OzThoughts – Friday 28th August 2009

OzThoughts – Friday 28th August 2009

[Administration note: There will be no Australian Thoughts at the Weekend or Sunday Hymns and Psalms this weekend ( 29th and 30th August) as I will be away from my computer.]

After Isaiah had his lips cleansed by the hot coal carried by the six winged creatures, God called him to action. God asked “Who will I send as my messenger?” and immediately Isaiah answered “I will go! Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).

The evidence of the Bible in so many places is that God forgives us and cleanses us then calls us to work for him in some way. It is not all dramatic or spectacular but God does use us all. Some of us it seems are not called to do very much. Others God requires a lot more of. It is something we need to work out with God. God will, I believe, direct us clearly in some way how we are to live for him. Sometimes, we have our ideas but God has other plans.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will show me clearly how you would have me respond to your love and forgiveness. I pray that your Holy Spirit will be pleased to equip me and use me to day for your Kingdom’s sake. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Psalm 51 (The Message).

1 Generous in love--God, give grace!
Huge in mercy--wipe out my bad record.
2 Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
3 I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down.

4 You're the One I've violated, and you've seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
5 I've been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
6 What you're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

7 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
8 Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
9 Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
10 God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
11 Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
12 Bring me back from grey exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
13 Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
14 Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I'll sing anthems to your life--giving ways.
15 Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.

16 Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
17 I learned God--worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice.

18 Make Zion the place you delight in,
repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls.
19 Then you'll get real worship from us,
acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
they can heave onto your altar!

[Listen: Piano: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music4/mus_7000.mp3 ]

How can I better serve thee, Lord,
Thou who hast done so much for me?
Faltering and weak my labour has been;
O that my life may tell for thee!

Chorus
Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need;
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

Dull are my ears to hear thy voice,
Slow are my hands to work for thee,
Loath are my feet to conquer the steeps
That lead me to my Calvary.

Strength for my weakness, Lord, impart;
Sight for my blindness give to me;
Faith for my doubtings, Lord, I would crave,
That I may serve thee worthily.
Author: Bramwell Coles (1887-1960)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 488
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