God has placed creativity in the human heart. J.S. Bach penned, "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." As in days of old, He is still using His Word to inspire His servants to compose and write Biblically-sound music.
"Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..." Ephesians 5:19
"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness" Psalm 29:2
“Who is this…fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars?”
Song of Solomon 6:10
The only problem with Michael W. Smith's gorgeous work is that it doesn't last 20 minutes. Keith Green originally wrote the song in a much different, but definitely anointed version. I will post it tomorrow, God-willing!May we continue to praise and look at our beautiful Savior after the music here stops.
Lyrics: Oh Lord, you're beautiful Your face is all I see For when your eyes are on this child Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord you're beautiful Your face is all I seek For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
For when your eyes are on this child Your grace abounds to me Oh Lord
Oh Lord, you're beautiful Yes you are Oh Lord Yes you are
Supporting Scriptures: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9
“Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” Song of Solomon 6:10
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,”dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1: 12-16
When we were traveling last fall, we came back with some pretty amazing pictures. Those of the windows especially delighted and fascinated me. An old English proverb states that, "The eye is the window to the soul."
The Matthew 6:22 tells us, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." So what does 'single' mean? Barnes commentary says this: "A man crossing a stream on a log, if he will look across at some object steadily, will be in little danger. If he looks down on the dashing and rolling waters, he will become dizzy, and fall. So Jesus says, in order that the conduct may be right, it is important to fix the affections on heaven. Having the affections there - having the eye of faith single, steady, unwavering - all the conduct will be correspondent." How true!
So how do we keep our eyes 'single'? The Bible tells us to "guard your heart for it is the well-spring of life."
Steve Green's Guard Your Heart is not just for children (remember the old Sunday School song of 'be careful little eyes what you see?'). We nee this at any age. It is the loving warning of a just and loving God!This would be a great song to sing along with your children, supporting it with the Word of God below.
Lyrics: Oh, be careful little eyes what you see Oh, be careful little eyes what you see For the Father up above Is looking down in love Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
What appears to be harmless glance? Can turn to romance And homes are divided Feelings that should never have been Awakened within Tearing the heart in two
Listen, I beg of you Guard your Heart Guard your Heart Don't trade it for treasure Don't give it away
Guard your Heart Guard your Heart As a payment for pleasure It's high price to pay
For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear Guard your Heart
The human heart is easily swayed And often betrayed at the hand of emotion You dare not leave the outcome to chance You must choose in advance Or live with the agony Such needless tragedy
Guard your Heart Guard your Heart Don't trade it for treasure Don't give it away
Guard your Heart Guard your Heart As a payment for pleasure It's high price to pay
For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear Guard your Heart
Supporting Scriptures:
I love the NLT which is a paraphrase: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live..." Deut. 30:19
"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." Prov.22:3
"In New York they preach about virtually everything, only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ~1930
"[The Union seminary students] talk a blue streak without slightest substantive foundation, and with no evidence of any criteria...they are unfamiliar with even the most basic questions. They become intoxicated with liberal and humanistic phrases, laugh at the fundamentalists..." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ~1930
One of the greatest influences on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's adult life was a visit to the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem district of New York City. He had come to the U.S. from pre- WWII Germany seeking to find an 'alive church'. "Bonhoeffer had no idea what he was walking into at the Union Seminary, but the bloody battle royale between the liberals and the fundamentals was in full swing in 1930...One notable exception, however, was in the 'negro churches'." There in the distressed African American community, Dietrich would see the full power of the Word of God manifested under the preaching of Pastor Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Eric Metaxas, author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, continues, "Starving from the skim milk at Union (seminary), Bonhoeffer found a theological feast in this N.Y. African American church that spared nothing."(see Now Let Us Come Before Him and The Mark Of A Man, Jan 2011, for more on Bonhoeffer's life)
1965 photo - 25 years after Bonhoeffer's 6 month in New York
What you will hear below is much like the music Bonhoeffer experienced and loved. My husband and I heard the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir back in the early days of my coming to faith in Jesus (80s). We were impressed with the teaching of the Word and the powerful singing! It went deep, bringing a longing to be filled with the joy of God from the inside out! This may not be your style or cultural background, but if you don't find yourself joining in on the worship, your kindling may be wet!If you love Handel's Messiah, as I do, this should be great fun.
