Oh, To Be Nothing, Nothing...

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only to lie at His feet,
A broken and emptied vessel,
For the Master’s use made meet.
Emptied that He might fill me
As forth to His service I go;
Broken, that so unhindered,
His life through me might show.

Refrain:
Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only to lie at His feet,
A broken and emptied vessel,
For the Master’s use made meet.

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Only as led by His hand;
A messenger at His gateway,
Only waiting for His command;
Only an instrument ready
His praises to sound at His will,
Willing should He not require me,
In silence to wait on Him still.

Refrain

Oh, to be nothing, nothing,
Painful the humbling may be,
Yet low in the dust I’d lay me
That the world might my Savior see.
Rather be nothing, nothing,
To Him let our voices be raised,
He is the Fountain of blessing,
He only is meet to be praised.

Refrain

Words: Georgiana M. Taylor, 1869

Wedding prepararions continue.  I'm nearing the completion of the first flower girl dress in the next few days, and I have started the second.  The days are counting down closer to August 5th.  😁

I'm thankful for the few ways I can help, but I realize I can easily get in the way and hinder, which I really do not want to do. Meanwhile, I'm asking the Lord to give me wisdom and grace to be sustained for the little part we have in making that first weekend in August special! 

Ohh Lord, please perfect all that concerns Mark and Caroline.  I pray their aim will be to exalt You on their wedding day!  May they fix their eyes on You, because in You, all things are complete (Colossians 2:6-15). 

Lord, may it be so! 

God of Perfect Order and Everlasting Light

My dear friend, Sarah, texted last night from TN, and while we conversed, she shared this picture of what the sky looked like from her perspective state. 

"Wow! How beautiful", I thought.  

Not long thereafter, while talking with another friend outside, I looked up to see my very own perspective of that same, huge, beautiful moon...

so I captured it to send back to Sarah...

I needed this last night, and I need the reminder again this morning of how masterful God is in working out all the seemingly huge and overwhelming details of my life. 

What I cannot see from afar off does not mean He does NOT have it ALL under His control.  

He is perfectly and providentially holding together the unknown, because...

He does!! 

He can!!
He doesn't need my help!! 

Isaiah 60- 

19 

The sun shall be no more

 your light by day,

nor for brightness shall the moon give you light;

but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

20 

Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself;

for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

21 

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever,

the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,

that I might be glorified. 

22 

The least one shall become a clan,

    and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.

Those Secret Things

May I adore the mystery I cannot comprehend.

Help me to be not too curious in prying into those secret things that are known only to Thee, O God, 

nor too rash in censuring what I do not understand...
We are of yesterday and know nothing.
But Thy boundless mind comprehends, at one view, all things past, present, and future, and as Thou dost see all things, Thou dost best understand what is good and proper for each individual and for me... 

so deal with me, O my God.
Susannah Wesley


My heart is full this evening for the blessing that comes through one's desire for  accountability and one accordedness!  Thank you, LORD, for encouraging me through a new friend who loves You and sincerely seeks to serve You by loving others.  Thank you for helping this person die to self that he may first pursue the ultimate treasure in gaining You!!  

Please, please bless him, and show him favor in the matters of life that will strengthen his spirit and help him have a clearer, driven aim for what You'd have him to pursue, for Your call on his life.
May our friendship be strengthened and encouraged as we grow in grace and a sweeter fellowship with You!!

Forevermore Endure

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Refrain

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain

Frederick M. Lehman, 1917 (verses 1-2)

3rd verse copied from the words inscribed on a wall, said to be inspired by an Aramaic poem. 

Bind Me to Thee

O God,
Though I am allowed to approach thee
I am not unmindful of my sins,
I do not deny my guilt,
I confess my wickedness, and earnestly plead forgiveness.
May I with Moses choose affliction rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin.
Help me to place myself always under thy guiding and guardian care,
to take firmer hold of the sure covenant that binds me to thee,
to feel more of the purifying, dignifying, softening influence of the religion I profess,
to have more compassion, love, pity, courtesy,
to deem it an honor to be employed by thee as an instrument in thy hands,
ready to seize every opportunity of usefulness, and willing to offer all my talents to thy service.
Thou hast done for me all things well, hast remembered, distinguished, indulged me.
All my desires have not been gratified, but thy love denied them to me
when fulfillment of my wishes would have proved my ruin or injury.
My trials have been fewer than my sins, and when I have kissed the rod it has fallen from thy hands.
Thou hast often wiped away my tears, restored peace to my mourning heart, chastened me for my profit.  All thy work for me is perfect, and I praise thee.

-Choices, The Valley of Vision (The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 192-193