This is the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth—the most unprecedented, and unequaled; the most earth-shakingevent in human history!
(Well, depending on how you perceive it, it’s definitely one of the top two! Or perhaps the two can be considered one event!)
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, Who and 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, 700 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!
When someone important to us is coming to visit, we know we must wait. Patiently or not. Before their arrival, we must prepare as best we can. Thus, 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 mysteries 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.
I ceremoniously light the first candle in the Advent wreath,
the candle of hope, also, the first flame in my heart.
The expectant waiting and preparation of my heart applies not only to the day of Christbirth,
but to Resurrection Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Jesus’ final return as well.
Advent is an important concept.
It is exciting, yet peaceful at the same time.
I want to make it part of me;
I want to live it.
The first week of Advent is said to be focused on the hope of the Savior’s arrival, as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Mark E. Hunt devised a second, or middle, verse.
I like it and included it here:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
(*emphases, mine)
Because of the arrival of the begotten Son of God,
our hope as children of God is an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
Hi, Sisters and Brothers! Tomorrow is already the third Sunday of Advent. That’s hard to believe; time is flying by. This year is as it was in 2017 when I wrote the article below – the fourth Sunday of Advent coincides with Christmas Eve Day. Perhaps you are like me in your extra-special “rejoicement” when this happens. I just want to wish you and yours a good and meaningful Advent and a joyous Christbirth celebration!
With hope, peace, joy, and love,
Your Gloryteller
First Sunday
“Advent” is here! It is today!
All Creation is pregnant with anticipation!
This is the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth – the most unprecedented, and unequaled; the most earth-shakingevent in human history!
(Well, depending on how you perceive it, it’s definitely one of the top two!)
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, Who and 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, 700 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!
When someone important to us is coming to visit, we know we must wait. Patiently or not. Before their arrival, we must prepare as best we can. Thus, 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 mysteries 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.
I ceremoniously light the first candle in the Advent wreath,
the candle of hope, also, the first flame in my heart.
The expectant waiting and preparation of my heart applies not only to Christbirth,
but to Resurrection Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Jesus’ final return as well.
Advent is an important concept.
It is exciting, yet peaceful at the same time.
I want to make it part of me;
I want to live it.
Advent First Week
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
The hope that we children of God have is a confident hope,
an enduring and an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
Advent Week Two
The second week of Advent is focused on peace.
Waiting becomes a bit more intense as we add the expectancy of hope and peace in preparation for our Savior’s arrival.
We light the second candle,
the candle of peace, 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 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!
Advent Third Week
We are in the third and final full week preceding the joy-filled celebration day!
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 those lost in the dark, but to give them a saving light. What joy it is to know Him, having been one of those lost, and now having His light.
And what a joy it is to know the astounding love of The Father,
Who sent this generous gift of His Son!
(many thanks, Spadecaller, for the upload. Your art is moving!)
I light the third candle,
the candle of joy,
And light increases again.
Even the stars seem brighter,
and the moon waxes!
The candle flames have kindled
a fire of rejoicing in my heart!
I, the least of believers, proclaim this joy, proclaim His glory, (like it says in the header at the top)
And suddenly, we come to:
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Today, December 24, 2017 (four years ago) is the fourth Sunday of Advent,
which also coincides with Christmas 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 then sent His Jesus
to enable us to fully love Him.
Love rescued and love reconciled!
This candle also signifies His 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.
Everything is poised; miraculously in position.
Mary, her Baby, Joseph, shepherds,
angels – lots of angels!
Peace and joy are closing in.
Tonight 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 better prepared, And more ready, But, He. Was. Born. Last. Night ! ? !
Could it be?
Yes, it is:
Christmas Day
And so, the season of expectant waiting is complete!
I light the largest, purest, center candle,
the only One left. and the flame in my heart roars to life! To life! Hope is fulfilled! In our Immanuel, our Jesus,
all prophecies and promises are now reality! His name is Light of the World! His name is Peace!
His name is Son!
His name is Love! His name is Savior! His name is King! His name is Everlasting! His name is God! His presence is good news, bringing great joy for all people! His presence makes darkness flee! The Light of the World has finally come! 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!
~ ~ ~
And yet,
it is not over . . .
