After a long, busy, tiring, but pleasurable, Advent, I find myself still and resting in peace today. What an eventful time I’ve had here at “Gloryteller” over the last three weeks and three days! It passed so quickly, I can hardly catch my breath! I’ve learned new things about the Christ Child’s birth and some of the “old” things have struck me in new ways. I went deep into the Profound Mystery, and today, after the crescendo buildup of excitement surrounding
The Birth That Shook The Earth,
I find myself overwhelmed;
physically and emotionally drained, but spiritually uplifted . . .
The Baby is sleeping peacefully now.
He and His family have endured a world-changing night;
A mother-changing, husband-changing, son-changing night!
I feel like I went through it with them, in a sense . . .
And, at this moment, about all I can do
is be still and adore Him,
be still in the knowledge that He is my Lord God,
be still and worship Him,
be still and rest here at His feet . . .
Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close And Mary, breathless, Draws him sleeping To her heart, Made pure for keeping Still, still, still, His bright eyes softly close.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and sweetly smiles. And kneeling Joseph Joins in chorus With the angels Bending o’er us Sleep, sleep, sleep, He hears, and sweetly smiles.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, He breathes a tender sigh, For soon he’ll wake The world from slumber Bringing life And endless wonder Sleep, Sleep, Sleep He breathes a tender sigh
Sleep, Holy Jesus, Sleep . . .
~ ~ ~
I really like this Austrian Christmas carol in the form of a lullaby.
(a “lullbaby” perhaps?) It so saturates me with peace . . .
But now I must sadly, yet joyfully, send out one last, heartfelt, Merry Christmas and wishes for peace to you this season.
It is Christmas night, 2018, Goodnight from Len, here at Gloryteller.com
* * Für Juli
Stille, stille, stille, Seine hellen Augen schließen sich leise Und Maria, atemlos, Zieht ihn schlafend Zu ihrem Herzen, Rein zum Halten gemacht Immer noch, immer noch, immer noch, Seine hellen Augen schließen sich leise.
Schlaf Schlaf Schlaf,
Er hört und lächelt freundlich.
Und kniend Joseph
Joins im Chorus
Mit den Engeln
Über uns gebeugt
Schlaf Schlaf Schlaf,
Er hört und lächelt freundlich. Schlaf Schlaf Schlaf, Er atmet einen zärtlichen Seufzer, Denn bald wird er aufwachen Die Welt aus dem Schlummer Leben bringen Und endloses Wunder Schlaf Schlaf Schlaf Er atmet einen zärtlichen Seufzer Schlaf, heiliger Jesus Schlaf * *
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The last few hours of The Advent of Christ are before us. We can wait no longer and we don’t need to. Our hunger for hope, peace, joy, and love, is hard to bear; We prepare the meal we will eat tonight after church. We know we will be hungry for that food too,
but I want my hunger for Jesus to be foremost!
We can stay awake watching long into the night, or go to sleep and let Him be born. Either is fine, for in the morning we will have the certainty of Jesus’ birth.
The birth that shook the earth!
About 2019 years ago, everything was in place to bring the astounding event into reality for humanity. God’s gracious, merciful plan was about to take a new turn and reach a new level.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became human. And the Word was named Jesus, He was born in a stable, wrapped in cloth, and placed in a manger to sleep . . .
Placed in a manger . . . Have you ever thought about that? A manger is a type of feed trough for animals. Here on the farm we call that a “feeder”.
It occurs to me that Jesus, lying in that feeder, seems to have made Himself a symbol
for our spiritual Nourishment! Is it any wonder that He told Peter, “Feed my sheep”? Is it any wonder that He called Himself “The Bread of Life”, or said of some bread, “This is my body“? He wants us to partake of Himself! To drink deeply! “The Bread of Life”, and “The Water of Life”!
He, lying in that feeder, was already telling us, “I AM your nourishment, your sustenance; Come to Me and be filled”!
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Today, December 23, 2018, is the fourth Sunday of Advent,
which also coincides with Christmas Eve – Eve.
We light the fourth candle – the love candle,
in my book, the easiest one to light in the heart,
for Father God loved us first and sent His Jesus
to enable us to love Him in a completely new way, and
interact, and have a real relationship with Him. Love rescued, and love reconciled!
