devotions and stories appear in best-selling books and magazines. She teaches women's Bible studies and speaks at luncheons and conferences. She also posts biweekly devotions on her website: digdeeperdevotions.com.
Other than teaching and studying the Bible, her favorite activities are gardening, rooting for the Yankees, watching the antics of her cat, reading, and taking leisurely walks.
She and her husband live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
You can contact her through her devotional website, www.digdeeperdevotions.com, or through her freelance editing website, www.lightningeditingservices.com.
Where else can you read what Denise has written? Published works include--
Open Your Hymnal and Open Your Hymnal Again--two devotional collections that connect the lyrics of hymns and gospel songs to the Scriptures that inspired them.
Restore the Significance: Devotions on Lesser-Known People of the Bible--a collection of devotions that celebrates the unique purpose and plan God has designed for every individual. Co-authored with my Dig Deeper ministry partner, Nancy J. Baker.
Restore the Joy: Daily Devotions for December--a collection of devotions that will help readers reclaim the joy of the season that God intends for His people to experience when they reflect on Christ's birth. Co-authored with my Dig Deeper ministry partner, Nancy J. Baker.
Restore the Hope: Devotions for Lent and Easter--a collection of devotions that will help readers reclaim the hope that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made possible for every person. Co-authored with my Dig Deeper ministry partner, Nancy J. Baker.
Restore the Conversation: Fifty Devotions on Prayer--a collection of devotions that will help readers better understand the privilege, purpose, and power of conversing with God. Co-authored with my Dig Deeper ministry partner, Nancy J. Baker.
"The Motherhood Marathon" in Chicken Soup for New Moms
"Bargains and Boundaries" in Chicken Soup's What I Learned from the Cat
"Imperfect, Not Incompetent" in A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Customer reviews
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2012Open Your Hymnal is a treasure that will inspire you to dig deep into the meaning of each hymn & writer. Each chapter is inspirational. I love the Hymns of old, and this writer has prompted me to use them in my personal devotionals and to share them with others. The writer brings sunshine to the table, and that makes for a good read. But most of all the writer inspires me with her love & knowledge of the Word of God. "Open Your Hymnal" makes a great gift.
Pat Spies
- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2024I sang my way through this devotional as I remembered singing most of them in church since childhood..
Denise Loock presents not only the history these great songs, but also a scriptural foundation each. She brought new thoughts to mind about the words.
I finished these devotions with a new appreciation for the old words. Oh that we would return to the reverence and majesty of these songs more often.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2012I really love our traditional hymns, they have such depth of meaning. I didn't know much about the background of these beautiful well-known pieces of poetry until I read the book. I know that I will sing them with the faith of our fathers, the earlier church, and have a better focus for worship. The Amazon Kindle has just taken off in Australia so I have to keep buying the paper books so I can share with my friends. Lol
- Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017As a singer, I loved this devotional. I relived some old hymns I haven't sang in a while. I learned so much through this. Understanding the inspiration for these songs was heartwarming.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2012I don't know how so many people gave this 5 stars. I'm quite disappointed in it, and in fact it may be the first e-book I return. I was sorely disappointed to find that the lyrics to the hymn being discussed are not included. There are some brief excerpts, but if you do not have a hymnal handy that has the full lyrics, you will not get the connection between what the author is writing and the original content of the hymn.
I did appreciate that there were some scripture references relating to each hymn, and that there were some suggestions for further thought or action. But each entry was pretty brief, and the lack of the full hymn lyrics really did miss the mark, in my opinion.
There have been daily devotionals printed in the past that gave the full hymn, the author's background and what influenced them to write the hymn. I loved those books, and will have to look around see if I can find one again. They were much deeper and more meaningful if you really love the theology of old hymns, as I do.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2015If you know me at all, you know that music, especially music that testifies of God's love and mercy, is an integral part of who I am. This little devotional book was then the perfect choice for me to read as the start of my devotions this year.
I really enjoyed how the author used the thoughts she had to weave the hymns and scriptures together. Some of the hymns were familiar to me, but some were not: so I chose to find YouTube clips of each of the hymns so I could familiarise myself with them. Doing that brought a whole new dimension to the readings each day.
I'm definitely looking forward to starting "Open Your Hymnal Again" tomorrow!
- Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2021History is important and I enjoy reading the history of the hymns of the faith and church. Those songs of the past worship the Lord and remind us of the sacrifice that Jesus made to give us eternal life.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018Traditional hymns are filled with Scripture and sound doctrine. This book includes devotions on old favorites plus some I didn't know.