As you've gathered by now, I glean most of my inspiration from songs. I recently came across a song that really spoke to me. The song is called Sweet Exchange. As you know, Rusty had been having us read from the book of Genesis as a body, and I've often wondered if God was displeased with Cain's sacrifice, or with the condition of his heart. The words of this song kind of cleared it up for me:

All I have is a broken spirit.

All I have is a shameful heart.

You don't want my sacrifices,

yet You want my ev'ry part.

I have sinned against no other,

white as snow I long to be.

You have ev'rything to offer;

I have nothing can bring.

What a sweet exchange.

How can it be,

where I give my pain

and You give Your peace?

What an odd display

salvation brings.

You washed away my sin and shame,

and in its place You left Your grace.

For within Your great compassion

lies a love that longs for me,

that blocks out my transgressions

and sets this captive free.

What sweet exchange!

God doesn't want our sacrifices--He wants us! Psalm 51 states "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." And Psalm 50 tells us to "sacrifice thank offerings to God."

In the words of another song: "What can I give Him? Give Him my heart."

Yours in Christ,

Charlene