Advent: Joy!!!…Yowzer Y’all

This candle is the candle of Joy or the candle of the shepherds. People ask, why shepherds? Why not someone…more important? Shepherds were not outcasts, but they were smelly, kind of rednecky, low on the totem pole of professions. But King David, from whom Jesus descended, was once a shepherd. Jesus was often likened, in prophecies, to be the shepherd of His people. Two songs for you today – Angels We Have Heard on Highand Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy).

And Bethlehem? Little backwater Bethlehem? David was born in Bethlehem. Prophets said the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, and He did!!! When Jesus was born, in a very messy, human way in a stable, He became accessible to all of us. He was one of us – people put their children in His lap and to play around Him, His feet were callused from much walking, His hands knew hard work.

In God’s perfect time, in the perfect place, Jesus was born. Angels appeared to the shepherds and gave them news of very great joy. Right now, in the city of David, a Savior is born. Run! Go see Him! Be joyful!  Joy for the World.

Advent – Hope

December 1 is the first Sunday of Advent. The candle of Prophecy, of Hope. We find Hope in the Light of the World, a way through the darkness.

Psalm 33: 20 – 22
20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.

Awakening

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Joy! John 2

The past few weeks have brought to me joy and revelation.  I realized I had allowed myself to allow others to steal my joy, that I had become mired in a rut of routine – both in my day to day living and in my worship.  I was driving along listing to one of Chris Tomlin’s cd’s.  I had several songs that had touched me that I would listen to several times over.  By a mechanical malfunction, by deus ex machina, but I realize now by miracle, instead of “All To Us” playing,  the song “Awakening” played.  I had listened to the song several time but this time, I heard it.  I felt it in my heart.  I played it a few times more until I was singing it, lifting it up in prayer.

I asked my friend Beni if he knew this song.  His reply was amazing to me:  it was his favorite song by Chris Tomlin.  How he had played it over and until he sang along and then singing along as if he were in a crowd.  He said to him, it represented “inspiration in situ”.  And truly, it is.  I felt myself coming back alive, the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing joy into my soul.

That weekend, a friend for whom I had been praying for a few years called me at 4:00 am.  You see, he is in Japan and had just gotten out of church.  He knew I would be awake and he wanted to tell me,  he believed.  He had given his whole being to Jesus.  We laughed and wept across the miles.  Joy – unspeakable joy!  I shared this with Beni who was able to also share in that joy and to be encouraged.

I find it perfect that Jesus’ first miracle would be the miracle of joy.  The Bible uses symbols for things:  water is life, wine is joy, for example.  Jesus went with his mother and disciples to a wedding in Cana.  While there, the wine gave out.  At that time, this was serious business.  The wedding celebration would last for several days and there had to be plenty of food, wine, gifts for the attendees – very very serious business.  A guest, could by law, sue the master of ceremonies if there were not enough food or wine for the duration of the celebration.

It would appear that Mary and Jesus were related to the family of the wedding and that Mary was recognized as being one of the older women who would have authority over any events.  It was natural the servants came to her with problem of no more wine.  Oops.  She turned to her son and told him the problem.  He shrugged. “Not our problem. It isn’t time for me yet.”  Probably for the last time, Mary exerted her authority with her son.  She told the servants to do as he told them.  Jesus had the servants fill large ceremonial urns with water.  A dipper of the contents was then taken to the master of ceremonies who was amazed – the quality of the wine he tasted was the best of any that had yet to be given to the guests.

As Jesus transformed ordinary water into wine, so He turns our ordinary lives into joy.  The water of our life becomes the wine of joy – and it is better than anything we have had before!  Our earthly vessels are filled with joy that only comes from the changing grace of Jesus.   My friend is changed.  I am changed.  Beni is changed.  You all can be changed.  My joy has been renewed.  I have experienced “inspiration in situ“.

Nehemiah 8:10 …the joy of the Lord is your strength

Awake My Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ALW1AwdKEnM I’m sorry, I don’t know how to embed the video.

It has been a hard month.  At times, I felt my whole being was under siege.  Then Spring began to happen in our part of the South.  Flowers began to bloom.  At one shopping area, I saw a whole line of pink cherry trees in full bloom.  I began to remember how my God would never forsake me, how He loves and holds me close always.   This dry soul began to bloom again as His Spirit began to breathe new hope into me.

Ezekiel  37: 1-14  I hope you all can follow the link to this very different song.  It is not just about God telling Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones of the valley; how the bones became flesh and breathe.  It is also about God breathing into our dry souls and bringing new life to us; how He alone can awake our souls.

This song by Chris Tomlin is not your tame bit of Christian music – it is a full rocker.  Bless you all during this season leading up to the resurrection of our Lord.

Breathe on me, breath of God, breathe on me
Breathe on me, breath of God, breathe on me
I come alive, I’m alive when you breathe on me
I come alive, I’m alive when you breathe on me

Chorus:
Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

Speak to me, word of God, speak to me
Speak to me, word of God, speak to me
I come alive, I’m alive when you speak to me
I come alive, I’m alive when you speak to me

Chorus:
Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

Lecrae:
Then He said to me,
“Prophesy to these bones and say to them,
Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones,
I will make breath into you,
And you will come to life.”
So I prophesied as I was commanded.
As I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound,
And the bones came together, bone to bone.
And I looked, and tendons and the flesh appeared on them,
And skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then He said to me,
Prophesy to the breath,
Prophesy, son of man, and say to it,
Come from four winds, oh breath, and breathe.

Chorus:
Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

Lecrae:
Yeah, I’m not alone, I realize
I breathe out, I come alive
Your word gives life to my dry bones
Your breath tells death it can ride on
Awake me, make me a living stone,
A testament to your throne, I
I’m nothing without you, I’m on my own
The only one who satisfies my soul

Read more: http://www.lyricspremiere.com/chris-tomlin-awake-my-soul-lyrics.html#ixzz2Nj6z6gBM