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Will You Acknowledge God Wants a Meeting with You? REFRAMED

Shepherds

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
 Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
 Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.

We continue our journey to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  This week we consider the first ones to hear the glorious news of the angels, the shepherds.  Their role in the story shows us that God meets us where we live and in what we do.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Where We Live

Can you put yourself in the place of the shepherds?  Spending another night out in the fields.  Nothing new.  Same old, same old.

I wonder what their conversations around the fire consisted of?  Benjamin’s new son?  What they are going to do with that one sheep that keeps trying to wonder off?  How many more travelers could possibly still be making their way to Bethlehem for the census and where they were all going to find a place to sleep for the night?

Just a normal night.  Living it where they did so many nights before, only this night would not be like those other nights.  No, this would be like no other night.

Suddenly, an angel appeared, and they were filled with fear.  So would we be, but it is not the fear I want to focus on here.  It is the  context of the encounter.

God chose to meet these simple shepherds where they lived.

  • They did not have to come to Him.  He came to them.
  • They did not have to prepare the way.  He made the way.
  • They did not have to dress up.  He put on flesh.

So what about us?  Are we still trying to come to God, when He is already with us?  Is there anything we need to do to prepare to receive God’s message for us, or do we just need to receive it?  Are we trying to get ourselves together, when He has already brought us together?

How is God trying to meet you in these days?  Where is He showing up right where you live?  Will you be like the shepherds and gladly receive what God has already made known to you?  Take a few moments to let Him speak to your heart and respond to what He says.

In What We Do

Flocks By Night

But it was not only in meeting them where they were that God demonstrated His desire to come to them.  He also did it by meeting them in the midst of what they were doing, their daily grind.  That is truly remarkable.

Think about it.  They were simply watching over their flocks.  Nothing exciting here folks here, move along.  Standing around watching sheep eat and sleep.  BORING!

Maybe there are times when you are underwhelmed by how mundane your life is.  Guess what.  That happens to all of us.  We get weary doing the daily stuff, particularly our work stuff.  Punching the clock and biding our time until the end of the day.  We have all had days like that.

But again it is remarkable how unremarkable their lives were, until God showed up.  We may be inclined to think that the shepherds role was insignificant, but if we do, we miss the entire point.  God delights in revealing extraordinary things to rather ordinary people.  We see this again and again in Scripture.

Can you acknowledge that maybe God wants to do this to you? Maybe He wants to so fill what you are doing with Himself that there is no mistaking it is Him.  Honestly.  There is not maybe about it.  He wants to do that  He did it then and there for them.  He will do it here and now for you.

How is God trying to meet you in these days?  Where is He showing up in what you do?  Will you be like the shepherds and gladly receive what God has already made known to you?  Take a few moments to let Him speak to your heart and respond to what He says.

 

Father, thank You for what You said to those shepherds long ago.   Thank you for meeting them like you did, extraordinarily in the their ordinary beings and doings.  Thank You for what you are saying to me today. In Jesus name.  Amen!

Mundane Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Video 12.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

We have heard the story so many times it is difficult to imagine what that night outside of Bethlehem must have been like.  How kind of God to come to simple shepherds to make the news of His coming known! How kind of God to come to us! Thank Him.

They were just doing their job, going about their normal activity when God suddenly appeared.  Are you prepared to see God at work in your everyday circumstances? He will probably not come with angelic announcement, but He will come.  Prepare yourself.

God came to make His dwelling among us, John 1:14, and He continues to do so.  That He came to the shepherds is meant to show us He has come for us all, including the lowliest.  Ask Him to dwell in you today, as surely as He did in that manger long ago.

The Light of the World came into our darkness and He keeps coming.  They were welcomed into the light and so are we. As you draw near, is there darkness in you that His light is exposing?  Confess it and welcome His radiant light to shine in you again today.  

