And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17)
Holiday De-Stress Tip #2: Count Your Blessings
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16)
When you start to feel stressed out about something, begin to count your blessings. Nothing shakes stress out of your heart like remembering the blessings that God has already bestowed on you. No matter where life finds you today, there are still things which are gifts of grace, one blessing after another.
Holiday De-Stress Tip#1: Priorities and Perspective
Luke 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I found myself this morning with race horses in my brain, running wild, reins flying behind them, and no one’s hands holding them to get control over them as they stampeded over my emotions, my nerves, and yes, my thoughts. As they were dragging me off to the Land of Panic, I thought to myself, “Why do I do this?”
Do you feel that way at the holidays? So much to do and only ___ days before Christmas?
Whoa! Rein those horses in!
Well, I gave myself a few moments in the Divine Time Out Corner called prayer. Ironically, the busier we are, the more we need the priorities and perspective that come from sitting at the feet of Jesus. Take a few moments, trust me: You have time. Lay all your dreams for the day ahead at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to help you sort them by His priorities. Some things, let’s face it, are just stuff we layer onto His priorities and it’s our things He’s not obligated to make sure happen the way we want them to. His priorities are ones He’ll fulfill.
Take some time to pray.
De-Stress yourself by gaining Jesus’ priorities and Kingdom perspective. You’ll be glad you did.
Advent Devotional Series for 2013: Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up In-Person
I am pleased to announce the Advent Devotional Series for 2013 “Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up In-Person.” In the Person of Jesus Christ, that is.
It is far too easy to let the holidays—the secular term for the holy season of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas—go by with very little thought as to what this time of year would be like had LOVE not shown up.
If Jesus didn’t become flesh.
If He didn’t leave heaven behind to walk this earth as the man Jesus of Nazareth.
If He wasn’t the Son of God.
If the manger was empty apart from hay or was filled with just another baby born into a humble existence in the likeness of Adam.
So during this season of Advent, we will walk through selections from the Gospel of John and remember what it means to us today that LOVE showed up, the definition of the first Advent of our Lord and Savior.
This devotional series begins December 1st and continues daily until Christmas.
If you haven’t signed up to receive the daily postings from SeminaryGal, you may sign up either on Facebook SeminaryGal or use the space provided on the Home Page side bar. If you already have signed up and are receiving these writings by email, I thank you for the encouragement you are to me! I look forward to journeying together during Advent as we see “Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up In-Person.”
Forgiveness–Good for Your Soul
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 )
Everyone Could Use a Little Hope
The Appropriate Response of Gratitude
Anniversaries and milestones ought to elicit in us an appropriate response of gratitude.
It should be the posture of every Overcomer.
Luke 17: 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him– and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
God is not obligated to heal any of us. Even those who are not healed here on this earth can yet receive eternal healing by their faith making them well. It is with humble gratitude that I give thanks to the LORD for an act of healing 10 years ago and the blessing of work to do. Mostly though, I thank Him for the work He did so that eternity is a place of no more crying or pain…no more diseases…no more cancer…no more death…and that by faith in Jesus, we will live to experience this heaven forevermore.
“Peace Prayer of St. Francis”
According to numerous sources, the “Peace Prayer of St. Francis” famously attributed to St. Francis of Assisi was not written by him. However, the message contained in this prayer reflects the genuine humility and compassion of St. Francis. It’s a good prayer for us today.
O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
I’m glad you all like the hymn series we’ve been doing lately. They minister to my soul as well. It also helps me to see how many Overcomers have been in this world. It’s kind of like what God says about our Christian faith:
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The Christian life is difficult. But we can gain encouragement to keep the faith from saints and Overcomers who have gone before us.
Today, consider George Matheson who was blind and suffered from periods of mental suffering. Yet one of his hymns “O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go” is one of the most beloved hymns of the Church. According to the cyberhymnal, Matheson said about this hymn:
My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high.
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
The hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” is actually a well-known classical composition by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) arranged with hymn lyrics.
The lyrics were written in 1907 by Henry J. van Dyke. About the lyrics, he wrote:
These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope.
This is the light in which I include “Joyful, Joyful” in Overcomer’s Week. Opposition to the Christian worldview can seem to come in the form of scientific discoveries or political realities, but the true Overcomer sees all of this in light of the Kingdom. We need neither to hide from these realities nor to fear them. We trust in God. We remain joyful in hope; patient in affliction; and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).
It is fitting, therefore, that Edward Hodges adapted Beethoven’s beautiful Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, specifically the “Ode to Joy” to form the musical accompaniment to these van Dyke lyrics of hopeful joy. The original lyrics to “Ode to Joy” were from a poem by Friedrich Schiller on the universal brotherhood of man under a benevolent Creator.
But what’s beyond remarkable was the way in which this lovely symphony was composed by another Overcomer. Beethoven began to lose his hearing in 1796, at around age 26. By the time he composed Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, he was completely deaf. Many music critics believe this final complete Beethoven symphony to represent the pinnacle of his symphonic achievements. Others believe that is too little praise for a work such as this. They consider “The Symphony of Joy” or simply “The Chorale” to be the greatest musical piece of all time.
Hymn or poem, set to the loveliest classical composition, it is among my favorites written by Overcomers.
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,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring 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 happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.