The Hope

Psalm 65:

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,

Are you praying for something specific, as 2013 comes to a close today? 

Sometimes, God’s answer is right before us.  Here in these verses it says he answers us with awesome and righteous deeds.

As this year closes and a new year begins, take a look around you at the beauty He has created by his power, observe the wonder in the skies, and take a look into the eyes of a child.  When you really take a close look, you will see the power and majesty of God, and that will answer your deepest questions.

Are you wondering about your future?  Asking for provision?  Waiting for healing?

God’s answer to you this day is that he is your hope, almighty, all powerful, armed with strength, in full control, and there is no reason to lose hope or be in despair.

May you see God in his awesomeness today.

Hope and Rest

Psalm 62

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;  my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

One of the things I felt God tell me at the beginning of this year is that I would learn to rest.  Boy, has it been a ride, because most of the year I felt anything BUT rest.  However, as each circumstance and thought arose that robbed me of rest, he taught me some things to put my soul at rest and say “Yes!”

When my thoughts overwhelm me, I put on music and begin to dance and lift my hands to the rock of my salvation.

When my chest is tight from too much to do, he causes me to lie down “in green pastures” as I breathe deeply, in and out, the very breath he gave me, and my soul calms down.

When my heart is hurting over the needs before me and in the lives of my friends, he has shown me where to lay these worries – at his feet – trusting Him to take care of them and heal them.

When I’m on overload from listening to others and trying to carry their burdens, I’ve finally realized it’s okay and good to say, “I’ll pray for you,” and let it go with that.  I can point others to counselors and to Jesus, but I can’t make them go. 

Yes, my soul is responding to the rest of God, and I hope and pray you find rest as well, for your weary soul.

In the Name

Psalm 52:9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

What has God done for you?  Who has he placed in your life to bless you and encourage you?  What desires has he fulfilled?  What blessings has he given you? 

As 2013 winds down, begin to give thanks to him for all that he has done. Start with A and go to Z.  Number them one by one.  List them out.  Write them down. Call them aloud.

It doesn’t take long to start a list of thanksgiving, until your heart begins to swell with gratitude towards the one who sustains you and keeps you.

God is good.  His name is above all names.  His name is synonymous with integrity and righteousness.  And in his name we live, move, and have our being.

Hope in the name of Jesus. 

Hope in Love

Love these verses from Psalm 33:

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

I love the freedom and safety that kids feel when they are playing in a park, climbing on slides, running around trees, and squealing with delight…all because they know their parent is sitting on a bench  nearby to protect them, watch them, and be available for a hug should they fall and skin their knee.

God too is sitting near us, his eyes on every move we make, because he loves us fiercely.  He wants us to be able to enjoy the playground of life he’s set before us, knowing that we are covered.  

Should any intruders show up, a storm arise, or we fall and hurt ourselves, he’s right there – just a call away – to scoop us up in his arms, comfort us, restore us to health, and send us back out to play.

No one else saves, delivers, and strengthens us except the one who loves us completely and perfectly – Jesus. 

His eyes are on you, today.

The Hope

Psalm 9:18 says But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Hope keeps us alive, doesn’t it?  We have hope for better days when we feel rotten with the flu.  We hope for a raise when we feel we are doing a good job at work. And hope for our future keeps us working, planning, and doing.

But false hope leads to despair.  If we hope in things that are sure to fail, like money, things, and people, we will eventually find disappointment over and over again.

Debt may be high, sickness may be rampant, and people may be totally not following through on promises made, but the truth is that God never forgets us, and when our hope is in Him, it never dies.

Why?  Because hope placed in God is a hope that stirs up faith, and faith pleases God and moves his hand. 

What are you hoping for, as the year comes to an end?  Tell it to Jesus.  He’s faithful, he never fails, and he can fulfill our hopes and dreams, and give us the desires of our heart.

