Just As I Am

(NOTE TO READERS: On the last morning of 2012, Carole was experiencing gratitude for God’s goodness and writing it for the website.  As she read her thoughts and the lyrics to “Just as I am” to her husband Don, it became the Father’s calling into His presence and Don’s birth into eternity.)

As I reflect on this past year, what stands out as paramount to me is His unfailing faithfulness, His love, mercy, and His grace.  As I sort through His dealings with me, the exposures of my heart, the joys and the conflicts, I see Him standing before me this morning, the Lamb of God with His arms open, “Come.”  This morning He whispered to me, “Just As I Am.”  I went to look up the lyrics and wept with each verse and responded in tears, “I come.”  So I as I leave 2012 and prepare to enter 2013, I bow in worship and submission to His own call and I come, just as I am.

 Just As I Am
Charlotte Elliott, 1835

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.