Blogs - Resonant 7

June 11, 2024 by smattern Leave a Comment

Singing with the Stars

**All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and Heaven reflect Thy rays**

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 triumphant hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video 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!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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 tune our hearts.

Rendering Him Praise

There is nothing in all of creation that does not willingly engage in this eternal occupation: rendering God the praise that is due His name. Before you object and say that mankind is often guilty of failing to give God glory let us clarify what is meant by rendering Him praise.

Render means to provide or give a service or help. When we look at the incredible creation that is man, we must confess that above all other creation we are most capable of giving glory to God. Certainly every sunrise and sunset, the coming together of earth and heaven reflecting the rays of the sun, provide ample opportunity to praise our Creator, but when we see compassion and kindness offered between two people it is in many ways an even more accurate reflection of the glory of God.

We are often guilty of not reflecting His glory through our choices. Even still, the way He has made us, the capacity for bearing His image well, informs our adoration. Whether we bend our purposes to this overarching endeavor or not, all the works of God, including mankind, joyfully surround Him with praise.

Reflecting

All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy! Psalm 96:11-12 ESV

Again, and again in the Psalms, we read how creation itself calls us to worship our Creator God. It reflects His glory and in so doing instructs our praise. When you imagine a scene like the one described here, does it make you want to join in the praise?

Have you found your place in the joyful adoration of God? Mankind is the only part of creation that has a choice to worship or not, so you have that choice. Could it be said of you that you joyfully, consistently offer your praise to God? If not, join them today.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider to whom You are rendering Your adoration. Is it more often God, or something else. Make this your simple prayer “Father, help me join the praise.”

Stellar Symphony

**Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise**

We can use our eyes to see the reflection of God’s glory as the earth and the heavens cast back the light which but one other expression of it. We can also use our ears coupled with our imagination to help us grasp the all-encompassing wonder of the worship of God across all creation.

Scripture tells us on numerous occasions the angels sing. That is no surprise. But did you realize the stars do as well?

Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise

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

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and described the earliest worship as God began to lay the foundations of the earth and the stars and angels uttered praise. Since those first moments of worship they have never stopped continually offering adoration.

Star Songs

Can you even begin to imagine what the worship offered by stars and angels must sound like? Though we have some idea of the content of the angels song, few people realize that stellar sound waves are a symphony of their own offered in praise of their Maker.

Not sure about what kinds of songs stars may sing? Check out this article from NASA about those stellar symphonies. Sounds like the pads we sometimes use in worship today and provides a very worshipful foundation for such sounds.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and turn your attention to the stars an angels. Can you hear their symphony? Pray this simple prayer, “Lord, help me join the symphony of the stars.“

Jesus, thank You for enabling the heavens and the earth, even the stars to join the angels in their praise. I am humbled that you would want me to join that chorus. Help me find my place in it. In Jesus’ name.

Willful Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for Him 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 59.2 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.

Father, help me join the praise.

Can you even begin to imagine what the worship offered by stars and angels must sound like? Though we have some idea of the content of the angels song, few people realize that stellar soundwaves are a symphony of their own offered in praise of their Maker.

Lord, help me join the symphony of the stars.

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?

Spirit, inspire my praise anew.

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.

Jesus, heighten my senses to the call of worship.

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.

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 Singing with the Stars appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/lamp-lock-sun-mountain-rock-sunset-843796/
Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/background-angel-stars-christmas-1068844/

June 6, 2024 by smattern Leave a Comment

Dealing with Dreary Darkness

**Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away**

Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs 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

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.

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 begin 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.

Acknowledging life’s sin, sadness, and darkness

Most of us do not want to go outside when the sky is dark and the rain is falling. It is equally difficult to get outside of ourselves when there is an emotional or relational gloom in our lives. Sometimes the first step toward believing in can be overcome and dispersed is simply acknowledging it is there. Not doing so is like walking outside in the rain and asserting you will not get wet because you refuse to acknowledge the rain.

What darkness do you need to acknowledge today to begin a journey toward the light of God’s joy? Before you can ask God to drive them away, you have to acknowledge they are there. He knows it. You know it. Acknowledge them and then immediately ask for help in dealing with them as only His light can.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2a ESV

Maybe some sin or sadness is making it difficult to receive the joy inducing warmth of God‘s love. He wants to melt those clouds and drive the dark of doubt away. Will you let him? If you will, you will be like those calves being released from a stall, free to leap with joy.

