Reformation Thinking

This beautiful hymn was a selection during the Divine service today. It gets to me every time I sing it. Click on post title to hear the music :)

" From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee"
by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546


From depths of woe I cry to Thee,
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee.
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
My prayer let come before Thee.
If Thou rememberest each misdeed,
If each should have its rightful meed,
Who may abide Thy presence?

Thy love and grace alone avail
To blot out my transgression;
The best and holiest deeds must fail
To break sin's dread oppression.
Before Thee none can boasting stand,
But all must fear Thy strict demand
And live alone by mercy.

Therefore my hope is in the Lord
And not in mine own merit;
It rests upon His faithful Word
To them of contrite spirit
That He is merciful and just;
This is my comfort and my trust.
His help I wait with patience.

And though it tarry till the night
And till the morning waken,
My heart shall never doubt His might
Nor count itself forsaken.
Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
Wait for your God's appearing.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.


Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the faithful pastors you provide to Your people. Your willing servants who bring us the healing balm, your words of life and salvation in word and sacrament. Keep them steadfast. Give them strength for the tasks that stretch before them each day. Give us ears to hear and hands to help. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Guard and keep Your Church until that day when she will know as she has been known. Amen.
________________________________________________________________

Nothing

What happens when there is nothing left? The cupboard is bare. The gas tank is hovering on E. The house is in foreclosure and your total assets amount to less than $20. Even "destitute" isn't adequate enough to describe your condition. These are the temporal things which bring much distress. But this too is our spiritual condition. Without the Lamb of God's all atoning sacrifice we would meet a fate worse than earthly poverty. Thanks be to God that he has not left us alone even to face the present difficulties. We pray as he taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

A pox upon anyone who doesn't believe in the sufficiency of this prayer. It doesn't get any better than the "Lord's Prayer".