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post God With Us appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Shepherds – http://www.jeremysams.com/church-murals/img_3792/
Silent Flocks – https://omraam-words-of-light.org/2016/12/23/one-night-in-bethlehem-a-meditation-for-christmas-eve/

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Learning How to Offer Praise that Extends Peace, REPLAYED

Ye Who Sang

Angels from the realms of glory,
  Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
 Come and worship, come and worship,
 Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

We continue our journey through Advent as we look at the second part of this stanza.  We started with the angel host, and now consider how they were there at the creation, and also present to herald the coming of redemption in the birth of Messiah, the anointed One of God.  Let’s think about this.

Start at the Very Beginning

It’s a very good place to start.  And that is where the praises of the angels began.  They sang creation’s story as it unfolded.

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 ESV

Creation’s Story

Angels are referred to in many different ways throughout Scripture, but one of them is “sons of God”.  Here we read that they “shouted for joy” at the creation of the world.    

Colossians 1:16 says that all things were created in Christ.  They were there when He was making all things, and they are still there as He is remaking all things through His work of redemption.  If you listen closely, you can almost hear them singing today as their echoes ring across eternity.

But what does this mean for us?  The ones who were offering praise to God as He created all things, were still the first in line when it came time to offer praise for His sending His Son.  We should follow their lead.  They joined the stars that first morning, and continued their praise, even upping the ante by revealing their glory to the shepherds, in the moment Christ’s natal star appeared.  We encourage them to continue to offer their praise, but must be willing to add ours to it.

So will you?  Today, join your voice in extending the invite to come and worship to someone.  How can you do that?  The Christmas season provides many opportunities to invite people to join in the worship of the Christ.  How can you invite someone to join you in it?  Maybe an event at church or in the community?  A Christmas Eve celebration?  Commit to find some way to invite some more character’s into this greatest of stories.

Join the Praise

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  Luke 2:14ESV

These are the words the multitude of angels sang in grateful chorus the night of Messiah’s birth.  To proclaim it best, they gave glory to God first, and then extended peace to all who choose to please God. May we always start by giving glory to God, then extending the offer of peace to all who will walk in God’s ways.

  • He was worthy at creation.  So they praised Him.
  • He was worthy in Bethlehem.  So they praised Him.
  • He is worthy today. So they praise Him.
  • He will be worthy eternally.  So they will praise Him.
Messiah’s Birth

When you give glory to God by praising Him for sending Jesus to us, you are joining the eternal praises of God offered specifically for the Incarnation.  God became flesh and dwelt among us.  It is as if you are actually singing your praise with those angels over the pasture outside of Bethlehem.  Incredible!   But that is not all…

You also enter into those moments when you extend peace by sharing what Jesus has done for you.  If you have decided to spend your life ascribing to God the worth that is due His name He is pleased with you.  Even though chaos may develop in our lives at times we can still have peace despite those circumstances.  When you live that out before others, they see that something is different about you.  That gives you the opportunity to speak of the peace you have found in Christ, and that in turns gives Him glory.

It is a powerful cycle we are invited to step into, and welcome others into as well.

Have you ever shared with anyone the peace you have found in Christ?  As you consider inviting someone to join you in giving God glory with you at some point in the season, pray about an opportunity to share with them the peace you have found.  It may just make al the difference in whether they are intrigued enough to check it out for themselves.

Jesus, thank You for creating the angels to be Your messengers.  I want to be your messenger as well. Create some opportunities for me to not only give You glory, but also extend peace to someone who needs it.  In Jesus name.   Amen.

Angelic Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 54.1 Transcript, 12.1 REPLAYED

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Angels from the realms of glory,

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke 2:13 ESV

We will get to their song later but note that these angels have come from the heavens.  The realms of glory left behind, they come to tell of the King’s arrival. What kind of King gets such a royal, angelic proclamation?  Only our King, Jesus Christ. Worship Him who alone is worthy.  

 Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10 ESV

This glorious good news and the offer to receive it echoes to the whole earth, for all the people.  The angels are God’s messengers and they carry this invitation to worship everywhere there wings take them.  Will you put your journey to the same use declaring this invitation.

