Hallelujah

Handel's Messiah

Handel’s Messiah (Photo credit: HerryLawford)

Although I see decorations everywhere and have nearly completed my shopping the Season doesn’t really start for me until I put on my formal black dress and sing Handel’s Oratorio, The Messiah.  I have been blessed for the past several  years, by being allowed to asked to sing the Contralto Solo – Oh, Though That Tellest Good Tidings (Isaiah 40:9).  We (The Defiance College Community Chorus) sing nearly the entire work with members of the Toledo Symphony.   Every piece of this work is based on a verse or proficy from the life of Christ.  It’s a true worship experience for me.

The Hallelujah Chorus http://youtu.be/pYzOQFpGPYE(Rev. 19:6, 11:15, 19:16) might be the most remembered piece of this work but there is nothing like hearing the trumpet solo in The Trumpet Shall Sound (I Corinthians 15:52-53) I can almost see Jesus appearing to take us to heaven.  I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Job 6:25-26 and 1 Corinthians 15:20) is, for me, the heartfelt song of the true believer.

      Heavenly Father, You are the Mighty Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, my Redeemer and above all LORD of Lords.  My heart sings with the message and beauty of this incredible work.  How can I say thanks for what You have created.  All praise to You, my God and King!!!!!

Away In A manger

Away In A Manger is my favorite Christmas Carol.  Although many give the same message this is the one that resonates in my heart.  I have chosen an older melody for this video and love the Celtic Woman version.  Enjoy!

Away in a manger no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;  The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes, but Little Lord Jesus no crying He makes;  I love Thee Lord Jesus!  Look down from the sky, and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Verses 1 & 2 of this song first appeared in a children’s collection in 1885.  It is often attributed to Martin Luther but that is highly unlikely.  The author is unknown.

The third stanza was added by John Thomas McFarland around the turn of the century.  It is this verse that I love the most.  Think on these words:

Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray;  Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

There is no greater desire in this Believer’s heart than to stay in His ‘tender care’ and when He is finally ready, to live with Him for all eternity.

Heavenly Father, this child is so blessed to know You and give You praise.  Forgive my sins and stay close.  Let me walk through the opportunities of this day with You.  I put all those reading this in Your ‘tender care’.  I lift this prayer before the throne in the precious name of Jesus.  Make it so!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Nativity

Nativity (Photo credit: sbrent)

Over the nexts several weeks I will be using Christmas Carols and Songs to guide us to the day we celebrate His birth. Many years have passed since I learned this first song.  It’s haunting melody and ‘prayer words’ just have a way of sticking with me.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransome captive Israel, that morns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here:  Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;  To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;  Bid envy strife, and quarrels cease;  Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

As I read these words once again, and let the melody take me into my thoughts I wondered are we not still captive Israel?  Black Friday just broke sales records – a kind of captivity to buy stuff.   (I’ll chase a bunny here – – Isn’t it interesting that we live in a country that sets aside a day to spend more money than we really have buying things we think are right for a few people we may not even like.  Hm-m-m-m-m-m…)  Overweight/obesity/type 2 diabetes –captivity to food.   Pornography, adultery, homosexuality – – captivity to immorality.  Credit card debt, high mortgage payments, expensive cars, clothes, jewelry, furniture…..the list goes on and on and on.  We are captive to anything or anyone that are replacements for God. 

The Bible clearly tells us Emanuel means God (is) with us. Matthew 1:23  He knows what we are doing within our captivity to other stuff, we are trying to replace Him with something else.  He alone is ALL we need, have needed, and will need. 

Dear friends let our prayers be this from the 3rd verse of the song:

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;  To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.  Father, in heaven, open our ears and minds to Your guidance throughout this season.  Make it so Lord!

We Are Made To Worship

Worship is built into the fabric of our souls.  When we have something good happen we shout it out, we talk about it with friends and family, we lift our hands to heaven.

Worship is woven into the Story from the beginning of the Word in Genesis through Revelation.  Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Genesis 12:8    Abram builds a personal altar to worship the One and Only

Psalms   The entire book is about a life of worship.  Through prayer and praise the psalmists lift their personal life to the Throne.

Luke 2:36-37   Anna has been a widow for many years.  Day and night, year after year, she fasts and prays, lifting praise to the LORD.

Revelation 7:11-12   This beautiful, dramatic scene gives us a picture of heavenly worship.  It’s ALL about God!

Worship can be loud.  It can be soft.  Worship can be with others or all alone.  It can be in a church, in a car, at the kitchen table or sitting on the porch swing in the mountains.  No matter where we are we are made to and for worship.

Ah, Lord, God, You alone are worthy of all my worship and praise.  You alone created the beauty around me, the people I share this life with, the stuff You have blessed me with.  Oh, Lord, make me so aware of Your bountiful blessings that all I can do is worship You.  Make it so!

Pleasing God (part 3)

English: Icon of Jesus Christ

English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As we continue through Hebrews 13, we will find there are only a few more suggested ways to please God.  Verse 9 says, “Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way.”   What are strange teachings?  Anything that takes away from the 3 basic commands of the New Testament…Love God, love others, and tell the world.  Pretty simple isn’t it?  When a religion determines to attach  man-made rules to the Word it falls under the heading of ‘strange teachings’.  Paul uses the example of dietary practices.  He says those who follow these ‘teachings’ have not been helped.  Why?  Because it replaces what we should be thinking on (Philippians 4:8) with the voices of the world.

The next word we receive on this issue is–ALWAYS offer praise!  What is praise?  It is the sacrifice offered with our lips through Jesus.  We are proclaiming Him as Lord and through that God as the One and Only. 

Two other sacrifices are mentioned here.  We are to do good and help one another.  These are listed as sacrifices because it is not in our sinful nature to want to do these.  Well, whether we want to or not is really not the point.  We are simply to do it, to make these part of our life skills.  Imagine a world where an attitude of what’s in it for me is replaced with the constant thought of what can I do for you.

And finally, we are told to obey our leaders and follow their orders.  Oh, my, really, do I have to?  These types of commands are put in the Bible because God knows us.  He knows that we would rather do it our way, than let someone else tell us what to do.  Our leaders, both in the church and in the world at large have been placed in that position by God, for a specific purpose.  Both have the same type of protection for their followers, constituents on their shoulders.  When rules are made, they are often because the one in charge, chosen by God, knows we will be protected by it.  Jesus tells us to ‘give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.  That is not only about taxes it is about remembering who’s in charge and honoring that person.  So the next time a speeding ticket is issued just remember the rule was there for our protections.

My prayer, in the words of Paul (verse 21):

May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may He, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases Him.  And to Christ be the glory forever and ever!  Amen.  (Today’s English Version)