December 25, 2024

Joy In Song

December 19, 2014 by

gchSHadventjoygraphicJoy: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness; “tears of joy”

During this Christmas season, we are reminded of the reason for a commercial celebration. We get so caught up in buying things, baking things, making things and sending things.  But that is not what it is all about.
We all know that joy is a choice.  We can choose to be caught up in the hustle and bustle, or we can choose to be joyful.  Henry Van Dyke wrote a wonderful song that has been in my heart this season.  It is Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.  It is the perfect way to express our love and gratitude for what God has done for us.  He has given us His Son. He knew Jesus was going to die on the Cross for us.  But God knew the only way to reach us was for His Son to become like us—to walk among us, to speak to us, to cry with us, and to die like us.   But we know how He rose again to bring hope to our dying world.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away 
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

All thy works with joy surround Thee 
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays 
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain 
Flowery meadow, flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Thou art giving and forgiving
Ever blessing, ever blest
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest
Thou our Father, Christ our brother
All who live in love are Thine
Teach us how to love each other
Lift us to the joy divine

Mortals, join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began
Love Divine is reigning o'er us
binding all within its span
Ever singing, march we onward 
Victors in the midst of strife 
Joyful music leads us sunward 
In the triumph song of life


Henry Van Dyke ~ Ludwig van Beethoven ~ Arranged by Edward Hodges
Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Sweet Peace

December 10, 2014 by

SHpeaceluke1

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest,  And on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased.  And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this Child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Luke 2:13-20 ASV

God so loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to be among us.  God wants a great relationship with us.  Speaking through the prophets and showing us His love through His kindness.  God has made the way easy for us.  All we need to do is to be willing to follow Him completely.

Prayer is…

  • Speaking our hearts’ desire to God.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
Psalm 6:9

  • Expecting great things to happen when we trust.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour
when you do not expect Him.
Matthew 24:44

  • Accepting God’s most excellent purpose for our lives.

You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
Psalm 45:2

  • Contributing to God’s plan to further His kingdom.

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,
and will take their places at the feast
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 8:11

  • Exceptional care for those that would believe.

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18

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Father, we pray for Your peace during the Christmas season.  We want to understand and learn about You and Your Son in a new and unexpected way.  Holy Spirit, open our eyes and hearts to receive You in a new and exciting way.  Let us have a new passion for Your word and Your ways, Lord.  In Jesus’ name we pray and ask these things, amen.

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Come and Worship

December 9, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o’er the earth
Ye who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth

Come and worship, come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King

Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching o’er your flocks by night
God with man is now residing
Under shines the Infant light

Saints before the altar, bending
Watching, longing, hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear

Written by James Montgomery; Sung by Bebo Norman

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Oh, to be first-time parents!  Remember the fears, the concerns of not knowing if you were going to know how to care for the child?  What if they did this, or if they had that, is this normal, should I call a doctor?  Everything had to be perfect—new clothes, new crib, new bottles, new car seat, new everything.  But then, imagine, Mary and Joseph. They were not home, they were in a stable behind a hotel.  There were no more rooms or homes for them to visit.  No friends they could stay with.  At least Joseph was able to find a place warm, dry, and slightly comfortable for Mary and his soon-to-be-born stepson.

Then, once Mary had Jesus, everything changed.  Having cleaned out a manger in which to lay Jesus, after wrapping Him in swaddling clothes, they began to have visitors.  Shepherds came to see the wonder of the promised Messiah…the one the Angel told them would be in a stable.  Both Mary and Joseph were tired, but excited to see Jesus, and to welcome these strangers with news of the angelic host proclaiming the birth.

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us Come and Worship the love our Father in heaven has for us His people. Without God desiring a relationship with all of us, Jesus would not have been born.

Thank You, God, for loving us so much that You would send Your Son, Jesus, to earth to live among us!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

When Hope Came Down

December 2, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

So this is how it was
a silent night like any other
When heaven sent the One
the One we would call our Savior
And redemption began
in a stable in Bethlehem

All of the angels lifted up their voices
and filled the night with hallelujahs
God is with us now
Everyone come and join the heavenly chorus
Our Savior King is here before us
O to hear the sound
The song creation sang when Hope came down

So this was truly God
wrapped up in a tattered blanket
Hope was finally here
sleeping while the world awakened
And redemption began
with a baby in Bethlehem

So let us sing redemption songs
Let us worship Christ the Holy One
We were lost but we were found
When Hope came down

Words and Music by Chris Eaton ~~ Sung by Kari Jobe

*    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Glory to God in the highest
And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased.
Luke 2:14

God sent us His only begotten Son. To save us. Not to confuse us, not to manipulate us, but to save us. No matter what has happened in our lives, God is faithful to save us. All we have to do is call out His name, to cry out to our Abba Father. Listen to the words of this song and feel God’s hope, joy, and acceptance. There is never a wrong time to ask Jesus to come and live in our hearts, whether we are new believers or someone who has believed for many years. Our hearts need to be stirred by the Holy Spirit.