Ye who sang creation’s story

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 ESV

Though there are several Scriptural allusions to the presence of angels during the creation of the world, this one is a good one. Taken from God’s response to Job, God Himself acknowledges the presence of the sons of God, angels, shouting for joy with the morning stars.  Can you hear the echo of their praises across eternity?

  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 ESV

And here the host of angels sing glory to the newborn King! They join the first angel that started the proclamation of Messiah’s birth in angelic chorus.  Imagine what that must have been like, and determine to respond to the call to worship with them today.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Angels from the realms of glory,
  Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
 Come and worship, come and worship,
 Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Ye Who Sang – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/music-clef-musical-note-background-2087771/
Creation’s Story – https://pixabay.com/photos/meadow-green-meadow-flower-meadow-2401911/
Messiah’s Birth – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/jesus-christ-god-holy-spirit-3852478/

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Learning Some Lessons from Angels REFRAMED

Angel

Angels from the realms of glory,
  Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
 Come and worship, come and worship,
 Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

We begin our journey through Advent this week as we make our way toward Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Through this hymn we will consider the invitation extended herein to different groups of prospective worshippers.  We start with the angel host, who get the praises started off in glorious fashion.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Realms of Glory

What a neat way to describe this multitude that probably scared those shepherds half to death.  Having dwelt since the creation of the world in the the throne room of God, these messengers would certainly reflect His glory, not only in their desire to do his bidding, but likely even in their countenance.  When your home is the very presence of God it undoubtedly affects everything about you, from your pursuits to your appearance.

They had come from the realms of glory.  The Scripture says it like this.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying…Luke 2:13 ESV

We will examine what they said as they praised God on Thursday, but focus now on a few other words.

  1. suddenly
  2. multitude
  3. heavenly host
Angels Over Bethlehem

One angel began the proclamation, but was joined suddenly by many more.  Have you ever imagined what the was like?  Did they come zooming in from afar at the speed of light?  Did they just appear as if from our of nowhere?  How did they travel from realms of glory to the realm of earth?  Whatever the answer is we know this for sure, it was sudden.

That is made even more remarkable when we consider how many of them there were.  Multitude is not very specific, but would be by definition a large number.  From one angel, to a multitude, and suddenly.  There were a lot of them and they arrived quickly.

Finally, we learn from where this multitude suddenly appeared, and what characterized them.  The host of heaven.  Often in Scripture the angelic host described a warrior like group of heavenly messengers fit for battle.  We can only imagine that must have characterized their appearance here as well.  They came from heaven ready to do battle.  Wow!

So what is our take away from this first line, the who of the first invitation to come and worship?  If angels are invited to come worship, those who existed since the dawn of creation in the presence of God, and they come, then I better make sure I am ready to come as well.  Are you ready to not only offer the invitation to them, but receive it yourself?  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you offer it and be ready to respond.

All the earth

Wing Your Flight

From realms of glory to all the earth.  Their proclamation was first to shepherds, but then to the entire world.  And how fortunate that is for us.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10 ESV

Angels are messengers.  They carry God’s messages to the people God wants to hear.  This is the greatest message every spoken, and accordingly God wants everyone to hear it, so He makes that access explicit in the proclamation itself.  

That first angel  brought the news of great joy “for all the people”.  The exhortation to the angels in the hymn is to continue to carry that message to the entire earth.  As we sing it we are effectively telling the messengers to continue messaging, while simultaneously joining in the worship of the Christ.

Certainly, they are happy to do so which we will see when we look at their song a few verse later on Thursday.  It is a song that also tells the good news, a story in song.  They are doing their messaging work and their worshiping work at the same time.  Maybe we could learn from this.

Rather than trying to create unique moments to tell the story of Messiah’s birth, maybe we should learn to make it a more natural part of everything we do.  Then we will be able to simultaneously tell the story and worship Christ.  Help us Lord.

