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Channels Only

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Our treasure is the Spirit of God and the jar of clay is our earthly body.  In this section of scripture Paul is explaining to the people of Corinth that they are a channel for God to shine through and that through Jesus we will never be separated from God again.  At the hospice house, Liz, my sister, sat down and played Channels Only on the piano.  This is a song that has deep and lasting meaning for my family, but today I instantly thought of my mother lying in the bed in the next room and felt the truth in the words of that song.  Tears began to stream as I recognized to the fullest extent what it means to be a channel for God.  It is my prayer.

Channels Only by Mary E. Maxwell

How I praise Thee, precious Savior,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me 
That I might Thy channel be.
          Channels only, blessed Master,
          But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
          Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
          Every day and every hour.

 Just a channel full of blessing,
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation
All Thy loving message sound.
          Channels only, blessed Master,
          But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
          Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
          Every day and every hour.

 Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no pow'r but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command. 
          Channels only, blessed Master,
          But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
          Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
          Every day and every hour.
Witnessing Thy pow'r to save me,
Setting free from self and sin;
Thou who boughtest to possess me,
In Thy fullness Lord, come in.
          Channels only, blessed Master,
          But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
          Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
          Every day and every hour.

 Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner self may flow.
          Channels only, blessed Master,
          But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
          Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
          Every day and every hour.

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