Take Your Rest

Christmas carols are over, it’s now time to hit the stores for returns and stand in those long lines, and to clean up the mess that all the unwrapping of gifts left in our homes.  

Life continues on back to work for some, back to reality for all of us, and it’s often a huge letdown.  I feel it mostly when all of my family leaves and the tree is down, and the house feels “empty” once again.

The fears and uncertainty of life don’t take long to rise to the surface again, from being stuffed and hidden under the pretty bows and ribbons that adorned our gifts.

But wait!  All of that “hope” we sang about during the season is still here.  In fact, Job 11:18 says “You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.”

Decide today that you will choose to believe that your life is not in your hands, but in the hands of the one who is a firm foundation for us, the rock on which we stand, the refuge in which we hide – Jesus.

Look about you.  Take your rest.  Because there is hope.

Happy Holiday

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
at the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Ev'ry couple tries to stop

You will get a sentimental feeling When you hear voices singing
"Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly" Rocking around the Christmas Tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone's dancing merrily
In a new old fashioned way

Today is Christmas Day and by the time I post this devo, the gift-opening will be over, we’ll be disappointed or full of joy, and all of the preparations will leave us tired, as we fall into bed.

Did you “rock” around the tree today?  Did you have a “sentimental” feeling or did you feel “jolly?”

My favorite part of this song is the last two lines “Everyone’s dancing merrily in a new old-fashioned way.”

Christmas is coming to a close and a new year is on it’s way. I want to go out dancing with a new spring in my step, merrily (cause a merry heart does good like a medicine!), and yet I don’t want to lose the nostalgia that Christmas and it’s sights and wonders bring.

May we all take the joy of Christmas with us into the end of the year, on into 2014, rejoicing in Christ our Savior – the best gift of the season.

Chains be Broken

Third verse to O Holy Night:

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

In light of all the media that Christians and non-Christians alike receive when they say something offensive about another, let’s remember the first line of this song.

Jesus taught us to love one another.  He came to break the chains that hold us tight, and to free us to love Him and love others as we love ourselves.

Jesus is the name above all others, the name that ends oppression.

And in chorus, all together, we can sing “sweet hymns” that praise his holy name.

I John 3:23 says  And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

I believe.  I want to love.  And I want to see chains broken.

Triumph

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem." 
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

“Herald” is defined as “a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen.”  And this song reminds us to listen to the song the herald angels sang when Jesus was born – GLORY to the newborn King.

This song reminds us that God is holy, we are sinners, and because of Jesus we are reconciled to God.  Reconciled means “restored friendly relations between.”  In other words, God wants to hang out and visit and talk with us, as father/daughter, so that we too can bask in his glory and reflect his image of joy, peace, and love.

It’s almost Christmas.  Let’s join the “triumph” of the skies where the herald angels sing.  

To triumph is to be victorious.  And that is what Jesus is – Victorious King – one who saves and delivers all mankind from death.

Hark!  Listen! Christ is born! He lives in us!

Lovely Weather

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together like two
Birds of a feather would be

Let's take the road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

This is a verse from the carol “Sleigh Ride” and isn’t it a great picture to behold?  Rosy cheeks, cozied up together like “birds of a feather,” singing a “chorus or two?”

For many of my friends, Christmas is anything but cheery this year.  My neighbor is ill, a friend lost her dad this year, and another man we know lost his job. When times are hard, we don’t feel like celebrating anything at all, much less cozying up to sing on a sleigh ride – alone, sick, and in need.

I’ve been there, and it was friends that helped me pull out of the darkness, prayers that lifted me back on my feet, and a Savior whose presence lightened my countenance that put the joy back in my song.

So my prayer this Christmas is that my friends feel the pull upwards until the weather is lovely once again.

Hear Them Ring

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day

This is my husband’s favorite carol.  I think it’s because of the happy melody.  My husband is a happy man, very content, and enjoys every day of life. He rarely complains, but rather enjoys.  I try to glean from him.