Lyrics:
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain And hath redeemed us to God by His blood To receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Worthy is the Lamb that was slain Wo-o-o-o-rthy And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
Men: Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto Him, be unto Him That seated upon the throne And to the Lamb
All: Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto Him, be unto Him That seated upon the throne
Men: O That seated upon the throne All: That seated upon the throne Men: Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto
All: The Lamb
Solo: Ha - All: Blessing and honor Solo: Lelujah All: Blessing honor and power Solo: Ha aaaaaaaaaa All: Wisdom and strength and glory
Men: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah Hallelujah Halle halle Hallelujah
For the Lord God omnipotent r-e-i-gneth Hallelujah, Hallelujah, halle – e- e- lujah The kingdom of our Lord And of his Christ [X2] And He shall reign for ever and ever [2X]
Solo: King of Kings All: for ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah Solo: and Lord of Lords All: For ever and ever Solo: King of Kings All: For ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah Solo: Lord of Lords All: For ever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah Solo: King of Kings All:For ever and ever, Solo: Lord of Lords All: For ever and ever Hallelujah
Halle – lu jah
Supporting Scriptures: "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain!”Revelations 5: 11-12
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"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelations 7:9-12 ------------ "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelations 11:15
Russell and Darlene Deibler as young missionaries. After Russell died, she married Jerry Rose.
"The beatings, the starvation and the solitary confinement never broke her. "I never cried in front of them," said Darlene Deibler Rose of her Japanese captors in World War II. "But as soon as everyone went away, I cried buckets."Mrs. Rose, 84, who moved to Chattanooga this year with her husband, Jerry, served as a missionary in New Guinea. She was there with the Christian Missionary Alliance from 1938 to 1942, and again after the war in what is now Papua New Guinea, from 1949 to 1978.In between, she was imprisoned for three years on the island of Celebes, now Sulawesi."
If any of this sounds intriguing, you must read the perspective-changing book, Evidence Not Seen, by Darlene Rose! It is probably, arguably, our family's favorite read (there will be more books that I want to share in time). I am holding an old copy of the book on my lap. It energizes me to think of the power of the Word of God. Her favorite Scripture, Psalm 27, memorized from childhood, sustained her through the most harrowing cruelties. She writes,
"One of the young Dyak students was tortured at the Kempeitai headquarters prison. He was completely innocent of any subversive activities, but by then the damage was done. He suffered intense pain, but he was one of those God could trust with pain. He could still praise his glorious Lord and forgive those who caused his death--for he died shortly thereafter of his internal injuries...I could be the next victim. At such times as this, I took refuge in God's Word, especially Psalm 27...I remembered Dr. Jaffray's injunction: "Lassie, whatever you do, be a good soldier for Jesus Christ." I prayed that God would help me. The hearings--for my first interrogation was the first of many--lasted an hour, two hours, sometimes longer. All the questions were relative to my alleged espionage activities. What contact had I had with the American military personnel? What knowledge did I have of Morse code? Who were my superiors? Where had I been groomed to become a spy? Where did I get my radio? They tried to brainwash me into thinking I had been used by the Americans to spy for them and that the Americans had betrayed me to the Japanese. They would be lenient if I confessed, they said, but I knew that in times of war spies were beheaded. I gritted my teeth and vowed, God helping me, that they would never break me. This experience was repeated every few days for the next month and a half. I never knew when they would call me to the hearing room again.In desperation, I poured my heart out to the Lord. "O Lord, I just can't go through another one. I can't Lord, I just can't. When there were no more tears to cry, I would hear him whisper, "But, my child, my grace is sufficient for you. Not wasnorshall be, but it is sufficient." Oh, the eternal, ever-present, undiminished supply of God's glorious grace!"
Here is Psalm 27 set to Celtic music by Eden's Bridge. Darlene's relationship with Jesus along with Psalm 27 are what carried her through it all.