This candle also signifies His imminent presence.
The Advent season is all about expectant waiting;
excited, hopeful, waiting for the Baby’s presence!
We want Him to be born soon!
We want to see Him!
He seems so close;
the air is charged!
We can almost feel angels in the air.
The Spirit of God certainly presides over our village.
Tomorrow night, everything will be poised;
miraculously in position,
as it was around 2019 years ago!
Mary, her Baby, Joseph, shepherds,
angels – lots of angels!
Peace and joy are closing in.
Tomorrow is the Holy Night – Jesus Christ’s night. The Advent of Christ is all but complete.
Are preparations perfect? Is my heart ready for His arrival? I find myself wishing that I could be less imperfect; better prepared, And more ready. Yet, hope in Him, the peace and joy He brings, His love, and all His magnificent light, uphold and uplift my soul. I am ready as I can be for Jesus’ arrival! Soon, incarnation! Soon, adoration! Soon, celebration!
Yesterday’s post used birds prominently in a poignant allegory that alluded to why Jesus had to be incarnated. This next uses birds prominently to make another important allusion:
In tribute to the people of his native country, Catalonia, (at the time of this writing in 2017, embroiled in issues with independence from Spain) ninety-four-year-old Pablo Casals, famed cellist, composer, and conductor, had often ended his concerts with “El Cant Dels Ocells” (“The Song of the Birds”), a Catalonian Christmas carol.
“It is so beautiful,” he said, “And it is also the soul of my country, Catalonia.” “The birds in the sky, in the space, sing: “Peace! Peace! Peace!””
Song of The Birds, or, Carol of the Birds, isn’t as widely known as many of the more traditional carols, but I wish it were. (please note that there are two or three songs which have the same name, but different lyrics and tunes.) (and even this Catalonian song has several different versions)
I am fascinated by the idea that the birds might represent nature, or the created universe, when it first becomes “aware”of The Creator’s arrival inside His creation. What happiness, and joy, and awe, and peacefulness, is expressed by these “voices of nature”.
This may be frivolous speculation on my part, wondering how nature “perceives” its Creator; is it somehow “conscious” or “aware” of Him in a way we cannot understand, we aren’t conscious of, and can’t have much knowledge of? And maybe not individual awareness like one rock or mountain, but a collective awareness with the whole of creation giving glory and being glory for our mighty God.
I know a few people who hear this music as haunting, morose, even depressing.
Not me!
I hear bright awe and respect;
depth of joyous, sacred mystery;
gentle, peaceful, yet glorious and ecstatic, worship,
in reverence for the Christ-child.
How do you perceive it?
Below are four different lyrical versions of “Carol of the Birds”. There may be more, I’m not certain, but these are poetic, and deep, compelling, and emotional. One could almost imagine that nature, or Creation, is praying to, and worshiping, our all knowing, all encompassing, Creator-God;
Our Christ-child, our Jesus.
~ ~ ~
Joan Baez version:
When rose the eastern star, the birds came from a-far,
in that full might of glory. With one melodious voice, they sweetly did rejoice,
and sang the wondrous story. Sang, praising God on high, enthroned above the sky,
and his fair mother Mary.
The eagle left his lair, came winging through the air,
his message loud arising.
And to his joyous cry, the sparrow made reply,
his answer sweetly voicing.
“O’ercome are death and strife, this night is born new life”,
the robin sang rejoicing.
When rose the eastern star, the birds came from a-far.
~ ~ ~
The words given below are as most commonly sung in the English version;
A star rose in the sky and glory from on high did fill the night with splendor. Came birds with joyful voice to carol and rejoice with songs so sweet and tender.
The eagle then did rise, went flying through the skies, to tell the wondrous story, sang: Jesus, born is he, who comes to set us free, he brings us joy and glory.
The sparrow with delight said: This is Christmas night, our happiness revealing. The sky with praises rang, as finch and robin sang their songs of glad rejoicing.
The lark upon the wing said: Now it seems like spring, no more is winter pressing; for now a flower is born whose fragrance on this morn to earth brings heaven’s blessing.
