BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - SUNDAY IN THE SON

SUNDAY IN THE SON

The picture above symbolizes "a cracked pot" emptied of self and willing to be filled up with the light of Jesus.

On this blog, I keep coming back to these words: 

POUR IT OUT!

Let's pour ourselves out at the feet of Jesus!

Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT!

Oh, I know that POUR and POOR sound alike, but technically don't mean the same thing.  Yet, hear me out when I say, "If I empty myself out or pour myself out at the feet of Jesus, that certainly is the beginning of being "poor in spirit".  

There are very few songs that articulate that journey more than those penned by Theodore Monod:

1.

"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.”

2.

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.”

3.

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.”

4.

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.”

Many times, it's not a linear journey, but one that takes us around in circles.  We often find ourselves saying, "Dear LORD, I'm on my knees again... I just can't change myself..."  This is another song that gives a glimpse of what "poor in spirit" looks like.

Dear Lord,

I’m on my knees again

I come to You because You understand

I’ve tried so hard,

but I just can’t change myself

That’s why I know I need Your help

Chorus:

So here I am

This in my plea

My only hope is Your love for me

I’m reaching out

So desperately

Come take my hand;

take all of me

Just as I am!

Oh Lord,

You make what’s broken new

Why can’t I just learn to follow You

I want to know You and feel You in my soul

I surrender all control.

(Chorus again)

I am not afraid to follow You where You lead me

I can leave the past behind me

I’m forgiven and I’m free!"
 

~BLESSED~

OH, THE JOY!