I hear many talk of the busyness of Christmas and the added stress this brings, but I think all of the “holiday style,” the “feeling of Christmas,” “children laughing,” “people passing,” and “meeting smiles after smile” on street corners far outweighs any heavy loads we pick up and carry.

I want to hear the silver bells ring out on Christmas and really hear them sing above the din, above the wrappings, and above the gift-giving – bells that ring out what a beautiful day it is to rejoice!

The Beating

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

One of my favorite renditions of this song is by Jessica Simpson and her sister from a few years back, seriously.  I really like this song,  with the “pa rum pum pum pum,” one can hear the beating of the drum.

“Our finest gifts we bring” – now that’s a sobering thought.  

Jesus gave his best for us.  Yet I know that I myself often give him my worst – when I’m tired, discouraged and full of doubt – I run to him in despair and exhaustion.  He always receives me, but I often wonder why I don’t as readily run to “play for him” when all is going well…just to “honor him.”

So “when we come” this Christmas, let’s come with hearts of thanksgiving and praise to honor our King. Beat that drum!

Holly Jolly

Holly Jolly Christmas

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet

I like rhyming worlds, like holly and jolly. They both sound merry, don’t they?  What rhyming words do you like?

And I agree – Christmas is the best time of the year.

I know many get stressed out during the holidays, and so do I sometimes.  But it’s a good sort of stress – what to buy for whom – because it’s all about giving. And when we stress over the “perfect” gift, the joy of giving leaves us.  But when we give out of a thankful heart, the reaction of the recipient is really their own deal – not ours.

I also want to say “hello” not only to friends, but to those I meet at the store, in line paying for a gift, too!  Sometimes, just a "How is your day going?" brightens up a stranger as we greet them!

Holly, jolly, oh by golly – it’s going to be a great Christmas because Jesus is here!

Frightful...Delightful

Let it Snow

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful – and since we’ve no place to go – let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  It doesn’t show signs of stopping,  and I’ve bought some corn for popping – the lights are turned way down low – let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

The weather outside here where I live is rarely frightful in the winter, and like I wrote in another devo, it rarely snows here.  However, this is one of my favorite carols because it depicts a cozy evening at home, by the fire, while outside the whole world is turning white.

I think there’s nothing much prettier than falling snowflakes.  And when the ground, the roofs, and the trees are covered with snow, it’s truly breathtaking.

Christmas is the time of year where kids’ eyes are filled with wonder, and we adults should “strive” to have the some kind of gaze. And often it does involve striving, because we get so caught  up in buying and wrapping gifts, or we’re too sad over circumstances, that we don’t stop to look at the beauty that falls from the sky – individual snowflakes that fall from the hand of heaven.

Make a fire.  Squeal with delight.  Pop some popcorn.  Turn down the lights. 

And look up to see what might start falling your way…covering you in white…ending all of your fright.

Go On

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go tell it on the mountain – over the hills and everywhere – go tell it on the mountain – our Jesus Christ is born.

The best thing about Christmas carols is that at least once a year the message of Jesus coming to earth as Savior and Lord is broadcast on PA systems in stores, on radio stations, and in plays and school programs. 

It’s the time of year when we can whistle, hum, and sing the lyrics to these familiar tunes and hopefully those who are listening actually “hear” the message of the good news- that Jesus came to earth.

It’s a great opportunity to explain to those who are curious why it’s so important to the Christian faith that God became man, humbled himself as a servant, gave his life as a sacrifice in obedience to his Father, to save mankind.

What a message!

Go on, tell it!

All Night Long

All Through the Night

Sleep my child and peace attend thee, all through the night – Guardian angels God will send thee all through the night – Soft the drowsy hours are creeping – hill and vale in slumber sleeping – I my loving vigil keeping all through the night.

Did you know Psalm 4:8 says we can lie down and sleep in peace? 

