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Invite Jesus to Rule and Raise

By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
 By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

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

Here is podcast 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 conclude our journey through this Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s think about this.

Rule

We finish the first half of this stanza asking Jesus to bring His gracious kingdom. In the second half our prayer is answered as we invite Him to rule and raise. His kingdom comes temporally as He rules in our hearts and eternally when He raises us to His throne. Will you create the atmosphere which ushers in HIs gracious kingdom by inviting Him to rule and raise?

Before you answer in the affirmative please consider for a few moments what that may mean for you.

The Spirit ruling in your heart alone means He is in charge.

  • Not only when it is convenient, because it won’t be.
  • Not only as long as you agree, because you may rarely.
  • And certainly not Him along with several other ruler jostling for superiority.

The Spirit along ruling in your heart.

By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:27 ESV

The culmination of this past work and future promise is the present reality of His Spirit in us ruling our hearts. The Spirit enables us to walk in God’s ways by obeying His rules. That may not sound appealing but it allows us to experience His rule and reign internally while we wait for the fullness of it externally.

He reigns when we yield to the inner workings of His Spirit. Our heart is the seat of our emotions, intellect and will. If we allow the Spirit alone to rule in our hearts our emotions, intellect and will are bent toward the kingdom purpose of God. Will you yield your heart today?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and ponder what allowing the Spirit alone to rule your heart my require. But also think about what it enables. Then pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, rule alone in my heart today.” 

Raise

By thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne

This is the supernatural result of allowing Him to rule. Your trajectory will be vertical and His work in you will ensure your arrival. Your ascent begins when you place all your trust in His merit instead of any of your own.

Your merit is insufficient. You could never earn heaven because you could never become perfect any more than a different cloth can clean a window. In order to be raised you must assume a lowly, humbled position before Him.

By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV

There is an interesting past and present here. He raised us, so that in the coming ages He might show His grace. Past, present and future all woven together into a tapestry which beautifully reveals the merit of His work in us and on earth. Thanks be to God!

How we long for the coming of His kingdom and our part in it. Fortunately, we will find our place through no merit of our own, for we would fall terribly short. Instead, He will raise us to our place by His throne through His all-sufficient merit. Hallelujah! Thank Him for that gift.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and remind yourself of the quality of your merit. Now think of the merit of Jesus. There is no comparison. Pray simply, “Jesus, thank You for attributing Your merit to me.“

Lord, thank You for showing me why I needed to be ruled by You, by revealing the two distinct paths marked by your merit and mine. Help me trust in Your merit every day. In Jesus name. Amen.

Raised 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 35.4 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.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King, 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 ESV

He promised a child would be born Who would be king. That child would deliver us not only through the tyranny of earthly potentates, but from the curse of sin, our sin. The prophet told of One who would come one day. He did come. He will come again. Come Lord Jesus!

Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15 ESV

It is this future reign we are longing for, which for the eternal One is already a reality. We who are bound by time are waiting to get to the external expressions of that Kingdom, but we can still experience it now in the internal workings of our existence. Welcome Him to reign today.

By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:27 ESV

The culmination of this past work and future promise is the present reality of His Spirit in us ruling our hearts. The Spirit enables us to walk in God’s ways by obeying His rules. That may not sound appealing but it allows us to experience His rule and reign internally while we wait for the fullness of it externally.

By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV

There is an interesting past and present here. He raised us, so that in the coming ages He might show His grace. Past, present and future all woven together into a tapestry which beautifully reveals the merit of His work in us and on earth. Thanks be to God!

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.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

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 Invite Jesus to Rule and Raise appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone – https://media.ascensionpress.com/2018/05/17/a-new-law/
By thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne – https://greatergrace.org.uk/risen_multimedia/glorious-throne/

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Born to Hide Me

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri–a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Praises at Birth. This week we will examine Born to Hide Me?  When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

 PROMISE: Psalm 32:7 Amplified Bible

You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble;
You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
 By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne

PARABLE:  Hide and seek was not a childhood game I enjoyed. I was not brave enough to venture out into the neighborhood block where we could hide. I did not like running into the base and taking the chance of getting caught. I figured out early that I needed to secure a hiding place. So… I would run towards our backyard as though I was going to hide outdoors. BUT I would stop at the backdoor entrance that we rarely used and hide in the basement. I would go to the laundry room and slightly open the window. That way I could hear when others began to run to base or when the person who was the seeker called out ally ally in come free.  This was my secret place. Sometimes, I would get distracted by my Walkman and singing songs and would not come out for several rounds.  I found a hiding place that felt safe. There I did not have to reveal my fears. There I could sing and feel at peace.

