Let Me Burn Out For Thee

As soon as I heard about this song, I knew that I wanted find the lyrics and share them with all of you.

My Pastor has shared many times about this song being his mom's favorite, but recently it has become even more important as her time on earth is quickly coming to an end.  I've only met this woman twice, but she left a mark on my heart as a loving, caring, sweet and yet stubborn woman that has a heart for sharing the gospel to whoever is put in her path.  As she has been very ill for the last couple months, many people have come in contact with her.  Some came to her house, some were at the doctor's office and some at the hospital.  Yet, wherever she was, she made sure that the person she was talking to heard the gospel.  She is looking forward to spending eternity with the Lord, but understands that she is still here for a reason and her hearts desire is to burn out for Him.

Her family members could share story after story of her diligence in sharing the gospel.  One of the stories came from back when all her kids were young and with several in diapers she was not able to be out spreading the gospel to others and was frusrtated with that :}  She knew her place was with the kids at home and that the ministry of serving, sharing the gospel and training them was just as important as sharing it with strangers, but she had such an incredible desire to share the good news and was frustrated.  So she prayed to the Lord, to send someone or open up an opportunity so that she could minister in this way.....Well, the Lord sent a salesman to her door and she saw him as a gift from God :)  She figured that if she let him talk to her about what he was selling, then he would have to listen to her afterward.   And she did! 

There was a fervency in her heart to share, because she knew that her time on earth was short.  I pray that all of our hearts would be set on fire to share the Good News and that our utmost desire would be to "burn out" for the God we owe everything to.

Oh God, the world is lost in sin,

And so few that seem to care,

Many of whom profess Thy Name, No burden will help to bear,

We need a passion, Lord, for souls,

To bring the lost back to Thee,

Our hearts must be stirred till all have heard

At least once of Calvary.

Refrain
Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord
Burn and wear out for Thee
Don’t let me rust, or my life be a failure, my God, to Thee
Use me and all I have, dear Lord,
And hold me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb of the great heart of God
Until I burn out for Thee.

How cold has been our giving, Lord!

How selfish our love has been,

Keeping from those who never heard

The gospel that saves from sin!

How often we have turned aside

Neglecting to do our part,

Forgetting Thy tears and agony,

Forgetting Thy bleeding heart

Refrain

Meet us and break us up, dear Lord

Until driven to our knees

Bare to our gaze, Thy cross and love,

Of blood-baptized Calvary,

Speak till we hear again Thy call,

And hold nothing back from Thee.

Oh, burn on our hears the hopeless wail

Of souls damned eternally.

Refrain

O God, with shame I humbly bow,

In tears and a contrite heart.

Forgive me for the broken vows,

And failure to do my part.

I heed Thy call and say “Farewell”

To all that would hinder me;

Thy grace and Thy love to lost ones tell,

And my life burn out for Thee

Refrain

Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord
Burn and wear out for Thee
Don’t let me rust, or my life be a failure, my God, to Thee
Use me and all I have, dear Lord,
And hold me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb of the great heart of God
Until I burn out for Thee.

~ Bessie Hatcher

I just listened to this short clip from Scott Klusendorf's full lecture and thought it needed to be shared.  It is just audio, but well worth the listen.  I think I need to memorize his response as it defeats every abortion argument! 

Father, I pray you would protect the unborn.  That you would keep them from pain.  Please give us the words to say when we come in contact with someone who would desire to kill them.  Please open their eyes to the lies they are believing and help them see that the unborn baby is just as human as the born baby.

In Your Name,
Amen


I am not endorsing Scott Klusendorf - I don't know anything about him.  I just listened to this clip and thought it should be shared.

Fragile...Handle With Care

How do you commemorate a life well lived?  How do you express how much someone means to you?  How do you explain to others what you've learned by the example of someone else?



(Left Top) My sister, me & my brother (Bottom) Nana and Grampa
Taken 4 years ago at my Graduation.

 I don't really have the answer to any of those questions....but I'm going to try and trust the Lord to give me the words.

This year has been an extremely sad and yet happy year.  My grampa passed away last March and my nana went to be with him a little over a week ago.  As I wrote in my prayer journal after both of their deaths I was struck by how blessed I had been to have them as my grandparents.  I was filled with grief at the thought that I will never hear their special phrases again, or experience new things with them, or feel their arms wrap around me again.  But yet I can also smile amongst the tears and know that they came to know the Lord before they died.  That right now they are in heaven and I have the hope of one day seeing them in glory!!  There is such a peace that fills my heart in knowing that.  Knowing that they are with our Lord and Savior, the One who loves them more than I can imagine.  They are w/o pain and are rejoicing to be in heaven!

However, with these thoughts, I am also filled with the memories that they gave me.  Memories filled with love.  I only had them for 22 years and it doesn't seem like enough, yet I know that God knew it was enough.  Every time I walked into the door of their house I was welcomed with "Hello love" and a kiss from both of them.  When I would leave Nana would always say "You know you're welcome anytime, stop by anytime you're passing through."  and Grampa never failed to tell each of his grandaughters every time they left that "You're beautiful" and then he would walk us to the door. 

Life is fragile, handle with care.  The day after Nana went to be with the Lord, a man of 53 years of age went to be with the Lord.  This man had gone to school with my Dad and was what most people would say "the picture of health."  He was fit and worked out, he ate fairly well, and wasn't struggling with any diseases.  He just had a massive heart attack.  He had it at the fire station, so the EMT's were on him immediately and were able to revive him.  They brought him to the ER and were talking to him when he had another heart attack and was gone.  He had a divine appointment with the Lord.

Life is fragile, handle with care. We never know when the next person will be called home to the Lord....or maybe thier eternal destination is not so secure.  Love others....love them as Christ loves us.  With all our flaws and failures.  Forgive others...forgive them as Christ forgives us over and over and over again.  Share the Gospel with others....as the gospel was shared with you.  Never let the sun go down on your anger...it may be the last sunset for one of you.  I know this sound morbid, but it is so easy for us to get wrapped up in life and forget to smell the roses....hold that persons hand.....kiss that wrinkled cheek.....wipe that little tear.....tinkle that laughing child.....spend that extra 15 minutes talking......bake those favorite cookies for that special someone.....go through the old pictures and hear the stories.....LOVE...

God has a perfect plan in everything.  His timing is the best.  But only He knows the plans and the timing of them.  What will we do with the time He has given us?  What will we remember with that time?  Will that time be treasured?

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth…
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
That can still be rearranged

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile…
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

by Linda Ellis