I love the lyrics of this song where it says peace will “attend” us. 

In Philippians it says to be anxious for nothing, to present our requests to God, and peace will “guard” our hearts and minds. 

While the whole world sleeps, when all is dark outside, when our eyes are shut, and we’re fast asleep – God sends his peace to take care of us and protect us from fear.

God never sleeps.  He never tires.  He never get weary.

 

Rest tonight, as you sleep, knowing your Guard is in the room.

Dream Come True

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know – where the treetops glisten – and children listen – to hear -sleigh bells in the snow…

I’ve never seen a white Christmas where I live. We get snow on a rare occasion, but never on Christmas day. So when I hear this song, I can’t sing it truthfully, because I have no memories of white Christmases from long ago – because there have been none.  I’ve ridden a sleigh, but not here where I live.

This is probably one of the most recognized Christmas carols in America, and yet those who live in warmer climates can certainly dream, but that’s as far as the snowy Christmas day gets.

Did you know that Jesus’ blood that he shed when he died on the cross makes us white “as snow?”  This, I’ve experienced.  Clean and white, pure in his sight.

If you have, or have not, experienced a white Christmas, I hope you  have experienced a “glistening” white cleansing of all your sin. 

Psalm 51 says, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

Hyssop is a purifying herb.  Jesus’ blood takes a filthy heart and washes it clean.  As clean as a fresh blanket of untouched snow.

All you have to do is believe, and ask him to forgive you of all wrongdoing, and you can have a white Christmas of a different kind.

Wassailing

Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green, here we come a-wandring so fair to be seen – love and joy come to you, and to you your wassail too – and God bless you and send you a happy new year, and God send you a happy new year.

Wassailing is going from house to house, singing.

Some think going caroling is silly and old-fashioned.  However, it’s something we can do with family and friends to restore hope to our neighbors to whom we sing. 

One Christmas a few of our family members went caroling around to houses in the neighborhood where my parents live, and several people greeted us with warm smiles and thanked us for singing.  And it warmed our hearts as we sang together as one voice.

Did you know the bible says we should sing to each other?

Ephesians 5 says “…speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,…”

Do it. This Christmas!

12 Days

On this website, I found religious symbolism to the 12 Days of Christmas carol.  I won’t vouch for its validity, but I found it an interesting read!

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

This is a fun song to sing, especially if there are 12 people singing and each one takes a verse.  The same is true when we joint together to worship him, with each taking his part in worship.

What a fun Christmas carol of the goodness of our True Love!

Keeping Sheep

The First Noel

Did you know that “noel” means Christmas?  

And on the first Christmas day, the angels spoke to shepherds “in fields as they lay…keeping their sheep.”

The first Noel, the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel – born is the king of Israel.

I don’t know about the accuracy of the season of the year when Jesus was born, but I like this carol because it says the poor shepherds heard the good news while they were just doing what they did all the time - tend sheep.

Jesus comes to us where we are. We don’t have to run across the country to find him, seek him in high places, or obtain self-worth in order to be seen by him.

He appears to us and leads us, while we’re living and being.

The King of Kings loves us, and his light still shines for us, showing us the way.  All we have to do is follow the light.

Heavenly Peace

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night – all is calm, all is bright – round yon virgin mother and child – holy infant so tender and mild – sleep in heavenly peace – sleep in heavenly peace.

I once heard a story about a little boy who drew a picture of the manger scene, with a little fat man in the corner.  His mom said she loved the picture, but asked, “Who is the little fat man?” His reply was, “That’s little Round Jon Virgin.”  Funny!

I also used to sing to my own son as he drifted off to sleep, “I’ve got peace like a river…peace like a river…peace like a river in my soul…”  He asked for this song over and over again.

Peace brings with it strength to face the day, doesn’t it?  Peace brings with it undisturbed sleep.  Peace brings with it the absence of fear.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He’s with you, for the asking.