Sang magpie, thrush, and jay, It seems the month of May in answer to our yearning. The trees again are green and blossoms now are seen, it is the spring returning!
The cuckoo sang: Come, come, And celebrate the dawn this glorious aurora. The raven from his throat then trilled a festive note to the unexcelled Señora.
The partridge then confessed, I want to build my nest beneath that very gable where I may see the Child and watch whene’er he smiles with Mary in that stable.
~ ~ ~
A more literal translation from the Catalonian:
In seeing emerge The greatest light During the most celebrated of nights, The little birds sing. They go to celebrate Him With their delicate voices.
The imperial eagle flies high in the sky, singing melodically, saying, “Jesus is born To save us all from sin And to give us joy.”
The sparrow responds, Today, this Christmas Eve, Is a night of good cheer!” The greenfinch and the siskin Say in singing, too, “Oh, what joy I feel!”
The linnet sang, “Oh, how lovely and beautiful Is the child of Mary!” The thrush answers: “Death is conquered, My life now begins!”
The nightingale twitters, “He is more beautiful than the sun, More brilliant than a star!” The redstart and the stonechat Celebrate the infant And his virgin Mother.
The wren sang For the glory of the Lord, Inflating with fantasy; The canary follows: Its music sounds like A great song from Heaven.
Now comes the woodlark Saying, “Come birds To celebrate the dawn!” And the big blackbird, whistling, Went celebrating The greatest Lady.
The tit says, “It is neither winter nor summer But rather springtime; A flower is born That gives a sweet smell all around And fills the whole world.”
The francolin sang, “Birds, who wants to come Today at daybreak To see the good Lord With all of his splendor Within a stable?”
The hoopoe goes singing, “This night has come the greatest of Kings!” The turtle dove and rock dove Admire, and to all Sing without sadness.
The partridge sang, “I am going to make my nest Inside of that stable, To look upon the Infant; How he trembles In the arms of Mary.”
The magpie, mistle thrush, and jay Say, “May is coming!” The goldfinch responds, “All the trees become green again, All the branches flower As if it were the spring.”
The chaffinch whispers, “Glory today and tomorrow; I feel great joy To see the diamond So handsome and brilliant In the arms of Mary.”
The scops owl and little owl Seeing the sunrise Leave confused. The tawny owl and eagle-owl Say, “I cannot look; Such splendors are in front of me!”
~ ~ ~
Beautiful lyrics of unknown origin:
1. Upon this holy night, When God’s great star appears, And floods the earth with brightness Birds’ voices rise in song And warbling all night long Express their glad heart’s lightness Birds’ voices rise in song And warbling all night long Express their glad heart’s lightness
2. The Nightingale is first To bring his song of cheer, And tell us of His glad – ness: Jesus, our Lord, is born To free us from all sin And banish ev’ry sadness! Jesus, our Lord is born To free us from all sin And banish ev’ry sadness!
3. The answ’ring Sparrow cries: “God comes to earth this day Amid the angels flying.” Trilling in sweetest tones, The Finch his Lord now owns: “To Him be all thanksgiving.” Trilling in sweetest tones, The Finch his Lord now owns: “To Him be all thanksgiving.”
4. The Partridge adds his note: “To Bethlehem I’ll fly, Where in the stall He’s lying. There, near the manger blest, I’ll build myself a nest, And sing my love undying. There, near the manger blest, I’ll build myself a nest, And sing my love undying.
~ ~ ~
What are some of the things these different versions have in common?
The most celebrated holy night
in which a great light appears.
The heavens are filled with God’s glory!
The earth is flooded with brightness. That illumination allows birds to awake, fly and sing, when most do not do so in darkness.
From eagle to sparrow, all kinds of birds sing of Jesus’ birth. They extol the virtues of Him and His mother. They praise the Highest Lord with voices both loud and sweet.
The birds come from near and far away, and sing of how He will set them, and all creation free. They joyfully sing of how Heaven’s blessing has come to earth, and of how He will overcome darkness, sin, and death.
The birds sing of the dawn of new life; eternal springtime blooming; they sound thankful and hopeful. They worship and adore Him! They want to stay near Him; They pledge loyalty.