Naming your clouds

Sometimes there are things in our lives which make it difficult to acknowledge that the sun is still shining. Think about it. Even on a cloudy, rainy day the sun is still shining. We just can’t see it because of the clouds. Is there anything keeping you from God’s glory and love?
RESONATE! Take a few moments to think about what the clouds in your life may be. Some sin you have struggled to overcome. A sadness brought on by disappointment with some circumstance. Darkness from something outside of your control. Start by making this your simple prayer, “Jesus, show me Your glory and love.“

Trusting in God’s light

Maybe you have prayed but you simply can not see the clouds parting just yet. That is the hardest part of trusting God: doing so before you see the evidence of His activity. Just like we trust the sun will eventually break through the clouds, that the current storm will not last forever, so we put our faith in the fact that nothing is more certain than God’s light, even the rays of that burning celestial ball.

But that does not mean it is easy. God will give you the faith to believe it and declare it. He will give you the confidence to ask for it even when the clouds are the thickest and darkest. He will do this even when it seems hardest to pray.

Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

This gladness is not some fleeting happiness, but an eternal joy. It does not simply warm us on the outside, but from within our souls. Nothing changes God’s desire to fill you with His light. What needs to change us. How can you position your heart to receive his light today?

Believing and receiving His joy

What is the source of pure joy? Peace with God. How do you know you have that? You are filled with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. Ask God to fill you with His light and from it will flow immortal gladness, the fuel for your joyful adoration.

RESONATE! Take a few moments to affirm your faith in God’s light. The clouds will likely not instantly part, but you will be on your way to joy even before they do. Make this your prayer today, “Spirit, fill me with Your light.“

Jesus, thank You for giving me hope that my clouds will part. That hope springs from a confidence in Your love for me. Give me the faith to believe it even while the raindrops of my tears my still be falling. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hopeful Thinking!

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Podcast 59.1 Transcript

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.

Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalm 100:1-2 ESV

We are commanded to offer our praise to God so to do so is simply responding and obedience. How do we make that praise, joyful? We consider the One to whom it is offered. He is the God of glory, the Lord of love and He alone is worthy of our joyful adoration.

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee Opening to the sun above

…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28b-29 ESV

Our praise should come naturally. Our hearts should mirror the ease of flowers as they open themselves to the sun. They intrinsically know the value of what is shining down upon them and we can as well if we will simply open our hearts to it, to Him. Open your heart.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2a ESV

Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

This is not some fleeting happiness, but an eternal joy. It does not simply warm us on the outside, but from within our souls. Nothing changes God’s desire to fill you with His light. What needs to change us. How can you position your heart to receive his light 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.

Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs 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

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 Dealing with Dreary Darkness appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away – https://pixabay.com/vectors/heart-sad-love-unhappy-sadness-1297121/
Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day – https://pixabay.com/vectors/latvia-panorama-riga-silhouette-2026528/

June 4, 2024 by smattern Leave a Comment

Learning Lessons from Lilies

Hearts — **Joyful, joyful we adore Thee**

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

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

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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

As we begin 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 tune our hearts.

How to Make Adoration Joyful

There is a difference between happiness and joy.

Happiness can be easily manufactured. Give a toddler what they want and…poof! They are happy. Adults are pretty much the same. When that thing they want no longer satisfies or is taken away, the magic is gone and so is the happiness.

Not so with joy.

Joy is inherently deeper. Accordingly it is not so easily manipulated by external circumstances. It is also not so easily attained. But once it is, it is more lasting.

Are you joyful?

Is your praise joyful? Your praise will be if you are. The two are intrinsically connected. Find the source of joy and your will be able to offer joyful adoration.

What is the only sustainable source of such joy? The God of glory. The Lord of love.

Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalm 100:1-2 ESV

We are commanded to offer our praise to God so to do so is simply responding and obedience. How do we make that praise joyful? We consider the One to whom it is offered. He is the God of glory, the Lord of love and He alone is worthy of our joyful adoration.

When was the last time you joyfully adored God? Was it with a group of people? Were you by yourself? Was it quiet? Was there music playing? If it’s been a while, what can you do today to get yourself in an environment and condition to joyfully adore God?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the source of joy. As you reflect of the reality of God you will discover the motivation and impetus of adoration. Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, help me to offer joyful adoration.”

