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August 13, 2009
Scripture Reading
I'm grateful to God for the gift of praying in tongues that he gives us for praising him, which leads to wonderful intimacies we enjoy with him. I enter into this as much or more than any of you. But when I'm in a church assembled for worship, I'd rather say five words that everyone can understand and learn from than say ten thousand that sound to others like gibberish.
- 1 Corinthians 14:18 (The Message)
Thought of the Day
This past Sunday was Mission Sunday at our church and as a part of that, we sang some of the old gospel hymns of the church. Being a preacher's kid from way back, I knew most of the old time hymns. We sang Rescue the Perishing and several others. Towards the end of the service I heard a familiar tune. Sure enough it was a song that I remember from the past. I think I knew of it as a child or youth, but my main memory of it was from a little over twenty years ago. I was on a high school youth mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico. I went as one of the construction guys. The Sunday we got there, a few of us went over to the little church where we were going to work to see the site and worship with them. I do not speak much Spanish and they did not speak much English. The service was lively and there was a lot of music. I did not understand the sermon at all. Maybe a few words here and there. When it was time for the last song, I was more than ready for things to end. I'll admit I was not very involved in the service. When the band began to play, I heard a familiar tune. Sure enough it was the same song from this last Sunday. It was the old Gospel hymn, Wonderful Words of Life. Here are the words.
Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Back in Mexico that night, I suddenly was involved in the worship service. As the group sang these wonderful words of life in Spanish, I sang them in English. Suddenly we were not as different as I had thought. Even though we were far apart in economic status, and in color, and in location, and in language, we were the same in Christ Jesus. We were connected with a loving God who gives us wonderful and beautiful words of life. Never ever forget how God connects us with others.
Prayer
Lord, Thank You for how You connect me with others. Amen.
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Memorial Drive United Methodist Church | 12955 Memorial Drive | Houston | TX | 77079 |
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