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Advent, Week One ~ Hope

November 30, 2014 by

SHhopeadvent

The first week of the Advent season is to acknowledge Hope.  Hope is where we realize that God will always fulfill His promises. It does not mean we will not see troubles, but we will see God’s best, as long as we seek His will first. As we celebrate this Christmas season, let’s just forget the political correctness…let us worship and proclaim our Savior’s birth as never before!

As I researched Advent, I came across this devotional. The link is located at the end of this blog. Please feel free to use this throughout the coming season.

Lighting of the Candle

[As someone lights the first purple candle, the following should be read or paraphrased.]

We light this candle because, like God’s people centuries ago, we also look forward with hope to the coming of the Shepherd. The purple color of the candle reminds us of the seriousness of our hope.

Psalms 80:1-7
In this psalm, we join the people of Israel as they invite God, their Shepherd, to save and to restore them.

Isaiah 40:1-11
This passage looks ahead to the coming of the Lord, Who will care for His people like a shepherd.

Revelation 7:9-17
Like God’s people before the coming of Christ, we also look ahead to the time when Christ, who is both the Lamb and our Shepherd, will finish His work and “God will wipe away every tear” from our eyes.

Prayer of Hope
[To be read or paraphrased]

Dear God, as we light this candle, we hope for Your coming as our Good Shepherd. Please gather us in Your arms, feed us with spiritual food, wipe away every tear from our eyes, and “let Your face shine, that we may be saved.” Come, our Shepherd! Amen.

 

{ Read more: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/advent-devotional-guide-preparing-for-the-coming-of-christ/#ixzz3KUfQx5uJ }

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks

November 27, 2014 by

seekingHimthanksgivinggraphic

By Him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Hebrew 13:15

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

We are so blessed in America!  We have an abundance of food, entertainment, music, and yet…we seem to be so unhappy.  There is so much that God has given us as a nation to share and help others.  This Thanksgiving, let us remember those who are less fortunate.  Let us find ways, in the near future, to serve others and receive a great blessing, more than we could ever know.

Jesus is our great Intercessor.  We are to bring everything to Him in prayer and supplication.  If we ask what is godly and right in the name of Jesus—our Father will be able to grant our request.  As we begin our day let us remember to give thanks to God for all that we have, since it is not ours.  Everything we have has been granted to us.

The Pilgrims were so grateful to have a land to call their own and the freedom to worship God.  After such a hard crossing and a hard harvest, they decided to celebrate and praise God for what they had.  Let us do the same.  Continuous praise should be on our lips and in our thoughts.  Begin each new day with thanksgiving and praise and see what a difference it will make in your life and those around you.

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Father, we come before You with much thanks and praise. You have given us everything we have. Forgive us when we are ungrateful.  Help us remember You are the Giver of everything. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Expressions of Thanks

November 12, 2014 by

seekingHimthanksgivinggraphic
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever.
He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
Psalms 111:1-4

Thank:  to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment

In the Southern culture, we are taught from the crib to say ‘thank you’.  If you did not say thank you growing up you were quickly reminded to say it.  How much more should we say it to our Heavenly Father.  Without Him, we would have nothing.

T-hrone
We are to bring our request to the throne of the One who can grant them.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

H-eaven
In Heaven, when we call upon the name of Jesus, He will take them to our Father as our Intercessor.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:27

A-nswered
God will, in His wisdom, answer our prayers. Not always the way we want, but as our Father, Who knows best, does.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also;
and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14

N-oble
From Scripture our thoughts should always focus on what is good and noble. We are to train our thoughts on what is right and pure. Not dwell in the negatives of our lives. When we search and find the light, we will feel lighter and free!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

K-nowledge
As we begin to train our thoughts …away from the negative and begin to go to the positive… our Father will give us a much greater knowledge of His Word.  We will want to fill our minds and thoughts with His words, His goodness, His mercy, and His ways.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness,
Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for Your blessings.  Thank You for giving me the opportunity to share my heart with others.  Thank You for being You and for standing with me.  Jesus, thank You for being my Intercessor.  Holy Spirit, thank You for Your touches that bring me back to You.  Continue to give me strength when the way becomes weary.  Help me keep my focus on Your light!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Now Thank We All Our God

November 11, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
To keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
Of this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest,
Who reign in highest heaven
The one eternal God,
Whom heaven and earth adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

Written by Martin Rinckart and Johann Cruger
Sung by The Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

What a beautiful old hymn!  Verse 3 gives us a wonderful opportunity to praise our Lord,  All praise and thanks to God, the Father now be given. Can you just hear the angels gathering to sing in three-part harmony to give their utmost praise to Him?  I can feel the peace that would surround me. Come Lord Jesus, Come!  The Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven.  Such majesty, such glory, surrounds our Lord and King. We pray blessings upon us from Your holy throne as we lift our voices in song to praise Your holy name, the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore.  