Look and Learn

Again, look to the source. But this time do so from the perspective of a simple flower, say lilies. They do not toil or spin, trying to conjure up their adoration. They simply open up to the sun above and in so doing reveal the fullness of their inherent beauty.

The same is true of us. When we open ourselves up to the light of God, we need not toil or spin, but simply allow the best of all that we are be put on display even as we pour ourselves out for His glory.

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee Opening to the sun above

…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28b-29 ESV

Lessons from Lilies

What is the posture of your heart toward God? Could you learn a lesson from the lilies of the field? Think about how a flower simply opens itself to the rays of the sun. Does your heart unfold in a similar way toward God? Take a few moments right now to open up to Him.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and turn your attention to God. Can you sense the light of His presence in your life. Pray this simple prayer, “Father, help me open my heart to You.“

Jesus, thank You for the lilies of the field and the lessons I can learn from them. Help me learn to turn to You as easily as they do. May my response to Your glory be as beautiful as the flowers opened to the sun. In Jesus’ name.

Joyful Tuning!

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Video 59.1 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.

Spirit, help me to offer joyful adoration.

Father, help me open my heart to You.

Jesus, show me Your glory and love.

Spirit, fill me with Your light.

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 again.

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 Learning Lessons from Lilies appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love - https://pixabay.com/illustrations/love-god-human-heaven-sun-mood-580248/
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee Opening to the sun above – https://pixabay.com/vectors/flowers-heart-hearth-1300579/
Lilies – https://pixabay.com/vectors/lily-flower-bloom-nature-plant-4597796/

May 23, 2024 by smattern Leave a Comment

Resolve to Rekindle, REPLAYED

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, One holy passion filling all my frame; The kindling of the heav’n-descended Dove, My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame. Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart By: George Croly, 1780-1860 Listen as you read. This is a very simple flute and harp version. Below is content formerly only available only to Subscribers and Free Members. Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here. Or check out some 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 the transcript below!

On Tuesday we considered the first two lines of this stanza, which contained a powerful and dynamic illustration of how to love God. In these last two lines we will consider three more elements wrapped up into one final illustration of the Spirit’s work, consuming us with a passion to love God. Are you ready to catch fire? Let’s think about this.

Kindling

Have you ever tried to start a fire with no kindling? Those fire-starter bricks are really helpful but even with those some kindling gets the whole process going much more quickly. So what exactly is kindling? Small sticks and twigs that are easily combustible. This is the role of the Holy Spirit when it comes to lighting a fire of love in our hearts for God. There are moments when we draw near the flame of God’s love and can feel its radiant warmth. When those moments pass however our lives cool far too quickly. When need the kindling of the Holy Spirit to help keep that flame close to the logs of our lives. It was like this at Pentecost when the Spirit came on the first disciples. They were waiting as Jesus had instructed them. They were ready. God’s love was filling their hearts. Then the heaven-descended Dove came upon them and provided the kindling they needed to get the fire going.

And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:3-4 ESV

In the imagery from the hymn the material that first kindles the blaze is the very presence of the Holy Spirit. Are you ready to welcome Him to come and be that quickening fire-starter in you, as those first disciples did? If you are, first ask Him to reveal anything in your life that would hinder His kindling work, confess that and then ask Him to come and kindle a love that flows from the throne of God into your heart.

Altar

My heart. This is where the Holy Spirit kindles the flame. This is where God’s love burns. This is the place. And that is a very important thing. But it is only the place. I would contend that the Holy Spirit kindling helps to bring the flame of God’s love to a critical temperature upon the altar of my heart. All the conditions are right for combustion, but the flame and the kindling not only need a place to burn, my heart, they need some material, my life, at least for the purposes of the this illustration. Certainly, nothing can extinguish the flame of God’s love. Period. But if that flame is going to burn in me, even in my heart, it needs some substance to burn. That substance is my life. I must offer my life, on the the altar of my heart, so the kindling of the Holy Spirit can cause the flame of God’s love to ignite it. For that reason, I implore you to offer your life to God.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV

My life is combustible. Think about it. We burn with passions for all sorts of things. Those passions consume us to the point that we sometimes have little left for other things or people that matter to us, including our loving and gracious God. If we bring our lives too close to any of these other flames, they will catch fire and leave nothing in their wake but smoke and ashes. Maybe you are feeling the effects of having drawn too near to some other flame today. That choice may have left you charred and smoldering. You may even be wondering if there is anything left to offer God. The good news is that there is. God’s mercy is great and new every morning. That does not mean we should just abuse it. Rather we must receive it and then choose to respond to it by offering ourselves regularly to Him as an act of worship. In this spiritual worship, the Holy Spirit comes as kindling to light our lives on fire on the altar of our hearts with flame of God’s love.

