Mortals join the mighty 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 lifts us sunward In the triumph song of life

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
By: Henry Van Dyke (1907), 

Listen to this modern version of this joyful hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of adoration. Then open your heart and your lips and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Singing in Strife

What are you going through today? All of us are going through different things, and some of those things for some of us are strife. Even still we can sing.

We can sing even in the midst of suffering. How? Because even then we are victors. More than conquerors. It is true even when it does not feel like it. We sing not because of how we feel but because of what we believe.

And we do moving forward. That is a good thing because we would not really want to stand still in some of the circumstances God allows in our lives. Frankly, we are happy to be marching onward, sometimes it just doesn’t feel like it. It can feel like we are stuck. This next line reminds us we are not.

Ever singing march we onward Victors in the midst of strife

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, todayor danger, or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37 ESV

Even in strife we continue to march onward, ever singing with joy. How are we able to do that? Because we conquer all those difficulties through Him who loved us. His love fuels our overcoming joy by keeping us ever connected to Him, the Source of love and joy.

We are not standing still as we sing. We are moving forward even in difficulty. But watch your step. If you’re going to march, you need to feel the beat and be conscious of your surroundings. Another reminder, this is a communal and cautious experience.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to think about what you are marching through today. Strife or celebration, difficulty to delight. Then pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, help me lift my eyes.“

Lifted Through Learning

Joyful music lifts us sunward In the triumph song of life

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1-2 ESV

And so we sing. Joyfully sing. We are filled with joy because His love saves us and lifts us into His presence and praise. Give Him thanks for all He has done, not the least of which is giving you a reason to sing and the capacity to do so. Joyful hallelujah!

Up, up and away. How will triumph look for you today? We don’t lose sight of where our feet while marching, but we also have an eye off in the distance to where we’re headed. This gives us perspective in every circumstance. Head up, eyes forward, with joy.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to consider who God might have put in your life to help you learn to love better. Sorry. I know that might be the last person yo want to love today, but they are there for a reason. Make this your prayer today, “Lord, help me watch my steps.“

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.

Image Attributions
Ever singing march we onward Victors in the midst of strife – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/singing-children-song-sing-child-18382/
Joyful music lifts us sunward In the triumph song of life – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/cheers-pleasure-poor-community-204742/

Thou art giving and forgiving Ever blessing ever blest
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

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
By: Henry Van Dyke (1907), 

Listen to this modern version of this joyful hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of adoration. Then open your heart and your lips and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Trajectory

What is the trajectory of your life?

I have a friend who is going through a rough transition. From outward appearances it might look like things have taken a turn for the worse. Her actions have created some uncertainty, but I am confident she will be better when she comes through these days.

How can I be so confident? There are many people in her life who love her. They are helping her find her way. She knows that and is grateful for what some might call tough love shown by not making her path easy, but doing so because of love and a desire to she her successful. 

Not everyone in her life can see the trajectory she is on, but I believe I can. By God’s grace, I am even a small part of helping point that out and encourage her along the way. Have you ever been on either end of love working out like that?

Living in Love

What does that mean? To live in love. Does it mean you always try to make things easy for people? Does it mean showing the kind of grace you would want to receive? But maybe also to hear some gentle, hard truth when necessary.

Jesus spoke some things that were hard for his listeners to hear. But He said them because He loved them. Living in love is not always easy. But it is always worth it.

Thou our Father Christ our Brother All who live in love are Thine

In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:4b-5 ESV

The last two words of verse four begin the translation of this complete sentence and thought. We are adopted by the Father because of what Christ has done. He does so in love and invites us to live that way. This is His will for us, to live in love. Nothing brings greater joy.

God has both invited us into his love and commanded us to love. We receive love and must also give love. That makes us a conduit for love to flow which can lead us to think love flows through us. More accurately, we live in love. As we live in God, love is flowing all around us.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to think about what living in love might look like for you today. Might it be difficult? Possibly. Then pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, help me to live in love.“

Lifted Through Learning

What are the circumstances of your life teaching you about living in love? Loving others can be hard. If you are struggling to love someone, why not start to pray for them. As you lift them to God, something will likely start to change in you. Something evidenced in how you think about them and reflected in your countenance toward them.