Lyrics: The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
When men advance against me And all my foes surround me, They will stumble and fall, stumble and fall. Though all the world besiege me, And war break out against me, I am sure in the Lord, sure in the Lord.
And in the day of trouble, I'm safe within His dwelling, He will hide me, He will hide me. My head will be exalted So far above my enemies, I will sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord. There is one thing that I ask of the Lord For the days of my life; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life. To gaze on His beauty, Seek Him in His temple.
Today's music is about great men of God, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer can be counted among them. He is one of my heroes. He worked tirelessly to rouse the dead and dying church in Germany, and finally went abroad to America to raise the alarm, and hopefully, find a believing community.You will be swept away by the timeliness of Eric Metaxas' book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. It reveals the courage, wisdom, and selflessness of this man of God as well as his courtship. He warned the world then, and he is warning us again through his life's work. Let us take heed in light of where we are as a lethargic church and morally bankrupt nation today!
Hitler leaving the Marine Church in Wilhelmshaven, 1931. It was a picture widely used in Nazi propaganda. Many in the church who had supported the church's embrace of Nazism realized too late that the Nazi support of morality and Christianity was a very thin facade indeed.
Singer/songwriter Steve Camp's The Mark Of A ManOf God is complimented with photos of the great heroes of the church. It describes exactly how Bonhoeffer lived his short life.We need fathers, husbands, and sons to "brace up like a man." Job 40:7 (see Job Suite by Michael Card/Dec 2010). I especially love the words of the TAG at the end of the lyrics! Lyrics: A godly man is such a rarity todaySo many start, strong and true, and quickly fall away - A godly man will take his stand he can't be bought or sold - Hand to the plow, he won't look back though other hearts turn cold - He keeps the faith and keeps his conscience clearHe lives this life of grace through all his years
chorus: The mark of a man of God is what he's faithful to, and what he's fleeing from and what he's fighting for - the heart of a man of God is what he daily pursues, his family, friends, the Word, the church and worship of the Lord - The godly man daily takes up the cross of Christ and faithfully follows Him as a living sacrifice. He’s not ashamed of the gospel, his sufficiency's in Christ The power of integrity is the passion of his life Instead of reckless faith, he has proven that his faith works The ultimate priority, the Master's plan for the church Saved without a doubt because his first love is the Lord And the gospel according to Jesus is the truth he would die for
(chorus) BridgeHe lives his life to teach the Word, in season and in not For he fears more than any man, the approval of his God He lovingly, yet firmly leads those placed within his care The power of his ministry is that he is a man of prayer
(chorus) TagThe godly man takes a young Timothy like meand teaches me to run the raceto carry on this life of graceHe sets the mark and we keep the pacewith this man of God.
Supporting Scriptures: "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away." Matthew 13:20-21
"Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 62 "Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10: 38-39
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2
"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Corinthians 6:18
I am reading the New York Times bestseller Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy--A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich by EricMetaxas. I can hardly put it down! Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a very exciting figure to many people in light of how he lived and died for his convictions in attempts to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. He was a great man of faith in Jesus Christ and determined to live radically in the will of God--even to the point of death.
Metaxas explores how the 'church of Luther' had shockingly weakened so much that it had capitulated to Hitler by the 1930s. How did it get to such a state? The true gospel (summed up by Bonhoeffer as 'costly grace') had gradually been perverted and replaced by 'cheap grace'. This is that there is a kind, jolly God who just loves and forgives everyone, so it doesn't matter how one lives. Legalism also grew and meant that God loved you because you were disciplined and pulled yourself together, living a good life.