I must stay prepared;
keep waiting expectantly;
with confident hope,
with all the peace, joy, and love, grace can provide; The “second” Advent begins now, And all Creation is pregnant with anticipation!
This is the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth – the most unprecedented, and unequaled; the most earth-shakingevent in human history!
(Well, depending on how you perceive it, it’s definitely one of the top two!)
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, 700 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!
When someone important to us is coming to visit, we know we must wait. Patiently or not. Before their arrival, we must prepare as best we can. Thus, 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 mysteries 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.
I ceremoniously light the first candle in the Advent wreath,
the candle of hope, also, the first flame in my heart.
The expectant waiting and preparation of my heart applies not only to Christbirth,
but to Resurrection Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Jesus’ final return as well.
Advent is an important concept.
It is exciting, yet peaceful at the same time.
I want to make it part of me;
I want to live it.
Advent First Week
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
The hope that we children of God have is a confident hope,
an enduring and an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
Advent Week Two
The second week of Advent is focused on peace.
Waiting becomes a bit more intense as we add the expectancy of hope and peace in preparation for our Savior’s arrival.
We light the second candle,
the candle of peace, 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 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!
Advent Third Week
We are in the third and final full week preceding the joy-filled celebration day!
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 those lost in the dark, but to give them a saving light. What joy it is to know Him, having been one of those lost, and now having His light.
And what a joy it is to know the astounding love of The Father,
Who sent this generous gift of His Son!
(many thanks, Spadecaller, for the upload. Your art is moving!)
I light the third candle,
the candle of joy,
And light increases again.
Even the stars seem brighter,
and the moon waxes!
The candle flames have kindled
a fire of rejoicing in my heart!
I, the least of believers, proclaim this joy, proclaim His glory, (like it says in the header at the top)
And suddenly, we come to:
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Today, December 24, 2017 (four years ago) is the fourth Sunday of Advent,
which also coincides with Christmas 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 then sent His Jesus
to enable us to fully love Him.
Love rescued and love reconciled!
This candle also signifies His 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.
Everything is poised; miraculously in position.
Mary, her Baby, Joseph, shepherds,
angels – lots of angels!
Peace and joy are closing in.
Tonight 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 better prepared, And more ready, But, He. Was. Born. Last. Night ! ? !
Could it be?
Yes, it is:
Christmas Day
And so, the season of expectant waiting is complete!
I light the largest, purest, center candle,
the only One left. and the flame in my heart roars to life! To life! Hope is fulfilled! In our Immanuel, our Jesus,
all prophecies and promises are now reality! His name is Light of the World! His name is Peace!
His name is Son!
His name is Love! His name is Savior! His name is King! His name is Everlasting! His name is God! His presence is good news, bringing great joy for all people! His presence makes darkness flee! The Light of the World has finally come! 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!
~ ~ ~
And yet,
it is not over . . .
I must stay prepared;
keep waiting expectantly;
with confident hope,
with all the peace, joy, and love, grace can provide; The “second” Advent begins now, And all Creation is pregnant with anticipation!
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Mark E. Hunt devised a second, or middle, verse.
I like it and included it here:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
The hope that the child of God has is an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
After a busy, but very pleasurable, Advent season,
I find myself still, and resting in peace this evening.
What an eventful time I’ve had here at “Gloryteller”
over the last three weeks and five 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 sweetly miraculous 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 . . . And tonight, dear Jesus, I will simply be still and know –
know that you are no more than human –
know that you are no less than God . . .
But now, dear reader, I must sadly,
yet joyfully, send out one last, heartfelt, Merry Christmas and wishes for peace to you this season. It is Christmas night, 2020, Goodnight from Lenn, here at Gloryteller.com
* * Für die deutschsprachigen Völker:
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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I think she knew, don’t you? A Mother Just Knows . . .
And, after all it is Mary!
In these advent days,
the story is all about the Love between
– Mary, – her Baby inside, Emmanuel,
– Father God,
– the Holy Spirit, – her husband, Joseph,
– and everyone who would believe and come to know them.
. . . The Love that swirls around them all,
radiating downward from the Highest; at once, mysteriously enveloping,
and joyously abiding in the innermost depths, of those below.
Those were some very moving scenes from Roma Downey’s epic miniseries THE BIBLE. I hope they will move you a little closer to the One who once lay in the manger.
