Posts tagged as:

worship

To Shepherds He Came

by Jessica on December 21, 2010

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around,

And glory shone around.

Isn’t it interesting that God sent the angels to proclaim the birth of the newborn King to lonely shepherds on a hillside?

In a city filled to the brim with people, God choose to reveal His plan to lowly shepherds. Not kings, not the wealthy, not the influential, not the priests,

but shepherds.

“Fear not!” said he; for mighty dread

had seized their troubled mind,

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.

To you and all mankind.”

Sheep herders.

Was it the heart of God that choose them? His own shepherd heart knowing that they care for their sheep, protecting them, staying with them when the hired hands flee (Jn. 10:13).

Was it that these men, dirty from resting on the ground, are the trusted voice the sheep would follow?

Did God feel a certain kinship?

“To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line,

The Savior who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign:

And this shall be the sign.”

He called out to the shepherds to come and meet their Shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Were these men “good shepherds”? Did they know the hardship and sacrifice it takes to lead a dumb flock?

“The heav’nly Babe you there shall find,

To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid;

And in a manger laid.”

Did He proclaim to them because they would understand when others would not?

Certainly with the multitude of angels (Lk. 2:13) and the glory of the Lord shining around them (Lk. 2:9), they knew this Christ baby was true.

“All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace:

Good will henceforth from heav’n to men,

Begin and never cease, begin and never cease.”

They would marvel while others slept.

photo credit

Tagged as: A, Advent, We Hymn, worship

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Busy Mind, Quiet Heart

by Jessica on September 19, 2010

in Sacred Chaos

I haven’t been too busy lately, but my mind races with the tasks at hand and things yet to be done. I’m busy without being out running errands, meeting with friends, or even being gone.

My head spins in planning posts, measuring myself to others, and thinking, thinking, thinking…

But I’m craving communion. Quiet, sweet communion.

I find myself hurriedly reading my Bible, barely pausing to meet with the Maker. I take hurried breaths as patience has run out the door and my sin begins to erupt with self-control hanging by a thread.

I can’t focus.

I’m missing what matters most. I’m missing the connection that makes my soul come alive. I’m missing the awe that goes with the I AM.

This week I’m aiming to be quiet…to listen to the still, quiet voice that may also boom across the skies.

I don’t know what that looks like or exactly what it means, but I’m going to be quiet.

photo credit

Tagged as: quiet time, Sacred Chaos, worship

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Divine Revelation

by Jessica on September 10, 2010

in Sacred Chaos

This morning I was reading John 18 and came across a portion of Scripture I know I’ve read before, but never remembered this detail. It’s when Judas leads the chief priests and Pharisees to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest him.

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am he.”

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

John 18:4-8

They drew back and fell to the ground.

I have never noticed this significant detail, yet how poignant and revealing it is. Throughout the Bible when someone had a divine revelation their reaction was to fall to the ground. Jesus simply spoke the words that God had long ago identified himself with…I AM.

For some reason this detail struck a chord and my eyes began to water. It wasn’t that I too had just realized that Jesus was (and is) I AM WHO I AM, but the fullness of what He was doing here and getting ready to do…the humility that it is to give himself up, to forgo his rightful position and power, to be fully God and yet fully man willing and yielding yet still I AM.

How these men fell to worship him…I wonder how their stomachs turned as they were doing the bidding of their superiors and yet some part of them recognized Jesus as King?

For me, it is so easy to leave these precious moments unchanged. When God is opening up my heart and revealing himself to me I don’t always know what to do or how to react, but I know to meet with the King and leave unchanged is missing the point.

So I asked, what are you trying to say to me in this?

That I am still I AM, still worthy of worship and awe.

How do I leave this place changed?

Worship Me. Spend time praising and thinking of the things I’ve done.

I’m not very good at remembering the things God’s done for me. It’s been a learned response. Sad to say, but true.

But I felt that for the next week as a way to actively and purposefully worship and be in awe of God, I’m going to write down five things each day that praise and remember the goodness and greatness of our God.

Here’s my list for remembering and standing in awe today:

You gave up the fullness of your position and humbled yourself to accept the mission of saving mankind.
How you’ve woven the story of humanity to redemption from the very beginning, in every detail.
How your forgiveness and grace is so precious and just looking into my son’s eyes reminds me that I have been forgiven much and cannot hold a grudge…just that softens my heart in remembrance.
That you are our Kinsman-Redeemer and every person has a story of how you have worked or are leading them to redemption.
You are so majestic and worthy of praise, but so humble. You are the fullness of all things, the Almighty, yet care enough to speak to me…build a relationship with me.

I’d encourage you to do this with me if you feel lead and share in the comments,