Flame

This would all be for naught, if it were not for the flame of God’s love. I asked earlier if you had ever tried starting a fire without kindling. Hard to do, but possible. If you have no material to burn, you could scrounge around to find something to burn of less value than the resultant fire. If you do not have a safe place to start the fire, you could start it somewhere else, but it is going to leave a mark at best. But if you have no flame, all your other efforts are useless. This is especially frustrating if you are cold, wet, hungry, or…all three! A flame can warm the frigid, dry the soggy, and feed the famished. This is important when it is your flesh that is being tended, but also when it is your soul. The flame of God’s love warms the cold soul. It dries the dampest and feeds the ravenous. It can do so much more than that, if we will bring our lives as a sacrifice upon the altar of our hearts. Will you bring your heart near the flame of God’s love? Will you welcome the kindling of His Holy Spirit? Invite the Spirit of God to come and do His work in you today.

Spirit, help me to see how much I need Your kindling work. Remove any fear that may be keeping me at a distance. Show me where I am cold, damp, and hungry and remind me that the flame of God’s love can change all that. Do Your work in me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Incendiary Thinking!

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Podcast 6.5 Transcript 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. Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

…I heard around the throne…the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:11-12 ESV

To love God with this kind of adoration we draw inspiration from His messengers who never cease to give Him the praises due His name. They are undivided in their affections toward the living God. Ask the Spirit to help you mimic them. One holy passion filling all my frame;

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2 ESV

In this verse the Psalmist seems to be mimicking the angels love, his soul, heart and flesh longing to be in God’s presence and sing His praises. Can you with sincerity say you long for God’s presence to the point of fainting? I can not, but I want to. Ask the Spirit to give you such a consuming passion. The kindling of the heav’n-descended Dove,

And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:3-4 ESV

And what a beautiful picture these last lines create. Welcoming the flames of God’s consuming fire into our lives. The Spirit is the kindling, the substance which makes getting the fire started much easier. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life that would hinder His kindling work. My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV

This confuses the imagery a bit making my life the sacrifice instead of my heart the altar, but it helps illustrate the point. God’s love is what sets the kindling of the Spirit on fire, and this activity transpires on the altar of my heart. Ask the Spirit to light that fire in your heart today and every day! Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more. Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, One holy passion filling all my frame; The kindling of the heav’n-descended Dove, My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame. Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions Holy Spirit Kindling – https://pixabay.com/photos/wood-kindling-lena-trunk-1073503/ My Heart An Altar – http://dee-lightfullmoments.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-fire-must-never-go-out.html Thy Love the Flame – https://normansennema.com/archives/16397

May 21, 2024 by smattern Leave a Comment

Angelic Adoration, An Aspiration REFRAMED

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heav’n-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
By: George Croly, 1780-1860

Listen as you read. This is a very simple flute and harp version.

Below is content available formerly only to Subscribers. 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 Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this podcast and the transcript below.

This final stanza calls the Holy Spirit to teach us two more images, equally powerful and compelling, and beyond our grasp. Today we will consider the holy passion of the angels who ever circle the throne praising God. Thursday we will think about a very powerful image of God’s love as a fire. We need the Spirit to understand and practice each of them so let’s ask Him to teach us this week. Let’s tune our hearts.

As Angels Love

Now there is a tall order. We will definitely need the Holy Spirit to teach us this one for it is eternal and other-worldly. To love as angels love requires us to consider who they are and how they love.

Angels are God’s messengers. They represent Him some times and speak for Him at other times. Scripture tells us a lot about them and yet there is a great deal of mystery regarding these heavenly beings.