Best of all, the multitude of birds rejoice!
And who do these birds represent? Nature?
All of creation?
Yes, all of that, and maybe
me.
And you.
And all of us.
~ ~ ~
Merry Christmas!
Sing loudly and sweetly!
“What do you think about the lie of Santa Clause?” asked somebody. “Sure, I’d be glad to weigh in on the Santa controversy,” I replied . . .
It has been said, ad nauseum, that secular traditions such as Christmas trees, Santa Clause, and even the word “Christmas” should be condemned by Christians because they distract and detract from the true meaning of Christ’s birth.
I disagree.
Those many traditions are so ingrained into society that they cannot be reversed nor abolished. They can, however, be used in a positive manner. I’ve previously discussed how the Christmas tree points to Jesus Christ. It is easy for me to tell, as well, how Santa’s (“Saint Nicholas‘ “) life and existence points, to the life and teachings of Jesus.
I only implore you, dear reader, not to foster the lies about Santa Clause, St. Nicholas, or Father Christmas, but tell the factual truth about those figures. Fact is, they are legends and fantasies based on a good man’s acts, but they must not be passed down as reality. The generous acts are the Christlike reality.
It’s the same for the gift-giving, the lights, and the joyous celebrating. One can ignore any or all of it, or one can use those traditions of secular Christmastime as reminders of Jesus’ birth, life, words and deeds. I strive for that as I constantly try to keep Him at the forefront of the celebration.
I believe that we should not only accept, as a fact of life, the secular traditions; the things that have been distorted and perverted away from the original intent of honoring the Christ-child, but turn them back upon themselves to their true purpose which is to celebrate His birth, to point to Him, to highlight Him, and to glorify Him in the unfettered, hopeful, optimistic, rejoicing manner in which the host of angels announced His arrival to the shepherds, and to us.
Those traditions can be used to help us illuminate Him in a darkened world. I believe this proclaiming is our commission, our duty, and our pleasure, as believers and as beneficiaries of The Father’s miraculously humble, and humbling gift.
The gift of The Savior Child, our Light of the World, is given to every one of us, but that gift must be received and willingly accepted before it can be unwrapped and enjoyed.
*
Whatever you do, Whatever you think, Seek Him in all things And have yourself a happy, Have yourself a joyous, Have yourself the merriest Christmas!
Above all,
Remember Who is glorious, Give Him all your glory, Keep it Christmas-Story-ous!
We remain steadfast, O Emmanuel. We, oh so patiently, await the day of the celebration of Your miraculous birth. We eagerly await Your final arrival!
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o’er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, In ancient times did’st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
(To my German-speaking friends in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and everywhere, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy 2019. May God bless you and your loved ones.)
I’m not thrilled about the word Christmas. I’m not crazy about the word Easter either. But I very much love the events those two words represent.
Words are only symbols that we use to convey, or identify, things, events, or ideas. Often, the words we devise (or, in this case, that are devised for us) are less than ideal, or appropriate, or even accurately descriptive in representing the actual thing being described.
I believe that “Christmas” is such a word. I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to delve into the origins, meanings, and protests concerning the word “Christmas”. I have been through it, and it’s not pretty. Some say it’s downright blasphemy, wickedness, and sin to use it.
However, Nevertheless, and, Be That As It May, the event that has come to be known to us as “Christmas” is the event that shook the earth. It is the truth of the event that is important, not necessarily the word we have adopted to describe it. To my way of thinking, the birth of Jesus was, and is, the most momentous occurrence in history. It is to be celebrated – its story told and retold in truth to the ends of the earth. So ( Blast semantics!) I do say Merry Christmas, and I do say Happy Easter, instead of Happy Resurrection Sunday, because I know I will be understood by the general public, and also by Christians, in general. And by those greetings, I mean Hallelujah! Rejoice! Celebrate enthusiastically! For, unto us a child is born! Our Savior lives! He has come to live with us! – Or He is risen! Our Savior lives! And in His glory He will come down again!
