Sunday, January 14, 2007

Late Sunday Hymn

This is not a hymn that I have ever really liked - I haven't given it much thought, actually. However, this week I felt the burden of sermon preparation weighing particularly heavily upon me and this hymn came to mind when I was praying about the responsibility of preaching a difficult text.

I'm close to the end of my Matthew series that I started ages ago. I preached on our Lord in Gethsemane this morning. How can I communicate what Christ went through in that garden? Thus the prayer, "Lord, speak to me that I may speak."

Lord, Speak to Me

1. Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy erring children lost and lone.

2. O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

3. O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

4. O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

5. O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

Francis Havergal (1836-1879)

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