One of the powerful passages illustrating angels and their relationship to God is the beginning of Isaiah 6, particularly 6:1-3. Their adoration is

relational
continual, and
hallowed

Relational

They are together somehow standing “above” God. Not sure exactly what that means, but I imagine they are circling the throne. I love how Isaiah records that they call one to another. They all know He is holy, but they keep declaring it to each other. There is some communal dimension to their affection.

Continual

They never stop. Over and over again. I have said for years of our worship that we should not grow so easily weary of declaring to one another things that are true of God, particularly because we need to be reminded, unlike the seraphim who are ever in His presence.

Hallowed

I wanted to use an unusual word for this last one to represent just how different the love of angel’s is from ours. Our love can be relational, expressed in the company of others. It is not continual, in some measure because we have to stop to sleep, but even still our waking moments are commandiered by other intentions. These least of these by far is this last one though. Their worship is hallowed or sacred, regarded as holy because it is an all-consuming passion.

Holiness at its core means integrated, or the opposite of disintegrated or undone, which Isaiah confessed was his state in the presence of the integrated, whole, or holy One. The love of the seraphim reflects the holiness of the One they adore. Only the Holy Spirit can give un insight into this reality, and any hope at all of approximating it, even at our best moments.

One Holy Passion

It is this kind of integration that is our aspiration.

The seraphim could use all six wings to fly, but they do not. I have heard different explanations but I like this the best. Two cover their eyes acknowledging they can not look directly at God. Two cover their feet acknowledging they are not worthy to be fully seen by God. Two are used for their assumed purpose, flight, moving them to love.

Might we learn something from them? We must use all of our capacities to express love to God, but maybe not as we might think. One-third used to make less of us and more of Him. Another third used to acknowledge our unworthiness and extol His worth. The final third used according to their assumed purpose. These thirds working together in seamless tandem as an integrated, sacred compelling desire. One holy passion filling all my frame.

The seraphim seem consumed. Look at the image. All wings? All bent to one purpose.

Integrated Tuning!

Spirit of God, teach me to love as the seraphim love. One holy passion filling all my frame. When parts of me get out of sync with it, help me to identify it and adjust accordingly so I can maintain that consuming desire. Thank You for the imagery of the angelic adoration. Help me reflect it today. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Video 58.5 Transcript, 6.5 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.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heav’n-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

This stanza uses some beautiful imagery. Oh, to love God as His heavenly messengers do. And how is that? Continually. They never stop their “Holy, holy, holy”, constantly offering praise to God. Consider the example of those who are ever circling His throne.

A singular, holy and intense desire and enthusiasm for our Lord. An all-consuming fire that burns within our entire souls. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with such a passion.

In this imagery, the material that burns is the very presence of the Holy Spirit, the heaven-descended Dove. He is the kindling that gets that fire burning. Welcome Him to come and be that quickening fire-starter in you.

Our hearts are the place where fire burns. God’s love is the flame. My heart the altar, the Holy Spirit the kindling, the love of God the flame. Oh Spirit light that fire within me and teach me how to care for it.

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
Angels love – Image by Karin Henseler from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/illustrations/heart-angel-wing-love-mourning-669552/
Isaiah 6 – https://lindasbiblestudy.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/seraphim/
Seraphim – https://revivenations.org/blog/2015/04/15/worshiping-god-like-the-seraphim/

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

Rendering Him Praise

Reflecting

Stellar Symphony

Star Songs

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

Acknowledging life’s sin, sadness, and darkness

Naming your clouds

Trusting in God’s light

Believing and receiving His joy

Image Attributions Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away – https://pixabay.com/vectors/heart-sad-love-unhappy-sadness-1297121/ Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day – https://pixabay.com/vectors/latvia-panorama-riga-silhouette-2026528/

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

How to Make Adoration Joyful

Are you joyful?

Look and Learn

Lessons from Lilies

Kindling

Altar

Flame

Image Attributions Holy Spirit Kindling – https://pixabay.com/photos/wood-kindling-lena-trunk-1073503/ My Heart An Altar – http://dee-lightfullmoments.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-fire-must-never-go-out.html Thy Love the Flame – https://normansennema.com/archives/16397

As Angels Love

Relational

Continual

Hallowed

One Holy Passion

Connect With Us

Image Attributions
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away – https://pixabay.com/vectors/heart-sad-love-unhappy-sadness-1297121/
Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day – https://pixabay.com/vectors/latvia-panorama-riga-silhouette-2026528/