Abide with Me

[msethsmile]

Its Advent season again, the Altar parament (cloth) is purple. Purple is the color of royalty, in this case the "King of kings". Purple is also the color of penitence. Yes, Advent is also the time to repent--just like Ash Wednesday and Lent (also purple). Please enjoy the hymn:

"Abide with Me! Fast Falls the Eventide" Lyte

1. Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

4. Come not in terror, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

8. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

---A monk died once and in his pocket was found this note: "We are all beggars." Forgiveness of sins is a beautiful thing, the sole purpose of Jesus in the manger.

[msethsmile]

Let's join King David--who knew a thing or two about repentance. He looked forward to the coming Messiah (900+ years later). Christ would fix David's (our) mess. God called him, "A man after my own heart":

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight...
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

[godsdozer]

Jesus loves me this i know.

[1Holeshot]

I repent every day.

[msethsmile]

"The life of a Christian is one of daily repentance." (paraphrase)

How many 30-40 minute sermons could come from Psalm 51? 50 sermons? 100? It has been said the Psalms are the graduate school of theology. Beautiful stuff. Deeper than deep too.

[CajunBass]

Jesus loves me this i know.

Amen brother. Amen.

The last song at my mothers funeral. I've requested the same for mine.

[sdbrison]

Amen brother. Amen.

The last song at my mothers funeral. I've requested the same for mine.

Very true... :"Jesus loves me this i know. for the Bible tells me so"