February 12, 2016
Opening Hymns:
454 Open My Eyes that I May See http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh454.sht
454 Open My Eyes that I May See http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh454.sht
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:1-17
51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
51:4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
51:5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
51:6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
51:11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
51:14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
51:16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
51:17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
51:4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
51:5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
51:6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
51:11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
51:14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
51:16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
51:17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Message:
Do you know how it feels to get a cold? You all of a sudden realize how nice it was to be able to sing, and talk without the strain of being sick. And the sounds of birds singing in the spring is a beautiful tune; however, it can become background music by mid-summer, until we are reminded of its beauty by the silence that follows in the winter. The smell of fresh baked bread also fades out of our minds, until we walk out of the room and return…. Then the smell becomes new and delicious once more.
Do you know how it feels to get a cold? You all of a sudden realize how nice it was to be able to sing, and talk without the strain of being sick. And the sounds of birds singing in the spring is a beautiful tune; however, it can become background music by mid-summer, until we are reminded of its beauty by the silence that follows in the winter. The smell of fresh baked bread also fades out of our minds, until we walk out of the room and return…. Then the smell becomes new and delicious once more.
In today’s scripture we hear beautiful
prayer. A wise prayer. David is seeking more than forgiveness. He wants his own
heart to be pure and his spirit to be continually willing to do God’s will. It
can be hard for us to keep our hearts focused on God. Sometimes people can let
God’s presence fade into the background of their lives.
Lent is a time to open our eyes again,
and to see the scriptures anew. It is the time to remember God’s love and
Jesus’ sacrifice. Lent is the time to draw close to God, and hear the story of
a Love that can conquer death.
Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, You make all things new. Create in us a clean and pure heart, and a willing spirit. Lord, let us use this season to focus our hearts on You. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn
452 My Faith Looks Up To Thee http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh452.sht
May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God
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