(Though it looks odd here, lay is correct. It’s the past tense of to lie. Jesus was placed in a manger to lie there, but ironically, never told a lie in His life. I hope that made you smile.)
Blessings this Christmas season 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 . . .
The theme of hope continues with this song:
Thank you, Kari Jobe for singing, and Bob Marshall for the upload.
Sixteen years ago, almost to the minute, Breath of Heaven visited me. Permeated me to the depths of Body, Soul, and Spirit. I was forever changed, Becoming the best version of myself. Forever, infinitely, and most of all, eternally.
Breath of Heaven is always there, softly taking me in, gently sending me out . . .
I still can scarcely breathe . . . Oh! My Breath of Heaven! Oh!
~ ~ ~ ~
Not even one of us can fully understand,
nor scarcely appreciate young Mary’s plight . . .
And consider Joseph’s . . .
These poignant video clips are from The Nativity Story, upload thanks to Aaron Hassen.
Please read down to the end:
Breath of Heaven
By Amy Grant
I have traveled many moonless nights, Cold and weary with a babe inside, *And I wonder what I’ve done, *Holy father you have come, *And chosen me now to carry Your son.
~~~
*I am waiting in a silent prayer, *I am frightened by the load I bear, *In a world as cold as stone, *Must I walk this path alone?
~~~
*Be with me now . . .
*Be with me now . . .
~~~
*Breath of heaven, *Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
*Lighten my darkness, *Pour over me your holiness, *For you are holy. Breath of heaven.
~~~
Do you wonder as you watch my face,
*If a wiser one should have had my place? *But I offer all I am, For the mercy of your plan, *Help me be strong Help me be . . . Help me . . .
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.
~~~
Breath of heaven Breath of heaven Breath of heaven
~ ~ ~
. . . Have you ever found yourself saying these same words –
the ones I starred?
I have.
Yes, I have been chosen to “carry The Son”, in a sense.
In that very important sense, all true believers have been chosen to
“carry Him”.
And, sometimes, I feel completely unworthy.
Do I offer all I am?
Do I LOVE?
And I pray that the Father stay near me and hold me together. The thought of bearing this precious burden; this gift;
this responsibility; this sacred life, is daunting – sometimes frightening.
What if I fail?
A wiser, less broken, less flawed soul should take my place . . . Yet, I am exactly the kind of person He seeks,
chooses, and challenges, to “carry Him inside”.
One only must be willing.
And the Archangel, himself, said, “Don’t be afraid”.
Yes, the world is cold as stone, and the path, often difficult, but I don’t have to walk it alone – never alone. The Lord is with me.
*Breath of heaven
Hold me together-
My desperate plea –
Like David, He hears, and holds me up.
He lightens my darkness, and if that were not enough, He pours His holiness over me, and His grace, and His mercy.
I am not wise, but He chose me, somehow. He chose me and He helps me.
And through Him, I am sufficient.
And I am honored.
Breath of Heaven is always there, softly taking me in, gently sending me out . . .
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Mark E. Hunt devised a second, or middle, verse.
I like it and included it here:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
The hope that the child of God has is an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
In late November or early December I like to start the Advent season by posting the video of this enormous, soaring, amazing, heart-warming event. I try not to use the word “love” lightly or frivolously, but I absolutely love this composition from Handel, this immense pipe organ, this crowd, this choir of believers, and the Subject of this song!
*
Jesus Lives! Let Him Be Worshipped And Adored At All Times, In All Places, By All Willing Hearts!
~
Worship is not a matter of the place, no matter how commercial, or secular, or even “holy”. It’s not a matter of the crowd, no matter its composition, from the faithful, to the skeptical. It’s not a matter of the means of praise, no matter how lofty and soaring, or off key and humble, nor how vocally and instrumentally technical. It’s not a matter of numbers, no matter if a large, exuberant gathering, or a single self-conscious voice, singing or speaking, with a loud clapping beat, or no beat at all. ~ Worship, it seems to me, is a matter of the condition of each worshiper’s heart. Only God has full estimation of that; however, in this retail store there seems to be a crowd of like-minded, like-hearted, worshipers setting commercialism aside for an eternal moment with one great-big, majestic, musical instrument, All led and kept together by one amazing conductor; How analogous to our God and His people! ~ There might be examples of all the above conditions of worship in this video. He is worshiped and adored here – yes, even here – inside the huge Macy’s store in Philadelphia – a worldly, consumeristic, retail marketplace, where materialism and money normally are king. But not on this day!