So, here’s the thing – here’s my point: Instead of the term “Christmas”, I prefer the word “Christbirth” (which I think I have invented, haha,) (but someone may have beaten me to it, I really don’t know) to represent this wondrous, marvelous event, but, no matter what word we use in reference, in Jesus’ birth, the very Word of God came to live among us, with us, and, in time, in us, so that we, despite our inclination to sin, might have the right to be “born” into a new world – a world of saving grace, faith, hope, and of love, into God’s presence; born in a new, a wondrous, a marvelous, and a miraculous way, Just as Jesus was, before us!
Today, the third and final full week of Advent begins, preceding the joy-filled celebration day!
It is getting closer! We can hardly wait! Intensity grows, as does the magnitude of the hope we have,
and the peace which is coming!
This week we savor the JOY surrounding His coming to live with us! Emmanuel – here because of The Father’s love for all people.
In this third week, we also remember all the proclamations made about our coming Christ-child, our Messiah, our glorious Savior; proclamations by Isaiah, by angels, by Elizabeth, by Mary, by Zechariah, by more angels, and by many others.
Luke 2:9 Just then, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people!
He is coming, not to condemn the lost, but to give them a saving light. What joy it is to know Him, having been one of those lost, and now bathed in His light.
And what a joy it is to know the astounding love of The Father,
Who sent this generous gift of His Son!
I, the least of believers, proclaim this joy, proclaim His glory, (like it says in the header above) And like so many believers, so many bloggers, I repeat the sounding JOY!
Joy To the World, and Peace to ALL mankind!
Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing!
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy!
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found!
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love!
~ ~ ~
May God bless your joyous preparations, your happy, yet serious, contemplations, your thankful remembrance of His purpose for Coming down, And of His all- encompassing love.
He is coming, He is here, He is coming again! REJOICE!
He was born in an obscure village,
the child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in another obscure village,
where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty,
and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never had a family or owned a home.
He never went to college.
He never visited a metropolis.
He never traveled more than two hundred miles
from the place where He was born.
He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness.
He had no credentials but Himself.
In His early thirties, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. Another betrayed Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing,
the only property He had on earth. When he was dead, He was taken down
and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. More than twenty wide centuries have come and gone,
yet today He remains the central figure of the human race,
and the leader of mankind’s progress. I am well within the mark when I say
that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind
upon this earth as significantly as has that One Solitary Life.
“Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour, All for love’s sake becamest poor; Thrones for a manger didst surrender, Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour, All for love’s sake becamest poor.
Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love’s sake becamest man; Stooping so low, but sinners raising Heavenwards by thine eternal plan. Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love’s sake becamest man.
Thou who art love beyond all telling, Saviour and King, we worship thee. Emmanuel, within us dwelling, Make us what thou wouldst have us be. Thou who art love beyond all telling, Saviour and King, we worship thee.”
I lift up Keith and Kristyn Getty and I thank them for this beautiful song.
And I thank Him for them!
And I thank Him for you, my dear reader!
This baby, making His first sounds, learning His first words, taking His first steps, becoming self-aware. Like us in every way. Yet, in every way, different.
“Come to turn me, a stranger, into a child of God.” Remember, JESUS is the subject of Christmas, and the object of Christmas is US.
He came down. Mary said YES, then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world. To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . . The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to ‘cover’ all others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor; of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of earthly dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, if He weren’t so humble, that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could, except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my meager glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
Α&Ω
My Christbirth **tree isever-green**
***With everlasting life*** Its branches & its members ***Clothed in colorful lights*** *Lights reflected by ornaments* *****Of all shapes and sizes***** ***Which shine just as brightly*** *******It’s filled with surprises!****** ***Wrapped ’round with garland**** **********As a bundling rope********** *********The whole tied together******* *******With warm faith and hope******** **********The star at its crown is********** ***********Wreathed in white light********** *********Can be seen near and far********** ******’Cause it’s clear, pure, and bright******* ************That’s the part of the tree*********** **************That ultimately pleases************* ********************You see************************* *******For theStar at the point and the apex******* ************************Is Jesus************************* *****And the branches, the lights, and ornaments***** **************************Are we***************************** ****************For He is the Bridegroom******************** ************We are His church, bride, and wife -************* **********We are the trunk that stands in The Water,********** ****************************The Water of Life.*********************** Water of Life
Waiting becomes slightly more intense as we add the expectancy of hopeandpeace in preparation for our Savior’s arrival.