What are you learning about loving others? I learned that someone close to me has been speaking ill of me. My immediate reaction was sadness mixed with anger. Then I started to pray. I prayed first for myself because I am confident this person is in my life so that I can show them God’s love. I then prayed for them, for opportunities for me to show love even in my frustration.

How will you respond in similar situations? I do not have all the answers for my current situations, but I know I want to lift this person up, and can only do so with God’s help. Even then, only if I am a little further up the hill than they are can I lend them a hand.

Teach us how to love each other Lift us to the joy divine

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 ESV

Living in His love, learning how to love one another, gives us a taste of heaven and lifts us to the joy divine. Certainly there are many who love well and have joy who do not know God, but the kind of love and joy we are speaking of can only be found in God.

We need to learn to live in love. This world can be a very difficult place. Loving others can be extremely challenging sometimes. If we know God, we will love others. The knowing is the beginning for us. Fortunately, for us, He loved us from the beginning.

Lord, help me to know You.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to consider who God might have put in your life to help you learn to love better. Sorry. I know that might be the last person yo want to love today, but they are there for a reason. Make this your prayer today, “Lord, help me to know You.“

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.

Image Attributions
Thou our Father Christ our Brother All who live in love are Thine –https://pixabay.com/photos/people-love-neighbor-kindness-7688964/
Teach us how to love each other Lift us to the joy divine –https://pixabay.com/illustrations/helping-each-other-teamwork-winning-2643652/

All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
By: Henry Van Dyke (1907), 

Listen to this modern version of this joyful hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of adoration. Then open your heart and your lips and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Litany-evoking List

Continuing from the earlier part of the stanza and slowing building into a grand crescendo, the characters of creations worship play their role in calling forth our praise. Maybe what you are going through today is driving your gaze toward your belly button, causing you to look down in fatigue and frustration. Look up.

When we lift our eyes we can see the many different expressions of worship that fill our gaze from every part of the created world. Creatures and landscapes, water and plant life each declaring their praise and inviting, even exhorting us to do the same. Will you lift you eyes today?

Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 ESV

Our response

From the most profound creations to simpler ones, everything in creation is rejoicing and then invites us to join them. In this prophecy Isaiah gives hope to the people of God that even though we may face difficulty our Lord will have compassion on us and give us joy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

What part of creation most naturally evokes your praise? Being raised among tree-covered mountains, such places are my greatest inspiration. Whatever it is for you, what can you do today to find fresh inspiration for your joyful adoration? 

RESONATE! Take a few moments to think about what aspect of the created order most evokes your adoration. Really think about it. Seeing it in your mind’s eye, or go and actually look at it. Then pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, inspire my praise anew.“

Seeing the Call the Rejoice

Can you hear the call? Or better yet, can you see it? A call is normally thought of in audible terms and while there is an element of hearing the call to rejoice, there is just as certainly a visual call.

When we behold the wonder of creation, each individual expression and the sum of them, we must respond. A failure to worship is actually a response. If you choose not to worship the One who made all we see and hear, that is a choice. It is simply an inappropriate one.

Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!. Psalm 148:7-10 ESV

Birds and livestock, sea creatures and the watery home, fire, storms, mountains and trees all call us to rejoice in God. How? By their mere existence, variety, beauty and power. Everywhere we look the invitation can be seen if we have eyes to see. Do you?

A bird song, a babbling brook or one of hundreds of creations other cantors, there is no shortage of sounds and sights calling us to worship. Are your senses aware of  everything around you inviting you to rejoice? Ask Jesus to heighten your senses today.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to listen to and look at the call to worship all around you. Go outside if you are able and simply look up. Make this your prayer today, “Jesus, heighten my senses to the call of worship.“

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.

Image Attributions
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea – https://pixabay.com/photos/hill-green-nature-mountain-5419527/
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/heron-birds-iguazu-nature-bird-2813775/