Are there ways you could integrate telling the story of Jesus as you give Him praise in your daily living?  Maybe if you work at highlighting His activity in your life in your normal speech patterns, and preoccupation to tell His story may just naturally emerge.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can better bring together your worshipping and your messaging.

Father, thank You for sending the angels to declare the arrival of Your Son.  Help us to learn a lesson from them as we blend our worship and our telling.  May they flow together seamlessly so we may have more opportunities to do both.    In Jesus name.  Amen.

Heavenly Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

 

Video 54.1 Transcript, 12.1 REFRAMED

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Angels from the realms of glory,
  Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
  Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
 Come and worship, come and worship,
 Worship Christ, the newborn King.

This Christmas carol carries the call to worship to several different groups.  The first is the angelic host. Ever God’s messengers, now we get to encourage them to make known the glory in which they have dwelt since the dawn of creation.  Think about that.

We are both inviting them to come and worship and to take that same invitation to the entire earth.  It is marvelous to consider how with the turning of each year we commemorate their first Christmas carol with our own.  Determine now to join their song.

These angels were there as God spoke “Let there be light” and they continue to dwell in His unapproachable light.  They sang at the creation of all things, and were there to herald the re-creation that Christ’s coming would initiate.  Praise God for new beginnings.

They were also there when the Light of the World came to dwell among us and were the first to issue the call to worship the newborn King.  Thank God for making His coming known in such a glorious way, and for enabling us to echo it in our songs and lives.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Angel – https://pixabay.com/vectors/angel-christmas-star-religion-2915060/
Angels – https://stevensawyer.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/angels.jpg
Wing Your Flight – https://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/442204/

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Setting Our Sights Toward Home, REPLAYED

Fair and Bright the Home in Glory

When your journey is completed,
When the valley you pass through,
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.

Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand (1906)

By: Jennie B. Wilson (1856 – 1913)

Listen to this instrumental version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library? Click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We conclude our journey through this hymn that challenges us to build on the certainty of God in uncertain days. Looking forward to what God has in store for us impacts how we journey through these days. Let’s think about this.

Home

I have said many times before that it is sad how little time we spend thinking, talking, and teaching about heaven, especially considering how much time we are going to spend there. So let’s change that for at least the next few minutes.

When was the last time you thought about it? Heaven. The place where we are planning to spend eternity. I guess one could argue, I already have my inheritance there and it is my reward for following Christ, nothing more needing to be done to earn it. And while all that is true, thinking about where we are going to spend the rest of forever has an impact on the quality of life in these days.

Fair and bright the home in glory

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3 ESV

Jesus promised not only that He was going to prepare a place for us, but that He would return to take us there. We have a home in glory. It will be fair and bright. We will see it with our eyes one day, but for now, we need Jesus to give us eyes of faith to see, even if only with our mind’s eye, our eternal home.

So what do you imagine it will be like? Clouds and harps? Maybe, but I do not think that will be all. I think we will enjoy God and each other. Think of the things you do in your home. Rest and relate with a smaller group of people. Prepare for the activities which take you beyond your home.

Some of us have spent a lot more time at home these past few months. At times I am sure that has driven you crazy, wanting to get out and do other things, but I hope you have also made the most of the quarantine to spend it enjoying those who were with you. It has probably also caused you to long for the experiences that home is not designed for, gathering in larger groups.

RESONATE!
We can enjoy our homes here, but we must also be careful to long for that which is coming. All the good things here are a shadow of what is to come. Are you longing for that home in glory, fair and bright as it will certainly be? Take a few moments before you read on and simply ask the Holy Spirit to give you an even deeper longing for your home in glory.

Gaze

Your Enraptured Soul Will View

Your enraptured soul will view. 

There’s an unusual word, enraptured. If something enraptures your soul, it is giving intense pleasure or joy to you. Certainly that will be the effect viewing our eternal home will have on us, in all its fairness and brightness.

When we finally see that place Jesus has been preparing for us, our souls will be consumed with intense pleasure and unimaginable joy. I can hardly wait. But even still, sometimes it is difficult to lift my gaze enough to allow it to be filled with that longing for my eternal home.

