I wrote this blog a little while ago, when thinking about dementia. Everything about me has been made by God, is sustained by God, and will be taken away by God. I therefore need to be ready and willing to give up whatever God takes away, at any time.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away (John 15:2; NKJV).
Yahweh,
Take away my mind:
You know my thoughts –
They’re so unkind.
Please take away my selfish heart:
You know it’s cold and dark.
Jesus,
Take away my flesh:
You know my sins
And weaknesses.
Please take away my troubled life:
You know my inner strife.
Spirit,
Take away my soul:
When you reclaim it,
I’ll be whole.
Take everything: faith, joy, hope, pain –
Till you, alone, remain.
I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).
You remain forever (Psalm 102:26; NLT).
References
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed! (Job 1:21; NET).
The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless! (Psalm 94:11; NLT).
He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).
If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell (Matthew 8:9; NLT).
O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you (Psalm 69:5; NLT).
He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).
Everything comes from you (1 Corinthians 29:14; CSB).
Everything I have is yours (Luke 15:31; NLT).
I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV).
The Rosary Hospital
Yesterday I enjoyed making a simple five-decade rosary, which is almost finished. I’m particularly pleased that it is made almost entirely from recycled materials:
