Proclaiming God's Glory Through Posts and Stories ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Glorify the Lord with me", for that is why we're here, you see! Come on! Let us exalt His name together! (Ps 34:3)
There came one of those shining moments when one of my writer friends commented: “Absolutely beautiful. How did you come up with this storyline?” My reply was this:
I was only partially responsible for “coming up” with any of the Joy-Flower story; title, middle, or ending!
“It’s difficult to explain God’s mysterious, intense involvement, participation, and presence in the creation of this story, but I’ll try.
One morning I awoke (or did I?) and it was in my heart to write about the subject of a man being angry at God for what he perceived were broken promises and unanswered prayers. It would also turn out to be about a man taking the power of life and death into his own hands.
Then I “heard” Him say the name of the protagonist. I was a little surprised, and had the audacity to question, “Why this unique Asian name? What do I know of that culture, wonderful as it is?”
Nevertheless, I trusted, and soon began to lay out the story. He filled in my blanks. It even took an unexpected turn into other complex subjects.
I fell in love with our two characters, as I was meant to.
It was all done in one sitting, one “take”.
Without The Divine Presence, there could have been no Joy-Flower. The Asian flavor is puzzling, yet I’m confident that Joy-Flower has a purpose far beyond what I can imagine, and that one day He will reveal the whole story behind it. I can hardly wait to find out from Him what comes out of Joy-Flower. Thank you so much for reading it, my friend! Your question made me think in-depth about the creation of this story, which stretched my pen further than I thought it could go in explanation. I needed that!”
Note: Since that day, I have edited, modified, and added further to the story, as prompted by The Spirit. It has become, arguably, my favorite work because of His close involvement, guidance, and Divine input during its writing. If you would like to read the piece click this link right here. If you have read it before, I urge you to try this “new, improved” version.
~ ~ ~
So, if I were pressed to describe writing, from my perspective it seems to be the expression of the heretofore unexpressed, using combinations of words that have not been combined before, with the nearly incomprehensible involvement of our nearly unfathomable, completely infallible, God.
I was thinking this past Father’s Day how blessed I am to be a father.
I have been blessed with three sons, a granddaughter, and a grandson who are each sources of parental joy. Each of those parental relationships is a blessing of the highest order.
Thinking further, I realized that my fatherhood is a key to cultivating insight, empathy, sympathy, and compassion for my contemporary fathers, and of fathers and grandfathers past. I have to nurture patience and forgiveness for those I deem irresponsible fathers. I must go a step farther to hold back their judgement which belongs, ultimately, to the One Father. I must accept the difficult task of emulating His love, kindness, protectiveness, caring, and provision.
In addition, I get the privilege of identifying with, and learning from, the Biblical fathers’ experiences and hard-earned wisdom:
Of Adam, the first human to become a father. Of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (called “Isreal”), and Moses. Of Joseph – steadfast father of Jesus in all ways that were of earthly importance. Of Job, a father who lost all his beloved children and, in the end, had the same number “replaced” by Father God. Furthermore, being blessed with grace, ” he saw them and their children into the fourth generation.” Then there is the father of the prodigal son. Only fictional, only metaphorical, only made up. But no! He is a clear picture of our loving Father God Himself, presented by the Holy Son, Himself. He is real! He never stops loving his child. He is filled with unreserved, unconditional joy when the child returns home. And the son is me . . .
The last biblical father I’ll cite is the first. Eternal Father of His eternal Son. Creator and Father of all – Father God Himself.
It occurs to me that, inside the riches of fatherly experience, I am also blessed to be a son. I received that blessing first. I can empathize with other sons as well as other fathers. I have the distinct feeling that my son (each of the three) has always been with me and always will be; an inseparable part, a symbiotic co-entity.
Not every man is destined to become a father, but every man is a son. Not every woman is destined to be a mother, but every one is a daughter. In my mind, motherhood/daughterhood is equal in importance to fatherhood/sonship in His kingdom. Never think that I imply it is anything less.
We may not all be parents, but through the parent/child relationship we can nevertheless experience parenthood from that vertical perspective. Looking up to and looking up at the parent is a good way to understand the parent and thus parenthood. Observing and listening from a lower viewpoint is an advantage. Looking up to, and at, our perfect “parent” in Heaven, our Kingly Father, is a good way to get to know Him, to participate in the great Father – child story, and to take our rightful place as heirs; as princes and princesses, in the Great Kingdom. It is commanded: “Respect your parents so that it will go well with you and your life will be long.” (my paraphrase) This extends, I think, all the way to our Heavenly “Parent”.
I often “see myself” as having been gathered in off the curb and adopted, unconditionally, and without any reservation, as His own child, but more than that, gifted to be reborn – born over again into his family because of the sacrifice of my “big brother”, Jesus. Fractured first birth healed and made right by the second.
I am almost able to imagine what it took for The Father to turn his back on His suffering son. What agony they both suffered! Who could do that besides the First and Second persons of the Holy Trinity? And all for one purpose they deemed worthwhile – to save this father, this son – and all my fellow fathers and sons; mothers and daughters. How many of us would have tried to tell them, “don’t do it, it’s too much, the cost is too high, No! I’m. Not. Worth. It!” ?
Today, I’m glad they thought I was worth it . . . I worship them for it. I bless them with my meager “blessings” as they have abundantly blessed me . . .
I am indeed fortunate and blessed to be a father, as well as a son. My hope is that I have imparted some of the greater meaning of that declaration; some of the grander aspects of the relationship.
Although my participation is partial and very imperfect, participating in The Great Story of Fatherhood and Sonship is a highly meaningful aspect of my life as a believer.
A Good Friday Story;
A Good Anytime Story – The Expense of Safety
The Ferry to Safety was ready to depart.
Freedom, so close! Special admission only???
Hope fading.
Whoever missed the boat was lost.
Completely lost and without hope.
One solitary, stringent ticket stand.
A waiting line far too long.
Serious guards watching.
Last chance.
Distress. But I had not the standing,
Not the requirements,
Not the paperwork, Nor the price of admission. I stood forlorn in fear that
I would always wear these chains, Or be, (oh, so slowly) tortured and killed;
Despair. Then a man stepped up,
Radiating such undisguised love,
Unveiled compassion. He gave me his own precious ticket with a smile.
No hesitation. He paid my price.
Dooming himself with the selfless gesture.
Bewildered, I caught hold of it. And just in time. I stood astonished, Forgetting even to thank him. “Hurry, it departs; It’s your one chance,”
He cried over his shoulder As they cruelly restrained him,
Beat him to the ground, Roughly dragged him,
Torn, and bleeding,
Yet miraculously silent as They pinned him brutally against the ticket stand. His fate I couldn’t know,
Couldn’t imagine. Didn’t want to guess . . . In horror and denial,
I watched the scene as I walked backward, And stepped,
Not nearly grateful enough,
Onto the departing boat.
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↓ The Rest of the Story
I was in shock. And I was safe. My chains had dropped from me,
into the water, as I stepped onto the ferry.
Relief overwhelmed me. Was this how true freedom felt? After a time, I noticed many others were there. Some were kneeling, some looking upward with bowed heads and raised hands. A woman saw that I was alone. “You are the last.” “Yes . . . . . , I . . .
It’s incredible! A man paid my price!” I was still astonished. “Mine too!” she exclaimed. A man looked up . . . “Mine too!” A child waved; in her hand a ticket: “Me too!” “Me too!” cried a young boy.” A group of teenagers: “Me too!” “Me too!” “And me!” “He paid my fare!” “He gave me his own ticket!” All of us!
People were gathering into one group,
listening to each other.
“I threw my pass away years ago,
but he gave me another today!” said several.
“I lost mine and he gave me a replacement as well.”
“I didn’t deserve one.”
“I was in prison.”
“My neck was in the noose; I was good as dead.”
“He let me off the hook for the terrible things I said about him.”
“He forgave me too!”
“He gave me another chance.”
“He gave me another, and another, and another.”
“He told me it was ‘never too late’,
when he handed me his boarding pass.”
“He looked at me with love.
Nobody ever did that!” “I know he saved my life, and not just once!” “He told me God loves me!” “I heard him forgive those guards.” Yes, even while they did detestable things to Him.
I . . . I think . . . they killed him. “Because of us,” I thought, in sorrow. “Because we couldn’t get our own passes.” “We could never qualify.” “He deserved his ticket more than anyone, yet he gave it to all of us and forfeited his life.” “He loved his life as much as we love ours.” “Who was that poor man?” An elderly lady approached on unsteady legs, holding her ticket toward me in an outstretched hand. Her eyes were filled with tears. “He gave me this. I tried to refuse, but he insisted.
It was all . . . he . . . had. What love he radiated. What love!” she sighed. Her pass was identical to mine. They all were. I looked up at the wheelhouse,
and, to my delight, noticed that the huge watercraft
was named JOY. As the day passed, people began telling their stories. Everyone had a story involving the man we called our hero, our rescuer, our deliverer.
We praised the man with our stories and with singing.
We fasted, partaking only of sweet, cool, water –
The purest we have ever tasted.
In the evening we ate bread and grapes.
All these things were provided from coolers on the deck.
We became conscious of God’s presence and provision.
Those of us who were new to the faith experience were welcomed
into the family of believers and followers of that one man. Because of what he did for us, we all worshiped him;
Because he showed us compassionate love,
We adored him;
Longed to see him again,
If only . . .
The boat seemed to expand in size while more people
came up from below. So many breathing freedom!
Our ongoing rescue continued through the second day, through which we repeated the fast, the worship, the stories, and the evening meal. When would we finally reach the Land of Promised Safety?
We wondered, but with faith and confident hope. The massive boat churned a wake and plowed its way forward,
persevering steadily on course through a third day, as our faith and hope grew. Then, in the cool of the evening of the third day,
we saw land . . . And I, the undeserving;
I, the ingrate;
I, the impatient; I, the selfish;
I, the forgiven;
and I, the thankful-rescued, stood on the foredeck and saw The Man
standing with a grin,
and with open arms,
on the pristine sand of freedom’s shore.
I want to be a farmer of words I want to nurture words I want to plant them in good soil Cultivate them Grow them until mature Make them fruitful Pick them and harvest them Squeeze out the nutritious juices of their meaning. I want to be a chef of words A vintner and baker of words Combine them Mix and toss them together Prepare them deliciously
Marry their flavors
Plate them beautifully
Pour them out gracefully
Lovingly Present them to those who hunger and thirst for
A good word
Or two or three. I want to begin a culture of Word husbandry. * * * * * * * * *
In the book of your life, Jesus follows you closely, quietly, As you walk your path, As you lay down new lines, And lines become paragraphs, As you turn your pages, He walks with you. Lie down, and He lies down close by. If you run, He runs. If you try to outrun Him, Or lose Him, He effortlessly stays close behind. Veer right or left, He is faithful in the turning. Stop, and He stops. Continue in your way, He continues with you. But if you turn around and look back, He does not turn around. Not ever. He looks into your questioning eyes. Always.
He speaks softly to your heart. Turning to Him is all He wants. Asking Him to take the lead Is all you need. To write your new page. To fill out your whole, true story,
To complete the never-ending
Book of Your Life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * *
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music: Ian Post
“Genesis-The Light”
on Sound Cloud
Something happens when you begin to follow Jesus in earnest. I’ve discussed it with a great many people; people of diverse backgrounds and profiles. In differing words, and in a variety of ways, they all agree that something happens!
And that something that happens when you say yes to God is unexpected, has an aura of mystery, is somewhat incomprehensible, is difficult to describe using the limitations of language. Yet, the essence of our dialog, the substance of our stories of coming to faith, the validating assurance of our choice, has a common theme: Something great happens!
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, our almighty God, our risen Lord, we universally perceive something important changing “inside” us. The changes are for our good, for the better; for the best. And we have confidence that they will keep happening in even greater ways.
When our spirit experiences that first encounter; makes that crucial connection with our Living God, something truly, inexplicably, wonderful, happens.
Something beautiful happens! And it doesn’t just happen. He causes it to happen! Out of love! He opens a door. He makes a way. It’s supernaturally personal.
Life walks in. New life! Real life! Joy bursts in. Grace settles in. It is difficult to explain, But do I really have to when literally billions of people have known that something happens?!
Who among us has not lost or forgotten a password? Many have also had their firewall broken through. Have you?
Jesus is my living firewall. My fortress. He is impenetrable! When fiery darts of incursion,
and arrows of intrusive evil are sent my way, He shields me. The windows of my heart and the software of my spirit Are safe!
Protected! I trust Him to keep my processor, My operating system, Running smoothly, and be not corrupted, or misused by malware from hell.
Jesus insures these things to all followers
Who sign up for His service!
Jesus is my living password! In Him alone, is safety; Security; Certainty; Permanence; Peace of mind.
I never have to exchange my Word for a better one.
He is the only Word I’ll ever need. No one can steal Him from me. I never have to write Him down, Put Him in a password manager, Or worry that I might forget Him.
He is the way in, Jesus is the only way into
My life was fine when I didn’t have Jesus in it.
At least, that’s what I thought.
It was enough, but now that empty life can never be enough.
I licked a spoon that was used to stir egg nog. It was not enough! I wanted more! I wanted a drink!
Jesus gave me that sweet drink of the life. He gave me the more I didn’t know I’d been waiting for.
No more futile striving for only a thin film of the sweetness. Now I have Him, and with Him, the sweet, rich, fragrantly spiced, deliciously satisfying, glass of joyous life to drink from, that is always full, never empties, and is endless! * * * * * * * * *
After a long, busy, hectic, somewhat difficult, Advent, I find myself stunned today. What an eventful time I’ve had here at “Gloryteller” over the last three weeks! And 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. 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.
I feel almost like I went through it with them . . .
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”?) 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 from Len, here at Gloryteller.com
24Dec2017Comments Off on Observing Advent – Four Sundays and the Weekdays Between, With Steadily Increasing Hope, Joy, Love, Light, and Ultimate Peace!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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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.
(*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 )
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. 10But 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 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 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 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
Then 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, 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 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 hope,
with all the peace, joy, and love, grace can provide;
The “second” Advent begins now, And all Creation is pregnant with anticipation!
23Dec2017Comments Off on A Paul Harvey Christmas Message – The Man and the Birds
A Brilliant Modern Day Parable This whole broadcast is good, but if you want to skip ahead to the story, it begins at about 5:10. May you and yours have a joyous Christmas!
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,
in perfect humility, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, a mother’s sacrificial blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to coverall others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love.
For us here below, from Him, up above. 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 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 up, 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, this Everlasting Father, this 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 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! * * * * * * * * * * *
The Happiest Christbirth Celebration to you, today! LS< Your Gloryteller * * * * * * * *
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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 . . .
Thank you, Kari Jobe and Bob Marshall for the upload.
(To my German-speaking friends in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and everywhere, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy 2018. May God bless you and your loved ones.)
“What do you think about the lie of Santa Clause?” asked nobody. “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 them. It’s the same for the the gift-giving, the lights, and the joyous celebrating. One can ignore any or all of it, but 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 that 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 is given to every one of us, but it must be accepted before it can be unwrapped and enjoyed.
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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 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. 10But 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 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!
I, the least of believers, proclaim this joy, proclaim His glory, (like it says in the header at the top) 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!
12Dec2017Comments Off on A Pre-Christmas Act of Worship In A Retail Store
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!
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Jesus Lives! Let Him Be Worshipped And Adored At All Times, In All Places, By All Willing Hearts!
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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 self-conscious 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 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 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 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, 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)
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, 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!
Alone in the Rockies.