Of course it is a passive intensity of expectation
as we actively wait!
We light the second candle, If not on our tables, Then in our hearts. And light increases. It doubles!
We can hardly wait until the full light of His glorious presence shines upon the world, and also upon each of us!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus is the only one that can bring peace with Father God.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all mankind upon which His favor rests!” Luke 2: 13-14
Here’s a song that is full of hope and peace, And light too!
Come to us, Child of Glory, We can hardly wait. Come to us quickly, Your hands hold our fate.
A happy and blessed Advent season to you from your Gloryteller.
He came down so that we could live – really live – with Him and our loved-ones in Heaven. Forever together. We need that hope more with each passing day . . .
~ ~ ~
This is the last day of the first week of Advent 2018.
The theme of hope continues with this song:
Thank you, Kari Jobe and Bob Marshall for the upload.
This is the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin “adventus” which means coming, or arrival, of a person or thing.
In this special and absolutely unique case,
what is coming is rich in mystery;
profound in its implications! Excitement builds in Heaven and earth!
I find it interesting that the words “Advent” and “adventure” are so closely related, which is fitting since we are waiting and preparing for the arrival of a series of awe-inducing, exciting events :
All that surrounds Jesus’ Nativity celebration, A son is to be given, 800 year-old prophecy to be fulfilled, The imminent arrival of Emmanuel, “God With Us”,
The Kingdom of God being established on Earth,
Reconciliation with the Father,
Renewal of all things, Rescue of the perishing, Redemption of souls,
Atonement,
Forgiveness,
Abundant life,
Signs and wonders,
Miraculous acts, Great Joy will be made available to all people,
Messiah! Savior! Christ! He’s coming, already, not yet, and soon! The image of The Father will walk on earth, The advent of Love!
And more, and more, and more! And, in the fullness of time, Jesus’ long-awaited final return!
We are waiting, and prayerfully preparing, not just for events, but for the arrival of the Personage without whom there would be no experience of exciting spiritual adventure, no exploration of things unknown, no real and true experience of love and life whatsoever.
But for the birth of the little Lord Jesus, I could not live. As He is born, so am I.
So are we all!
I wait and look forward to honoring His birth; to observing the amazing circumstances that surround it.
It has “happened” again and again in countless hearts and minds. It is happening now in mine,
and will again, endlessly, with passage of time.
The expectant waiting and preparation of my heart applies not only to Christbirth,
but to Resurrection Sunday and Thanksgiving as well.
Advent is an important concept.
It is exciting and peaceful too.
I want to make it part of me;
I want to live it.
Lately, I find that the troubles of the “world” are getting me down. It’s all, like, tryin’ to steal my groove, man! Know what I mean? People seem too serious about things, to the point where “things” are stealing their time and energy; taking over their lives, making them like slaves to a cruel master. There seems hardly any time left for the facets of life which are most important, but get pushed to the back burner. Lighten up! We need some fun. We need some whimsy! Does anybody remember the sixties? Simon and Garfunkel? The Rascals?
I woke up feeling good this morning:
Arkansas Christmas Groovin’
The world is doin’ a stint in joovy, It doesn’t seem to have a cloovy, But I awoke all feelin’ groovy, Needed something fun to doovy, Decided to go and see a moovy, But halfway through, I had to poovy, Then met a girl outside the loovy, Walked in alone, came out with yoovy, Now we really feelin’ groovy,
At the stand, we bought a smoovy, Then she asked, “What shall we doovy”, So we walked down to the zoovy, The folks were all like ahhs and oovy, Some peeps were yellin’ “Woo Pig Soovy“ They were sure all feelin’ groovy, Hand in hand we walked through snoovy, Christmastime is alwaysgroovy, Now, by the fire we feel, like, cooovy, All is well, we feelin’ groovy!
~ ~ ~
O, thank You Lord, for keeping us separate from the “world”
while living in the world.
Thank You for the spirit of playful joy that lifts us;
Gives us hope.
Thank You for the greater joy we find in Christmas!
Alone in the Rockies.
Gloryteller 