When the seasons change, do you imagine that God wants to show off His Creation of nature? How much more so that He wants to show us off. For us, He wants us to grow, to pursue Him and let Him become the one to supply all of our needs. We are to tell Him ‘thank You!’ with grateful hearts, not just this month or the next, but forever are we to thank Him. Through the easy times and through the times where it would seem we are just climbing and climbing that mountain of issues and pain. For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Our God is Ruler of all the earth and the heavens. That we cannot dispute. For those that try, they will come up short and will not know happiness. That is until they embrace the Lord our God. Then He will receive with open arms the new person in Christ and will welcome back those that will repent and turn to God.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38

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Father, we thank You for loving us just the way we are. We ask Your Holy Spirit to walk with us and guide us through our lives. All we have to do is ask for the Helper and He will be there to guide us. You have been most gracious with us and we have acted like spoiled children, forgetting to be grateful for Your many gifts and blessings. Help us to cultivate a thankful heart toward You. In Jesus’ name, we ask and pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Being Teachable

November 5, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way.
Psalms 25:8-9

We have heard the phrase, “You are not too old to learn,” right?  We, as believers, continue to learn every day.  Each day is a new opportunity to learn about the wonder of our God.  He shows us what is available to us.  All we have to do is look and take action.

When we attend a Bible study, we have set certain expectations for ourselves and for the group.  God wants us to seek after Him and be teachable.  We can do this by becoming humble.  We are to ask God to reveal His heart to us and we need to be receptive to His Word.

When the psalmist writes, ‘therefore will He instruct sinners in His way’, he is telling us God wants us to follow the one true path to Heaven—which is through Him and belief in His Son, Jesus.  Then He wants to lead the afflicted in what is right and wants to teach them His way.

When we go through strife, it seems we become more teachable in those moments.  Our defenses are down and we are more willing to receive the instruction of the Holy Spirit.  Why?  Because we are seeking answers that are outside of our own understanding.  While we continue to seek His will for our lives, we will grow in knowledge.  It is only when we become comfortable and complacent that we begin to forget to seek Him first.

Let’s pray,

Father, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for sending your son Jesus as an example for us to follow. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, our helper in all things. With praise and thanks and gratitude for your great mercy and grace. Forgive us when we take our eyes off of your will and look at things with our eyes, not with yours. Train us to seek your will, not ours. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Provider

October 29, 2014 by

Psalm 4:1
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

When we are in distress, we call out to God.  We expect Him to answer us immediately.  As we walk through the pain and the anguish, we sometimes rant and rage at Him.  And that is okay. He is a big God. He can take whatever we can throw at Him.  As long as we are respectful, we can become angry.

And sometimes we have to become like children and trust God will answer our prayers.  When we were children, most of us did not have to worry about where our food was coming from, we did not have to worry about a place to sleep, because it was there.  Our parents provided everything we needed.  Not what we wanted…but what we needed.  That is what they are supposed to do.  That is what our heavenly Father does for us as well.

In the Bible it tells us of fathers who loved their sons.  It tells us those who have blindly trusted God.  It tells us of those who walked in faith what God would have them to do.  Scripture tells us of Abraham who left his father, took his wife and nephew, and moved away from all that he knew.  Just because God called to him.  But Abraham received a promise.  A promise to become a father of many.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people
and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Genesis 12:1-3

God, through Jesus His son, offers us a promise.  When we accept Jesus into our heart, and make Jesus Lord of our life, we have eternity.  We may not have an easy life, but a life of great reward, a life rich with God’s blessings.  This past month, I was given a task of putting together a program for our Hallelujah Hoedown at our church. It was a stretch for me, but I knew God had given me this opportunity to help me grow in my ability to lead and for me to become accountable.  I don’t have issues with delegating.  Nor do I have an issue with calling on those whom I know can do a job.  I just have to learn to lean on God more for everything…and I did.   He did not let me (or those who watched our performance this weekend) down.  We all had a wonderful time, performing and worshipping God and letting the little ones worship with us.  I think the adults had just a much fun as the children did!

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My prayer is for everyone to know Christ as Someone we can go to for our everyday needs and concerns.  God wants us to seek Him for our every need before we make little AND big decisions.  He wants us to do a heart check, to assure our thoughts align with His Word.

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