How about you? When was the last time you looked into the skies and hoped the return of Christ would happen soon? If it has been awhile, take a few moments right and do so. Maybe you can even get outside and look up. If not, look at the image above and utter a simple prayer like this. Thank You, Jesus, for promising to return to take me to the home You have been preparing for me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV

We look forward to that eternal dwelling in the house of the Lord, but let us not forget the promise of goodness and mercy following us either. I would argue that knowing we will dwell in the Lord’s presence forever allows us to receive and extend mercy and help create an atmosphere where goodness is left in the wake of wherever we trod. What are you doing to cultivate goodness and mercy where you are so there can be a residue of them left behind even after you leave? May God give us the grace to build our hopes on things eternal, and live is such a way that anticipates them while inviting others to do the same.

RESONATE!
Ask God to help you to evaluate if your living is leaving goodness and mercy behind you. Ask Him to show you if there are ways you are too focused on daily living and how you can adjust your thinking to be more eternal. We all need to keep our gaze up, ever mindful of where we will spend forever, without losing sight of today. Help us, Lord.

Jesus, thank You for leading me through these days and filling my life with goodness and mercy. Help me to leave a residue of these two qualities behind everywhere I go, and help me to always build on the eternal hope I have on You as I endeavor to do so. I long to dwell with You forever and long for the day when my enraptured soul will view my home in glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Eternal Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 53.4 Transcript, 19.4 REPLAYED

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

When your journey is completed,

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

Sometimes while you are holding on to God’s unchanging hand, it seems like you will not be able to make it through everything you are facing. Even then, take comfort in the fact that God will finish the work He started.  There will be an end. Thank Him for completing what He has started in You.

When the valley you pass through,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Psalm 23:4 ESV

We all walk through valleys at some point, but there is no need to fear for God is with you. When death is casting a shadow over you, it can be very difficult to recall this simple fact. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you today, and whenever you need it in the future.

Fair and bright the home in glory

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3 ESV

Jesus promised not only that He was going to prepare a place for us but that He would return to take us there. We have a home in glory. It will be fair and bright. We will see it with our eyes one day, but for now ask Jesus to give you eyes of faith to see your eternal home.

Your enraptured soul will view.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV

We believe with David that goodness and mercy are with us every day, but we will know it completely on that day. Our souls will find a rest we only dreamed was possible. That is the hope we build on, and long for. Ask God to help you hold to His unchanging hand as you wait.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.

When your journey is completed,
When the valley you pass through
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.

Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Setting Our Sights Toward Home, REPLAYED appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Fair and Bright Your Home in Glory – https://pixabay.com/photos/cloud-sky-yellow-sunshine-sunset-143152/
Your Enraptured Soul Will View – https://pixabay.com/photos/summerfield-woman-girl-sunset-336672/

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Journeying with the End in Mind, REFRAMED

When Your Journey is Completed

When your journey is completed,
When the valley you pass through,
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.

Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand (1906)

By: Jennie B. Wilson (1856 – 1913)

Listen to this instrumental version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

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Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We conclude our journey through this hymn which challenges us to build on the certainty of God in uncertain days. Seeing the end from the beginning impacts the journey. Let’s tune our hearts.

Complete when Completed

Have you heard the saying “The joy is in the journey, not the destination”? The point of the saying is to enjoy the process of how you are going by staying engaged every moment and not simply focusing on the end. Where you are now versus where you are going. I have experienced the truth of that and would generally concur with it, with one exception, heaven.

You see, the difference with heaven is that when it becomes our intended destination, the implications are profound. Our journey is forever altered because we live each moment in the light of eternity, as opposed to simply trying to stay open to what each moment may bring. We are indeed longing for the journey to be completed!