Though I have grown out of the neighborhood game phase, I learned a lot from hiding seek. I learned that when you feel afraid, seeking safety and deliverance from your fears is an adaptive coping strategy. The childhood game primed my heart to understand that concept of hiding and seeking, seeking and finding, and being found and delivered.  King Jesus was born to hide me. His very birth was for the purpose to deliver me from the darkness. He is my hiding place. He keeps me from trouble. He delivers me from the shadows of darkness. He sings songs of deliverance over me. When I feel afraid, I can trust Him. I can hide in the shadow of His Presence. Like Hide and Seek, I realize that there are things in my life that are scary. Focusing on my circumstances can lead me to the dark places of depression and anxiety. There are times I feel like the enemy is seeking me and calling me into home base where he desires to demolish me. I don’t want to take the chance of being caught up in danger. My heart longs for a safe place. So I hide. I seek God’s face. I bathe in His Presence. I play His songs of deliverance. I go to my secret place. The Presence of the throne of the King!

Soul care training exercise:  As we experience this advent season, will you take time to ponder the question “How do I utilize the Presence of Jesus as a hiding place?”

  • Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you how the Presence of Jesus is your hiding place? Let it be personal. Perhaps complete the sentence “You are my hiding place. I seek your Presence when…_____________________. I need hidden from…___________________”
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know about Jesus being your hiding place.
  • Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing and bringing to your mind’s awareness.
  • Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to know, hear, or do. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before. With a breath of gratitude, breathe in and breathe out and accept what Jesus is offering to you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you are my hiding place. I’m afraid and I need you. I need to be hidden from my anxious thoughts. Sing over me with songs of deliverance.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to give thanks to God for Jesus being born to deliver you. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Take five minutes to listen to the Hiding Place guided meditation.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Born to Hide appeared first on Resonant

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

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Forever, Now: Eternal, Present

Born thy people to deliver, Born a child, and yet a King

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
 By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this Christmas carol 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 Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s tune our hearts.

Seeing like Simeon

The Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the salvation of the Lord. When Mary and Jospeh entered the Temple courts with Jesus, Simeon knew that moment of revelation and finally come. What an incredible moment that must have been for him to immediately surrender his life to God!

Can you imagine that kind of fulfillment? That kind of patience? That kind of trust?

How delighted he must have been to finally see the salvation of the Lord with his own two eyes. Did he know it would come in the form of a baby? Did he know earlier that day it would happen? Either way, he seized that moment without hesitation. Would we be willing to do the same?

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King, 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 ESV

He promised a child would be born Who would be king. That child would deliver us not only through the tyranny of earthly potentates, but from the curse of sin, our sin. The prophet told of One who would come one day. He did come. He will come again. Come Lord Jesus!

Jesus, the baby King. Oh for eyes to see the workings of God few can! Simeon saw the child as Savior when Mary and Joseph brought Him to present Him to the Lord. How often we fail to see Jesus for Who He is and what He is doing in our lives. Ask for eyes of faith.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about how God may be at work around you right now. This very moment. Are you guilty of trying to conform God to the image you have made, or are you willing to adjust your sight to Him. Make this your simple prayer today “Jesus, give me eyes of faith to see You clearly.” 

Adoring Like Anna

Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious kingdom bring

Like Simeon, Anna was also waiting. Simeon had been waiting for a Savior, but Anna for the kingdom He would initiate. They both saw Him, but presumably neither of them would see the fulfillment of His coming.

We too are waiting.

Jesus has made His first appearance and at the end of it accomplished our salvation. When He appears the next time He will establish His kingdom. Until then we are waiting.

There is coming a moment at the end of this age when the trumpet will sound and the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Until then we are waiting for His reign to commence. Waiting…and adoring.

Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15 ESV

It is this future reign we are longing for, which for the eternal One is already a reality. We who are bound by time are waiting to get to the external expressions of that Kingdom, but we can still experience it now in the internal workings of our existence. Welcome Him to reign today.

From her continuous posture of worship Anna likewise spoke of the redemption of Jerusalem. We do not have her words recorded, but we can imagine she spoke of a gracious kingdom where the Lord would reign. Will you welcome His gracious reign in your life today?

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and consider the gracious kingdom Jesus is bringing. While you adore like Anna will you let His kingdom come in you? Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Lord, reign in me today.” 