This huge, highly organized, flash mob sings along with the world’s largest working pipe organ, the massive Wanamaker Grand Court Organ.
This organ is a National Landmark in and of itself!
Wanamaker Grand Court Pipe Organ (this shows only a small fraction of its pipes)
The “sounding joy”, the full, immense, profound amount of joy served-up is overwhelming! In the fullness of time, every knee will bow to Him, and, “He shall reign for ever and ever.”
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah (For the lord God omnipotent reigneth) Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah) Hallelujah
The kingdom of this world; is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ and of His Christ
And He shall reign for ever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign And he shall reign And he shall reign He shall reign And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords And he shall reign forever and ever
Forever and ever and ever and ever (King of kings and lord of lords)
In late November or early December I like to start the Advent season by posting the video of this enormous, soaring, amazing, heart-warming event. I try not to use the word “love” lightly or frivolously, but I absolutely love this composition from Handel, this immense pipe organ, this crowd, this choir of believers, and especially the Subject of this beautiful masterpiece, Jesus Christ!
He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
And He alone will reign with The Father in omnipotence forever!
*
Jesus Lives! Let Him Be Worshipped And Adored At All Times, In All Places, By All Willing Hearts!
~
Worship is not a matter of the place, no matter how commercial, or secular, or even “holy”. It’s not a matter of the crowd, no matter its composition, from the faithful, to the skeptical. It’s not a matter of the means of praise, no matter how lofty and soaring, or off key and humble, nor how vocally and instrumentally technical. It’s not a matter of numbers, no matter if a large, exuberant gathering, or a single soft voice, singing or speaking, with a loud clapping beat, or no beat at all. ~ Worship, it seems to me, is a matter of the condition of each worshiper’s heart. Only God has full estimation of that; however, in this retail store there seems to be a crowd of like-minded, like-hearted, worshipers setting commercialism aside for an eternal moment with one great-big, majestic, musical instrument All led and kept together by one amazing conductor. How analogous to our God and His people! ~ There might be examples of all the above conditions of worship in this video. He is worshiped and adored here – yes, even here – inside the huge Macy’s store in Philadelphia – a worldly, consumeristic, retail marketplace, where materialism and money normally are king. But not on this day!
This highly organized flash mob sings along with the world’s largest working pipe organ, the massive Wanamaker Grand Court Organ. The “sounding joy”, the full, immense,
profound amount of joy served-up is overwhelming! In the fullness of time, every knee will bow to Him, and, “He shall reign for ever and ever.”
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah (For the lord God omnipotent reigneth) Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah) Hallelujah
The kingdom of this world; is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ and of His Christ
And He shall reign for ever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign And he shall reign And he shall reign He shall reign And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords And he shall reign forever and ever
Forever and ever and ever and ever (King of kings and lord of lords)
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Mark E. Hunt devised a second, or middle, verse.
I like it and included it here:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
(*emphases, mine)
The hope that the child of God has is an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
I think she knew, don’t you? A Mother Just Knows . . .
In these advent days,
the story is all about the Love between
– Mary, – her Baby inside, Emmanuel,
– Father God,
– the Holy Spirit, – her husband, Joseph,
– and all who would come to know them.
. . . The Love that swirls around them all,
radiating downward from the Highest; at once, mysteriously enveloping,
and joyously abiding in the innermost depths, of those below.
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.
Not even one of us can fully understand nor scarcely appreciate Mary’s plight . . .
And consider Joseph’s . . .
(Rest in Peace, Donna Summer. I’m glad we still have your amazing voice.)
These poignant video clips are from The Nativity Story, upload thanks to Peperamico.
Please read to the bottom:
Breath of Heaven
By Amy Grant
I have traveled many moonless nights, Cold and weary with a babe inside, And I wonder what I’ve done, *Holy father you have come, And chosen me now to carry Your son.
~~~
*I am waiting in a silent prayer, I am frightened by the load I bear, *In a world as cold as stone, Must I walk this path alone?
