Father, a harried afternoon but all is good. Thank You for being at work in my life even when things don’t go according to plan.
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I see something fairly regularly that many do not (it was a rarity for me to see before driving a bus!) An early morning moon is breathtaking! It makes no difference what phase it is in. Full moons on a clear morning – wow! But for whatever reason, I am especially drawn to crescent moons – especially when they are lit enough that you can still see the form of the dark portion of the moon. That is what we had this past Tuesday morning – it was beautiful!
Of course, most of us know why only a portion of the moon is lit – the earth stands between it and the sun, obstructing the sun’s light.
Now the moon is just doing what the moon does. The same goes for the earth and the sun. They all follow the course set for them by their Creator.
So, if we follow the course our Creator sets for us, what should that look like? One thing is for sure, nothing should come between us and the Son – Jesus Christ. And it is to our detriment if we allow the world to stand between us.
But isn’t that the easiest route to go. I mean, there are very few who don’t…right? Hear the Word of the Lord as proclaimed by Jesus Himself in Matthew 7:13-14 (AMP),
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.
My challenge today is to be one of the few that does not let the world come between you and the Lord. What better way to bring others into a saving relationship with Him that to allow ourselves to give a full reflection of His light and love to the world before us!
Lord Jesus, may we seek a closeness with You that goes beyond our comprehension. Help us to give our lives over to You with nothing between us.
Jan 23rd, 2020, Thurs, 5:12 pm
Since entering the pastorate in the United Methodist Church I have come to really appreciate the hymn “Nothing Between” – it fits well here. I discovered this rendition on YouTube – Neville Peter does a wonderful job! If you don’t care to listen please just read the words – they are solid!
♪♫♪ Nothing Between / I Surrender All ♫♪♫
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s or my fondest dream;
I have renounced sin and all of its pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
All my habits of life, though harmless they seem;
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
Nothing between, not even my trials,
Though this old world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self denial,
Triumph at last, with nothing between.
I surrender all…
“Nothing Between” – Words & Music: Charles A. Tindley, 1905
“I Surrender All” – Words: Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
Music: Winfield S. Weeden, 1896
