“None of self, and all of Thee.”

None of self, and all of Thee

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent;
I must grow less so.] John 3:30 (Amplified Bible)

Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow

That a time could ever be,

When I proudly said to Jesus,

“All of self, and none of Thee.”

All of self, and none of Thee,

All of self, and none of Thee,

When I proudly said to Jesus,

“All of self, and none of Thee.”

Yet He found me; I beheld Him

Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,

And my wistful heart said faintly,

“Some of self, and some of Thee.”

Some of self, and some of Thee,

Some of self, and some of Thee,

And my wistful heart said faintly,

“Some of self, and some of Thee.”

Day by day His tender mercy,

Healing, helping, full and free,

Brought me lower while I whispered,

“Less of self, and more of Thee.”

Less of self, and more of Thee,

Less of self, and more or Thee,

Brought me lower while I whispered,

“Less of self, and more of Thee.”

Higher than the highest heaven,

Deeper than the deepest sea,

Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:

“None of self, and all of Thee.”

None of self, and all of Thee,

None of self, and all of Thee,

Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:

“None of self, and all of Thee.”

written by Reverend Theodore Monod

Sprout

Sprout

A tiny sprout found himself set in a daunting wood.
Despite his context, he desired to be all he could.
He gathered that he could grow strong in the light.
Daily, he immersed himself in the sun, gaining might.
His self-discipline stimulated distinctive growth.
His progress inspired him to proclaim an oath.
“God, since You love me, I’ll be all You want me to be.”
By faith in God, the little sprout grew into a treasured tree.
His shade invigorated countless souls who came near.
Let us remember that God holds even small things dear.
Allow me to enlighten and encourage you, my little one.
God cares for those who trust in Jesus, His beloved Son.

Small beginnings can spring into grand finales.
Mustard seed faith in Christ blossoms into eternal life.

Do you know Jesus?

Psalm 92:12-15 (Amplified Bible)
The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
3/22/2010

Into His Marvelous Light

Into His Marvelous Light

In the darkness, I was clad from birth.
In the darkness, I had no lasting mirth.
In the darkness, my focus was blurred.
In the darkness, my cry seemed unheard.
In the darkness, my heart feared.
In the darkness, my feet veered.
In the darkness, many tears I shed.
In the darkness, hope was all but dead.
But, then the Light appeared.
Out of darkness, He steered.
In the Light, He dissolved my shame.
In the Light, He changed my name.
In the Light, my salvation arrived.
In the Light, my soul revived.
In the Light, my heart strengthened.
In the Light, my vision lengthened.
In the Light, Truth and Love perfects me.
In the Light, looms my glorious eternal destiny.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
2/17/10