an echoing down the flue
I startle near
and in listening, hear
a song of morning new
A caroling of forgiveness
of mercies fresh and pure
the hymn of spring
His graces ring
His promises assure
When I set aside the clatter
of all my worldly cares
and read His Word
the trilling bird
will quiet at my prayers
When the bird sings in the chimney
a calling; wild and free
In this quiet place
I’ll seek your face,
it is there I’ll wait on thee;
When the bird sings in the chimney
If truly led, the Word of God gives life
So I confess my helpless, sorry state
And glean his good relief from shackled strife
To enter through God’s chosen, narrow gate
Through faith, (not blind, as worldly men believe-
but based upon the promises He gave)
I stand before His altar and receive
the undeserved forgiveness, not my grave
In rising up, He bids me rise once more
Though rooster crows, and tears are freshly spun;
He washes clean my heart; his blood did pour
like water from the cross, my sins undone
Lord, wash me clean with purifying blood
And plunge me underneath your cleansing flood
For I receive forgiveness from your hand,
now from my knees to a victorious stand!
-Marilyn Griffin
Matt 16:24
Dying to my desire that I have your desire.
Dying to my joy that I desire your joy.
Dying to my wisdom that I desire the joy of your wisdom.
Dying to my life that I desire the joy and wisdom of your life.
Psalm 104
His Art
He wraps Himself in light; a splendid robe
And stretches heaven stars as black as night
He lays the earth's foundations 'round the globe
And rides on wings of breezes, gales of flight
As waters stood above the mountain peaks
At His rebuke they fled; His voice was heard
The echoing of thunder when He speaks
Appointing each a bound'ry by His Word
The springs gush down in valleys, flow through hills
And every beast in meadows quench their thirst
The birds are satisfied; they sing in trills
The earth breaks forth in beauty, unrehearsed
The oil of Love, the wine that gladdens heart
Let all creation praise the Father's art!
As we live in a time of the 3 hour news cycles and social media where anyone can publish anything at any time, consider the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy;
Do you regularly choose sources of information that incite your own passions and confirm your own bias? Or do you seek the truth even if it is contrary to your world view, passions or interests? Are we allowing the scriptures to transform our minds much more then all the media controversies?
Pastor Roberts message on studying the bible last Sunday was so timely I thought I would share the five simple questions Robert presented;
1. Read prayerfully
2. Read Daily
3. Read to learn
4. Ask questions and record your thoughts
5. Apply what you learn