My (Tear-jerker) Song of the Week

They all brought tears to my eyes at church this week - and none hit me so hard I just couldn't sing. So picking this weeks was tougher.

The sermon is what I am going to use to cap the Back to Basics Series. I have a feeling that Carl is not ever going to end the series really - so it has to stop somewhere. Carl gave a "New Years" sermon that answered question of what "new thing" the pastors and elders came up with programmatically to implement the Great Commandment as the core of our church. It may surprise you.

However, I am not going to do it until I finish the "Loving God with All Your Strength" and "Loving Your Neighbor As Yourself" diaries. The old hymn that served as Carl's prayer at the end of his teaching will be done now:

Be Thou My Vision
(click on title to hear a version of song)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

This is my prayer today for myself.
Cross-posted from Street Prophets