While just a boy of thirteen, Dietrich's brother Walter was killed fighting for Germany in WWI. It devastated the whole family, but it served to mold Dietrich into the man he would become. His mother was a capable woman deeply in love with her husband, her family, and her Savior. She frequently lead singing in their home. That last evening of the year, 1918-19, they sang Paul Gerhardt's New Year's Eve hymn "Now let us go singing and praying, and stand before our Lord, Who has given our life strength until now." His family and his times readied him to stand up to incredible evil with a passion for Truth and a commitment for justice on behalf of those who were targeted by this evil, the Jews.NetHymnal is a great site to obtain the history of thousands of hymns, ancient and recent, including Now Let Us Come Before Him which the Bonhoeffers sang that night... The link is http://nethymnal.org/htm/l/nlucbhim.htmYou can immediately hear the melody and see the lyrics. It was put into English in 1867, but the Bonhoeffers would have sung it in the old German text of Gerhardt.
Paul Gerhardt--1653
Lyrics: Now let us come before Him, With song and prayer adore Him, Who to our life hath given All needed strength from Heaven.
The stream of years is flowing, And we are onward going, From old to new surviving And by His mercy thriving.
In woe we often languish And pass through times of anguish Of wars and trepidation Alarming every nation.
As mothers watch are keeping O’er children who are sleeping, Their fear and grief assuaging When angry storms are waging.
So God His own is shielding And help to them is yielding. When need and woe distress them, His loving arms caress them.
O Thou Who dost not slumber, Remove what would encumber Our work, which prospers never Unless Thou bless it ever.
O God of mercy, hear us; Our Father, be Thou near us; Mid crosses and in sadness Be Thou our Fount of gladness.
Supporting Scriptures: This video of Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing contains the entire 91st Psalm in text. (music only in a fantastic arrangement by Paul Cardall, pianist)
"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4 ------------ "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 33-39
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"The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers." Deuteronomy 30:9
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"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers onearth." Hebrews 11:13
This year we lost my dear father, who we called Opa. Mercifully, Opa came to a saving faith in Jesus before he went home to be with the Lord. Many years ago, the great pastor and teacher Charles Spurgeon wrote this devotional on December 31 as the year came to an end, and he thought of those who still had not received the gift of eternal life:
"Reader, suppose you should die unsaved, your doom no words can picture. Write out your dread estate in tears and blood, talk of it with groans and gnashing of teeth: you will be punished with everlasting destruction from the glory of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. A brother's voice would fain startle you into earnestness. O be wise, be wise in time, and ere another year begins, believe in Jesus, who is able to save to the uttermost. Consecrate these last hours to lonely thought, and if deep repentance be bred in you, it will be well; and if it lead to a humble faith in Jesus, it will be best of all. O see to it that this year pass not away, and you an unforgiven spirit. Let not the new year's midnight peals soundupon a joyless spirit! Now, NOW, NOW believe, and live"
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." — Jeremiah 8:20
Across the Sky the Shades of Night- Hymn for the New Years Eve http://nethymnal.org/htm/a/s/asshades.htmThis link will allow you to hear it, read about theauthor, and hear the memorable original Lutheran evangelical hymn from 1539.
Lyrics: Across the sky the shades of night This New Year’s Eve are fleeting, We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light, In solemn worship meeting; And as the year’s last hours go by, We raise to Thee our earnest cry, Once more Thy love entreating.
Before the cross subdued we bow, To Thee our prayers addressing, Recounting all Thy mercies now, And all our sins confessing; Beseeching Thee this coming year To keep us in Thy faith and fear And crown us with Thy blessing.
And while we pray, we lift our eyes To dear ones gone before us, Safe home with thee in paradise, Whose peace descendeth o’er us; And beg of Thee, when life is past, To reunite us all at last With those who’ve gone before us.
We gather up in this brief hour The memory of Thy mercies; Thy wondrous goodness, love and power Our grateful song rehearses; For Thou hast been our Strength and Stay In many a dark and dreary day Of sorrow and reverses.