When your journey is completed,

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

We hold God’s unchanging hand while He continues the good work He started, ever longing for that work to be completed. We hold to God’s unchanging hand through all the uncertainties of life, knowing one day they will come to an end. Sometimes while you are holding on to God’s unchanging hand, it seems like you will not be able to make it through everything you are facing. Even then, take comfort in the fact that God will finish the work He started.  There will be an end.

You will be complete when your journey is completed.

Looking toward the completion of the journey, and the good work God is doing through it, gives us peace. Peace from knowing that it will culminate in His presence. The very presence of Jesus Christ our Lord.

RESONATE!
Are you weary from the toil of the journey? We all feel that way at times, but building our hope on eternal things renews and restores our hope when we are spent. The journey complete, we will finally stop to enjoy the rest that God has made available to us in His eternal presence. Thank Him for the promise the journey ends. Thank Him for completing what He has started in You. Father, thank You I will be complete when my journey is completed. Help me be content with the process as I go.

When the Valley You Pass Through

True Through

The valley looks beautiful from the ridge, but when you get down into it, sunlight greatly hidden by the dense growth of the trees, all perspective of the forest lost, it came seem like a very forbidding place. Some valleys are deeper and darker than others, but they have this in common, they are unavoidable. We all must go through them at times as we make our way to our eternal home.

You simply can not journey along the ridge endlessly. Eventually, you will have to descend into the valley. But the valley has a way of teaching us something of God’s presence that the ridge can not.

When you are walking along the ridge all sunshine and smiles one step behind Jesus, following is a glorious endeavor. When the path leads you to make your way down into the gorge, following becomes a challenging pursuit. They put our faith to the test.

When the valley you pass through,

Interestingly, this line is actually a substitute for the original.

If to God you have been true,

They are two different ways of looking at the same reality. Our faith must pass through the valley of unbelief, where we are tested and tried. We can walk through it without fear of evil. God is always with us in the valley though and provides us a way out if we look to Him.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Psalm 23:4 ESV

I like the imagery of the valley better, and I believe that God will help us to be true. We have our part, and He has His. He will allow all those who follow Him to find their way out of the ravine, eventually.

RESONATE!
Maybe you are walking through a valley right now. Trying to be true to your faith in your God. Maybe you are weary and worn. We all walk through valleys at some point, but there is no need to fear for God is with you. When death is casting a shadow over you, it can be very difficult to recall this simple reality of God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you today, and whenever you need it in the future. Then praise God for always holding you when you pass through the valleys.

Jesus, thank You for walking with me through he valleys, even carrying me when my strength is gone.  Thank You for the faith that allows me to remain true through the difficult times. You are so faithful to me. Show it again today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Complete Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

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Video 53.4 Transcript, 19.4 REFRAMED

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

When your journey is completed,
When the valley you pass through
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.

We hold to God’s unchanging hand through all the uncertainties of life, knowing one day they will come to an end. The journey complete, we will finally stop to enjoy the rest that God has made available to us in His eternal presence. Thank Him for the promise the journey ends.

Father, thank You this journey has an end.

Some valleys are deeper and darker than others, but they have this in common: they are unavoidable. We all must go through them at times as we make our way to our eternal home. Praise God for always holding you when you pass through the valleys.

Lord, I praise You for holding me when I pass through the valleys.

The shadows of the valleys we traverse cloud our souls. Those experiences cause us to long for our eternal dwelling, bright and fair as it will be, even more. Recall your last valley, and from that place ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate an even deeper longing for your forever home.

Spirit, give me an even deeper longing for my home in glory.

When we finally see that place Jesus has been preparing for us, our souls will be consumed with intense pleasure and unimaginable joy. I can hardly wait. Thank Jesus for promising to return to take you there, and take a few moments now to consider what it will be like.

Jesus, thank You for promising to take me to my eternal home.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Journeying with the End in Mind, REFRAMED appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
When Your Journey is Completed – https://pixabay.com/photos/railroad-tracks-tracks-railway-163518/
When the Valley You Pass Through – https://pixabay.com/photos/clouds-cloudy-conifers-dawn-1852955/

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