~~~
*Be with me now . . .
Be with me now . . .
~~~
*Breath of heaven, Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
*Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy. Breath of heaven.
~~~
Do you wonder as you watch my face,
*If a wiser one should have had my place? But I offer all I am, For the mercy of your plan, *Help me be strong Help me be . . . Help me . . .
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.
~~~
Breath of heaven,
Hold me together, Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.
~~~
Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness, For you are holy.
~~~
Breath of heaven Breath of heaven Breath of heaven
~ ~ ~
. . . Have you ever found yourself saying these same words –
the ones I highlighted?
I have.
Yes, I have been chosen to “carry The Son”, in a sense.
In that very important sense, all true believers have been chosen to
“carry Him”.
And, sometimes, I feel completely unworthy.
And I pray that the Father stay near me and hold me together. The thought of bearing this precious burden; this gift;
this responsibility; this life, is daunting – sometimes frightening.
A wiser, less broken, less flawed soul should take my place . . . Yet, I am exactly the kind of person He seeks,
chooses, and challenges, to “carry Him inside”.
One only must be willing.
And the Archangel, himself, said, “Don’t be afraid”. Yes, the world is cold as stone, and the path, often difficult, but I don’t have to walk it alone – never alone. The Lord is with me.
*Breath of heaven
Hold me together-
My desperate plea –
Like David, He hears, and holds me up.
He lightens my darkness, and if that were not enough, He pours His holiness over me, and His grace, and His mercy.
I am not wise, but He chose me, somehow. He chose me and He helps me.
And through Him, I am sufficient.
And I am honored.
Breath of Heaven is always there, softly taking me in, gently sending me out . . .
The first week of Advent is said to be concentrated upon the hope of the Savior’s arrival as supported by the Scriptures’ prophetic promises. There are several pertinent verses, but I chose this one :
“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).
O, Jesus, We await your sweet arrival!
~~~~~~
Words and Music for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Charles Wesley:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Mark E. Hunt devised a second, or middle, verse.
I like it and included it here:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end;
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy* glorious throne.
The hope that the child of God has is an eternal hope. Peter tells us that the Child of God has “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter: 1-4 )
Every December, I like to start the Advent season by posting the video of this enormous, soaring, amazing, heart-warming event. I try not to use the word “love” lightly or frivolously, but I absolutely love this composition from Handel, this immense pipe organ, this crowd, this choir of believers, and the Subject of this song!
*
Jesus Lives! Let Him Be Worshipped And Adored At All Times, In All Places, By All Willing Hearts!
~
Worship is not a matter of the place, no matter how commercial, or secular, or even “holy”. It’s not a matter of the crowd, no matter its composition, from the faithful, to the skeptical. It’s not a matter of the means of praise, no matter how lofty and soaring, or off key and humble, nor how vocally and instrumentally technical. It’s not a matter of numbers, no matter if a large gathering, or a single off-key voice, singing or speaking, with a clapping beat, or no beat at all. ~ Worship, it seems to me, is a matter of the condition of each worshipper’s heart. Only God has full estimation of that; however, in this retail store there seems to be a crowd of like-minded, like-hearted, worshippers
setting commercialism aside for an eternal moment with one great-big, majestic, musical instrument All led and kept together by one amazing conductor. How analogous to our God and His people! ~ There might be examples of all the above conditions of worship in this video. He is worshipped and adored here – yes, even here – inside the huge Macy’s in Philadelphia – a worldly, consumeristic, retail marketplace, where materialism and money normally are king. But not on this day!
This highly organized flash mob sings along with the world’s largest working pipe organ, the massive Wanamaker Grand Court Organ. The “sounding joy”, the full, immense, amount of joy served-up is overwhelming! In the fullness of time, every knee will bow to Him, and, “He shall reign for ever and ever.”
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah (For the lord God omnipotent reigneth) Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah) Hallelujah
The kingdom of this world; is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ and of His Christ
And He shall reign for ever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign And he shall reign And he shall reign He shall reign And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah And he shall reign forever and ever
King of kings and lord of lords King of kings and lord of lords And he shall reign forever and ever
Forever and ever and ever and ever (King of kings and lord of lords)
Alone in the Rockies.
Gloryteller 