What I am reading about hymnbooks in the Daily Devotions (“Knowing and Doing the Will of God”) by J.I. Packer today, September 21, reminds me of my mother.

GLAUBENSSTIMME: Gesangbuch fuer Gemeinde und Haus.

Many years ago in Germany she used to have a special place for her Quiet Time in the house where she lived in Bottrop in the Ruhr District. I think that part of the house was meant to be eventually for the guests, but at that time it was not quite finished and the ideal place for her devotions. I remember her in that room not only with her Bible, but she also had a hymnbook with her, namely the Baptist hymnbook called Glaubensstimme fuer Gemeinde und Haus (J. G. Oncken Verlag, Kassel). I have actually a copy of that hymnbook in my possession. A friend of my mother very kindly sent it to me.

And this is what J. I. Packer says about good hymnbooks, and I think the above mentioned hymnbook is in fact a very good one. It contains hymns by Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts. J. I. Packer says that we catch the zeal for the glory of Christ from good hymnbooks, and he says that that is one of the best helps to holiness that he knows .