Supporting Scriptures:
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” Psalm 121:1
I just love to get alone and praise our Savior! Or to stand at the kitchen sink and let my voice rise to the heavens! This is one way to bring joy to your home and your own heart as you thank Him for His covering and protection through the day or night. When you are afraid, don't give way to it! Call upon the Lord in sincerity and faith! "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
Using these you-tubes as a time of meditation or devotion would be a great way to start your day with praise and thanksgiving to God. Below the lyrics of each video post are some Scriptures. If you've never had/read a Bible before, get one, and open it to the Gospel of John. The gospel account is filled with first-hand accounts of Jesus' words and His world-changing 33 years on earth. Scholars generally accept that the Gospel of John was written between 50 and 85 A.D, within 50 years of Jesus' death and resurrection from the grave. Many who witnessed it were still alive at the time of John's writing. The beginning of John, chapter 1, tells us who Jesus is, and chapter 3, v. 16, tells us the significance of Jesus and His purpose for the world. You can call upon Jesus to be your Lord. You can find rest for your soul in Christ when you come to Him in quietness and trust! You can know His power for a new life!
Lyrics: Hide me now Under Your wings Cover me Within Your mighty hand
CHORUS: When the oceans rise And the thunders roar I Will soar with You Above the storm Father You are King Over the flood And I will be still And know You are God
Find rest my soul In Christ alone Know His power In quietness and trust
Be still and know That I am God
I am the God That healeth thee Supporting Scriptures:
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3: 8-11
"He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday" Psalm 91:4-6
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up (soar) with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
The change in Northern Ireland over the last two decades has been incredible; the churches in Ireland played a major role in reconciliation, becoming involved in meeting with political and terrorist leaders to try to find a way forward. The bad old days of bombs and bullets and retaliations and retribution between factions and terrorist groups from the two political and religious sides have diminished to a state where they are rare or non-existent. It was by God's grace that we found our way out of what were very dark and divisive days. Robin Mark's music encouraged heart change and a searching of souls.
"...I write only when I feel I have something to say. I cannot sit down and write automatically or prolifically, God hasn't given me that gift, unfortunately! But whether it’s in music, song, business, family or other area of service, so long as I am praising Him, that's all that matters." -Robin Mark
“I remember being told by an old Pastor to “hold everything loosely”. Everything that I have ever had or will ever achieve is simply God’s grace and pleasure.” -Robin Mark
Lyrics: Lift up your heads oh, ye gates, let the King of Glory come in--Be lifted up, oh ancient doors, let the King of Glory come in
The altars we've built and the works we have done, can never compare to the Savior's love-- the hearts of the humble are temples of praise, as we worship the Ancient of Days, as we worship the Ancient of Days
Glory to the Lord our God, Glory to the Lamb on the throne-- we open wide the gates of our hearts, with our lips we rise up and pause, as we worship the Ancient of Days
Who can ascend to the hill of the Lord People of clean hearts and hands-- you who are righteous and seeking His face, come and worship the Ancient of Days, come and worship the Ancient of Days
Supporting Scriptures: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit,and trembles at my word. " Isaiah 66:2
"Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false." Psalm 24:3-4
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelations 7:17
"Lift up your heads, O you gates;be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory." Psalm 24:7-10
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, andhis kingdom is one thatwill never be destroyed."Daniel 7:13
Our family has loved the old 1984 CD Mannheim Steamroller Christmas for at least 20 years. We never tire of the music for a pleasant and joyful atmosphere in our home. What Child Is This? was a popular Christmas carol written in 1865 by William Dix, set to the tune Greensleeves.It is good to see this old melody claimed for Jesus!
I like to think anything on this Christmas CD is akin to Mozart for stimulating those old brain synapses in us 50-60 somethings :) Quintessential Christmas!
Lyrics: What Child is this, who, laid to rest On Mary's lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, The Cross be borne, for me, for you. Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh; Come peasant, king, to own Him. The King of Kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise, the song on high, The Virgin sings her lullaby: Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary
History: The Mannheim Steamroller version is called Greensleeves. For many people, the song ‘Greensleeves’ is associated with the Tudors, England and with traditional English music. There is a persistent myth that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn, his second wife ~1580.
Supporting Scriptures: "And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11
"And she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22
Ponder these words! The Chaldeans "turned so many musty pages in (their) hope to find a clue. Then the words leapt from the parchment from Jacob shines a star."Even the eastern astronomers were drawn to the Truth and searched it out on the prompting on the Holy Spirit!