God, thank You for coming to deliver us. Thank You for establishing a kingdom that will be fulfilled in and through us. Help us to adore You even as we wait to see that kingdom come. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Patient 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.

Like what you’re 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.

Video 35.4 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.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Jesus, the baby King. Oh for eyes to see the workings of God few can! Simeon saw the child as Savior when Mary and Joseph brought Him to present Him to the Lord. How often we fail to see Jesus for Who He is and what He is doing in our lives. Ask for eyes of faith.

Jesus, give me eyes of faith to see You clearly.

From her continuous posture of worship Anna likewise spoke of the redemption of Jerusalem. We do not have her words recorded, but we can imagine she spoke of a gracious kingdom where the Lord would reign. Will you welcome His gracious reign in your life today?

Lord, reign in me today.

He reigns when we yield to the inner workings of His Spirit. Our heart is the seat of our emotions, intellect and will. If we allow the Spirit alone to rule in our hearts our emotions, intellect and will are bent toward the kingdom purpose of God. Will you yield your heart today?

Spirit, rule alone in my heart today.

How we long for the coming of His kingdom and our part in it. Fortunately, we will find our place through no merit of our own, for we would fall terribly short. Instead, He will raise us to our place by His throne through His all-sufficient merit. Hallelujah! Thank Him for that gift.

Jesus, thank You for attributing Your merit to me.

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 Forever, Now: Eternal, Present appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Born thy people to deliver, Born a child, and yet a King – https://reflectionsdevotional.com/2014/12/20/jesus-our-treasure/
Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious kingdom bring – https://news.sosevents.org/2018/12/27/anna-the-prophetess-2/

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Without and Within, What a Wonder!

Leaving riches without number born within a cattle stall

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
 By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

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

Here is podcast 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 begin our journey through this Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s think about this.

Without

Without, and within.

Those are the two seemingly less important words that really jumped out at me as I pondered these words. Jesus left behind riches without number to be born within a cattle stall. He knew no limitations and still He subjected Himself to some. Can you grasp that? I know I certainly struggle to even try.

Yet Jesus did not grasp or hold on to all the rights, privileges and riches that were His. Instead He let go of them to take the form of a servant, though He was the King and Lord. Not only are we not able to fathom the numberless riches, neither are we capable of the thought of releasing them. Jesus is capable of both, and so much more.

Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 ESV

We can not fathom the glory that Jesus left behind when He was born an infant who would sleep in a feed trough. The difference between what He deserved and what He endured is shocking, but it is a good reminder of what Jesus did, and the example it gave us to follow.

Jesus chose to walk a different path so we could choose to do the same, though opposite. He left splendor for humility, making a way for us to leave sadness for gladness. He shows us a different way of living is possible, then invites us into one as different as ir is imaginable.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and ponder all that Jesus left behind to come to us. He invites us to leave somethings behind as well, so we can be without: without sin, without sadness, without sorrow. Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, thank You for showing me a different path is possible.” 

Within

this the everlasting wonder Christ was born the Lord of all

He was born within a cattle stall to demonstrate His willingness to make the long journey to come to us. But not only to be with us, but within us.

There is a HUGE difference.

How would the one who is Lord of all show us that He is willing to come and take us residence within us? He came as a baby who would be laid in a lowly place. This proves He is willing to make His dwelling is us.

this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 ESV

Here again is the everlasting wonder of God coming to be one of us so that He could be acquainted with our sufferings. All the while He remained the Lord of all.  What a wonder that He would condescend so! He is familiar with everything we face. Give Him praise for this truth.

I am not certain what is more wonderful. That Christ who was the Lord of all was born in such a lowly estate, or that a baby born in such a place could simultaneously be Lord of all. My feeble mind struggles with either idea, yet marvels at the everlasting wonder of both.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how Jesus went without, so He could live within. Think of what He left behind, what He comes to and the difference that makes for you. All demonstrated through His advent. Pray simply, “Jesus, help me marvel at the wonder of Your birth.“

Lord, thank You for going without riches so that You could come live within us. It is difficult for us to imagine what that must have been like, and still is like every time you come to dwell within a humble soul. In Jesus name. Amen.

Worshipful 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 35.3 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.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV

Come to taste our sadness. What an interesting thought. Jesus came to taste the condition our sin had created. He came to become intimately familiar with it. His glories knew no end yet He came to experience the ugliness of humanity, and experience it He did, even to death.

by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend, 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 ESV

Jesus asks Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus if she believes. That is the crux of the matter. These things are true, but the real issue for us is whether we will believe them or not. If we do, His life brings us gladness we can barely even begin to imagine. Hallelujah!

Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 ESV

We can not fathom the glory that Jesus left behind when He was born an infant who would sleep in a feed trough. The difference between what He deserved and what He endured is shocking, but it is a good reminder of what Jesus did, and the example it gave us to follow.

this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 ESV

Here again is the everlasting wonder of God coming to be one of us so that He could be acquainted with our sufferings. All the while He remained the Lord of all.  What a wonder that He would codescend so! He is familiar with everything we face. Give Him praise for this truth.

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.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

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 Without and Within, What a Wonder! appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall; – https://www.soifixmyeyes.com/blog/a-christmas-prayer
this the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all. – https://dailymedit.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/the-king-of-salvation/

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Sadness Turned to Gladness, Courtesy of Jesus

Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
 By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this Christmas carol 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 Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s tune our hearts.

Sadness

We are born crying, familiar with sadness. Jesus knew only glory.

You have felt that moment depicted above. That moment when things seemed hopeless, too much to bear. That moment when you felt alone. When you could not see a way out.

Remember?

Before His birth Jesus knew none of that first hand. Being the limitless one, He had no personal experience with how limited our humanity makes us. So He decided to change that.

His existence had been so different from ours it would have been difficult to believe He understood our hopeless condition. He changed that by becoming one of us. The living Word of God took on human form so He could speak His glory into our lives.

And that He did.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV

Come to taste our sadness. What an interesting thought. Jesus came to taste the condition our sin had created. He came to become intimately familiar with it. His glories knew no end yet He came to experience the ugliness of humanity, and experience it He did, even to death.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about any sadness you have recently experienced. Now reflect on the fact that when you are sad you can cry out to One who is familiar with sadness, and is ever with you in it. Make this your simple prayer today “Jesus, thank You for tasting our sadness.” 

Gladness

by his life he brings us gladness, our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,

There is yet more comfort available than His familiarity with and presence in our sadness. His life, the life He lived and that made available to us, brings us gladness. But what does that mean and how does He do that? Those answers can be found in the names attributed to Him in the next line.

Starting at the end, Jesus gladdens us with companionship. He is with us, simply put. We never have to face anything alone. That should make us glad.

He is our Shepherd. He guides us through valleys, and over hills. He keeps us safe from dangers. If we will but look to Him we never need wonder which way to turn. That should make us glad.

Then the one that is not capitalized but probably should be, redeemer. He saves us from our sin but redeeming our lives from the pit. We do not get what our sins deserve because He has paid the penalty.That should really make us glad.

by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend, 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 ESV

Jesus asks Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus if she believes. That is the crux of the matter. These things are true, but the real issue for us is whether we will believe them or not. If we do, His life brings us gladness we can barely even begin to imagine. Hallelujah!

He lived in a way that showed us an alternative to our sadness. He offers us salvation, guidance along our journey, and companionship. But we must make the choice to receive these things and with them a different path. What will you do with the life Jesus offers?

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and consider the gladness Jesus offers. Can you marvel at redemption, yield to His leading, and bask in His friendship? Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, help me walk in gladness with You.” 

God, thank You for entering our sadness and transforming it into the opposite.  You have a way of turning things inside out and upside down. Do that marvelous work in my life again this season. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Gladdened 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 35.3 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.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

He knew what glory tasted like. He had only known that from the foundations of the world. So, He came to taste sadness, because presumably He never had. That is how different His existence was than ours. We are born crying, familiar with sadness. Jesus knew only glory.

Jesus, thank You for tasting our sadness.

He lived in a way that showed us an alternative to our sadness. He offers us salvation, guidance along our journey, and companionship. But we must make the choice to receive these things and with them a different path. What will you do with the life Jesus offers?

Jesus, help me walk in gladness with You.

Jesus chose to walk a different path so we could choose to do the same, though opposite. He left splendor for humility, making a way for us to leave sadness for gladness. He shows us a different way of living is possible, then invites us into one as different as imaginable.

Jesus, thank You for showing me a different path is possible.

I am not certain what is more wonderful. That Christ who was the Lord of all was born in such a lowly estate, or that a baby born in such a place could simultaneously be Lord of all. My feeble mind struggles with either idea, yet marvels at the everlasting wonder of both.

Jesus, help me marvel at the wonder of Your birth.

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 Sadness Turned to Gladness, Courtesy of Jesus appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end; – https://pixabay.com/photos/guy-man-people-dark-shadow-hands-2617866/
by his life he brings us gladness, our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend, – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-happy-smiling-female-face-4701068/

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