I pray that today you experience the tenderness of the Savior who loves you, and his peace that encircles you.

How Still

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.  Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.  Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light! The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

I have dreamless sleep most nights.  And I suppose the stars are silent every night, too.  At least, I’ve never heard them sing.  But it’s interesting to me that at night is when all worries and fears start to run rampant in my mind, or they surface in the wee hours of the morning, when all is still and all is dark.

 

This carol talks of the darkness of the night, the hopes and fears that arise, and how in one night – the light appears and shines!

All we need is the light of his goodness to appear to us in our darkness, and we have hope.  All we need is for his light to illuminate the unseen future and show us a way to walk, and fear disappears.

My prayer today for you is that your hopes and fears collide tonight, as you see his light of love shine into your darkness.

And then…I hope we both hear the stars sing!

Come

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful – joyful and triumphant, o come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the king of angels. O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him – Christ the Lord!

That’s a lot of “O Come” in one verse, isn’t it?

This carol is a call to those who love God to come.  In fact, seven times we are asked to come!

This holiday season we are asked to come shop – because the sales are tremendous.  We are invited to come celebrate – because the lights and sounds are spectacular.  We are encouraged to come eat – because the food is festive!

But this carol invites us to come “adore” him. To adore someone is to love and respect this person deeply.  And we can show this in so many different ways, all of which he gladly accepts.

So in whatever way suits you today, come and adore him – Christ the Lord.

You can bend a knee, close your eyes, lift your hands, sing aloud, or smile quietly as you think on his goodness.

Come.

Unchanging

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, thy leaves are so unchanging - O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, thy leaves are so unchanging – Not only green when summer’s here, but also when ‘tis cold and drear - O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, thy leaves are so unchanging

Isn’t it cool that Christmas trees are evergreen?  Such a great symbol of God and his love for us - always fresh, unconditional, everlasting.

In Isaiah 9:6 one of the names for God is listed as “Everlasting Father.”

Many earthly fathers abandon their children.  Friends are here today and gone tomorrow, when offenses occur.  Life itself is full of random changes, often out of our control.

But God, our everlasting Father, never changes, just like the leaves on a Christmas tree.

As you sit by the tree this holiday season, gaze at the lights, but then look closely at the green of the leaves and give thanks for his love, his mercy, his grace – all of which never end.

In fact, his mercies are new every morning!

Chains

O Holy Night

This is the last verse of one of my favorite carols, O Holy Night:

Truly he taught us to love one another, his law is love and his gospel is peace.  Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.  And in his name all oppression shall cease.  Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, with all our hearts we praise his holy name…Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, his power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim!

I am very thankful I live now, and not when slavery was present.  However, lots of people are still in chains of a different kind.  And Jesus came to set us all free from depression, despair, doubt – and all the other “d” words that keep us down in the dungeon.

If you can imagine in your mind an actual chain link on your wrists and ankles, or on the wrists and ankles of those you love, you can also imagine breaking those chains and walking free.

And it doesn’t have to just be in your imagination.  Jesus came for this very reason – to set us free.  Read about it here.

Sing this sweet hymn of joy, and walk free…

Joy

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Are you experiencing joy in your life right now?  I’ve always heard people say that happiness can come and go, depending on your circumstances, but joy lasts and can never be taken away.  I’m not sure about that statement, but I do know that in order to have joy, we must “prepare him room.”

In other words, if our heart is full of hatred, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness (to just name a few fillers), there is very little room for Christ, or his joy.

A heart full of joy sings.  A heart full of joy acknowledges the King of her heart.  And a heart full of joy has very little of anything else but joy!

I know when my heart is full of other things, because it feels heavy, sad, and tight.  I have to make a choice to bend my knee, acknowledge my weakness and let go of the things that weigh me down, in order to make room for joy.

A joyful sound and a disgruntled groan cannot reside in the same heart.  One has to fade, and the other increase.

Which will it be for you, this season?