Hart's Memories - Post 4

So I, Hart, have been cleaning up my Google Reader (deleting blogs I no longer read, or blogs that people no longer update, etc) and I came across 2 blogs I had actually forgotten about because they haven't been updated in forever. What a punk right? Start a blog, post some decent things, and then never update it again. Lame. Oh but wait. Those 2 blogs were blogs I started and never kept up with! Actually most of the posts in them are not that good, but there were a couple that I thought were actually decent and would be fun if over the next coming days I post (or I guess re-post) them for you to read. To read other memories, click here.

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Wretched Thorn Like Me
(Originally Posted on October 2, 2008)
(One of my blogs was called "Wretched Thorn". The following explains why...)

So I figured for my first “real” post here I would explain why I chose Wretched Thorn, and also what my expectations are for this blog.

Wretched – despicable; pitiful; worthless
That’s what I was. But then the Holy Spirit stirred within me, my hardened heart was broken, and my need for Christ was revealed to me. I have been washed by the blood of Christ, and am now apart of the royal priesthood and child of God!

Thorn – something that wounds, annoys, or causes discomfort
What are the treasured parts of a flower? The colors and the scent…NOT the thorns. Thorns only cause pain. They are disposed of. Before being redeemed by Christ, I was an enemy of God, and therefore I was like the tares in Matthew 13:24-30. Without Christ I would be bundled up with the other tares and tossed into the fire to burn.

Secondly, when I came across William Cowper’s hymn, "Sight of the Cross”, I really loved the 3rd verse. I love the image of God’s grace flowing from Him and is so powerful it can turn a Wretched Thorn Like Me into something beautiful. That image also reminds me of the story of Naaman, who suffering from leprosy, went to God to be healed. He was told to go under seven times in the Jordan. After the seventh time when he came up his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child; he was clean. That is what the blood of Christ has done to me! God is truly amazing and worthy of all my praise!

Sight of the Cross
William Cowper

I thirst, but not as once I did,
The vain delights of earth to share;
Thy wounds, Immanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasures there.

It was the sight of Thy dear cross
First weaned my heart from earthly things;
And taught me to esteem as dross
The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.

Oh for that grace that springs from Thee,
And quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn like me
Bloom as the myrtle, or the rose.

Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living and life-giving stream!

For sure of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father’s eye,
None proves less grateful to His care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than I.