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13
I won't speculate over the number of wise men. However, they were mathematicians - very fine ones - and had calculations to determine where the star would be (is that a plumb line in the video below?) And the 'V' shaped device..?There are more scenes of the 'wise men' studying the stars in The Nativity Story (a lot of dramatic liberty used in the astronomer scene) and in the O Come, O Come Immanuel post (2 posts back) at 1:45 min into video.
Lyrics: On a day like any other In our search to find the truth We turned so many musty pages In our hope to find some clue Then the words leapt from the parchment From Jacob shines a star That a wordless one who is the word Will be worth a journey far
CHORUS: We will find Him We will find Him We will follow His star We will search and we will follow No matter how far In castles, through kingdoms To find the king whose kingdom is the heart
It was a night like any other So cold and black and dark And it told us all too clearly Of the night inside our hearts Then the star tore through the darkness And like an angel shone To guide us to that one true Light Who became flesh and bone
CHORUS: above
He stilled our secret syllables And hushed our wisest words In the silence of the stable there Was wisdom finally heard
We have found Him We have found Him We have seen the true Light What was darkness What was shadow In His presence is delight This One born so lowly the heavens declare Will someday reign without a rival there
Supporting Scriptures: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 (Old Testament prophesy)----------------------------
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of theJews?For we saw his star when it roseand have come to worship him.”When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:1-6 (N.T. fulfillment of Micah 5:2)
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father exceptthrough me." John 14:6
"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 1 Peter 1:19-21
"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
While this isn't worship music, I couldn't resist posting it up for the sheer beauty and joy of it!
We are told to, " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:16-17
There is a charming old Slavic legend that at midnight, when Jesus was born, all the bells on earth started to ring of their own accord.
Lyrics: Ring, Christmas Bells, Merrily ring, Tell all the world: Jesus is King! Loudly proclaim with one accord, The happy tale; Welcome the Lord
Ring, Christmas Bells, Sound far and near, The birth day of Jesus is here. Herald the news To old and young, Tell it to all, In ev’ry tongue.
Ring, Christmas Bells, Toll loud and long, Your message sweet, Peel and prolong. Come, all ye people, Join in the singing, Repeat the story, Told by the ringing,
Ring, Christmas bells, Throughout the earth Tell the glad news, Of Jesus birth. Loudly proclaim With one accord, The happy tale; Welcome the Lord
This carol was originally composed in 1916 by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leonovych.
The Nativity Story (used for this video - not the best visual quality) gives us the context of a Jewish nation in the midst of oppression. Historians tell us the following: Hebrew identity was maintained through a deep spiritual conviction that Yahweh had chosen them to play a unique role in the history of the world. In particular, the Jewish people had come to expect a Messiah who, they believed, would enable them to fulfill this divine mission. There were differing understandings of the mission and role of the Messiah ranging from the establishment of a Jewish political kingdom here on earth to the idea of a heavenly kingdom at the end of the world.
Religion and politics were deeply intertwined in Hebrew faith and self-understanding. By the time of Jesus' birth, the Romans had established a two-tiered system of government consisting of Roman overseers and Jewish leaders who exercised control in the name of Rome. This was the system of power in which the family of Herod the Great grew to prominence.
Although half-Jews, the Herodian family was detested by the Jewish people for its tyrannical rule and also because of its key role in selling out the Jewish heritage to a foreign power. One of Herod's sons, Archelaus, was so brutal in his exercise of power in Jerusalem, that Rome replaced him with one of its own governors, Pontius Pilate, who was to play a significant role in the crucifixion of Jesus.
Another of the sons, Herod Antipas, was responsible for the beheading of John the Baptist. It was the same Antipas who is accredited with the mocking of Jesus at his pre-crucifixion trial.
Lyrics:
Oh come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!
Oh come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Thy people with Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!
Oh come, Thou rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel! Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!
Supporting Scriptures: 4 Old Testament prophesies-
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—... but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. " Isaiah 11:1-2, 4 (and all of Isaiah 11)
"And thou, child (speaking of John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus), shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1: 76-79
New Testament fulfillment- "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.' " Matthew 1:23
“And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began said to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”Luke 4: 16-21
