Even so Lord quickly come
To Thy final harvest-home
Gather Thou Thy people in
Free from sorrow free from sin
There forever purified
In Thy presence to abide
Come with all Thine angels come
Raise the glorious harvest-home

Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast 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 continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue to eh call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s think about this.

Presence

It is the Presence of God that makes the difference in every circumstance. This simple truth changes the perspective of everything it touches. Never is that more true than around the throne of God and of the Lamb.

We will worship Him in those moments as never before them. Finally completely, eternally purified we will live and worship Him forever. We can not even begin to imagine what that will be like.

There forever purified
In Thy presence to abide

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:3-4 ESV

Though the Scripture has a few things to say about heaven it is still difficult for us to fathom the glory and wonder of forever dwelling in His presence. The only way we can live for even a moment is to be purified. Thankfully He has already made a way for that to happen.

The thing that makes any place heavenly is the presence of God. When we arrive there, forever purified, we will enjoy a communion with Him that eludes us in this age. We will live in HIs presence, holy to the Lord. How we long for that reality and the coming of that purity!

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider heaven. Are you longing for the purity of that place and the worship it will evoke and empower? Pray this simple prayer, “God, how I long to live in Your presence.” 

Come

The longing for that purity, that place, leaves us wanting Him to come and come quickly. His second Advent will be nothing like His first, the one we just celebrated at Christmas. This time instead of coming as a baby He will return as the Lord of all. The angels will not announce His arrival they will accompany it providing a royal escort that defies imagination.

There really is not artistic rendering that can adequately portray those moments. So awe-inspiring will it be that all creation will bow in worship. It will not even be an announcement but a command. How much greater will their song be when He comes to rule the earth? When He comes to establish His glorious harvest home?

We must be ready. Jesus will repay us each for what we have done. So what have you done?

Come with all Thine angels come
Raise the glorious harvest-home

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 ESV

The way He has made rises and falls on what we have done with the gift of life in Christ. When He returns with His angels will He be coming to take you to your harvest home? If you have placed your faith in His redemptive work alone you can rest assured He will.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about Christ’s return. Are you ready? Have you placed your faith in Him? If not, why not do it today. Then you can pray simply with peace in your heart, “Jesus, come with all Your angels.“

Lord, thank You for the promise that You will return. Thank You for making it clear what we need to do to be ready. Help us to prepare and help others to do the same. In Jesus name. Amen.

Expectant 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.

Image Attribution
There forever purified In Thy presence to abide – https://www.cwgministries.org/blogs/leading-worshipers-throne-room
Come with all Thine angels come Raise the glorious harvest-home – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/572801646327677355/

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

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.

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/

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

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.

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/

Joy to those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
of thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing
news, glad tidings of a birth:
“Go to him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth.”

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.

Angels

I wonder what their perspective was on this unprecedented occasion. From eternity past they had been singing praises, but never like on this night. They had sung glory to God in the highest through the ages, but this night something was added to their refrain.

Peace on earth. God was receiving glory because He was making a way for there to be peace on earth. He was making a way for Him to be pleased with at least some of us. How? By finding rest in what this newborn King would one day accomplish.

Those are the best tidings ever. Not only is God worthy of the highest glory, but peace had come to earth. Hear the angels sing.

O’er the hills the angels singing
news, glad tidings of a birth:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14 ESV

Can you begin to imagine what that must have sounded like on those hills outside of Bethlehem the night of His birth? Things were probably pretty quiet most nights for those shepherds, but not that night. Will you join the angels or will you leave the singing to them?

Can you hear the echo of the angel song from that glorious night long ago? Over hills and across time it rings in the hearts of those who are listening intently for it. Those were the gladdest tidings ever. Ask God to give you ears to hear that song again in this season.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and listen for the echoes of the angel song in your soul. Glory to God. Peace on earth. Pray this simple prayer, “God, help me hear the angel song.” 

Shepherds

At some point in every Advent season I ask myself how I would have responded to that angelic song. I sometimes get goosebumps just trying to imagine what that must have been like. The angels had waited a long time to sing this song so I am certain they nailed it.

The shepherds would have had no context to even begin to comprehend the glorious majesty of that   moment. I am certain I do not either.

Yet Scripture tells us they not only made sense of it but responded in a reasonable way. They interpreted the angelic invitation perfectly. They received the peace the angels proclaimed and hurried to discover the source of it for themselves.

“Go to him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth.”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15 ESV

It seems the shepherds wasted no time responding to this news of a Savior’s birth. Will the same urgency fill your heart this Advent and Christmas season? This is the best news ever heard yet we tend to keep it to ourselves. Let’s come with praise and go to tell others.

Their song is a call to worship, a call to go to Jesus with praises on your lips for the One who has come to be Lord. But first it is a call simply to go to Him. How will you respond to this call? How will you bring your praise this Advent/Christmas season?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider your response to the ancient, angelic song. It is easy to hum the carols to yourself, but will you be willing to sing them to others. Come and worship, then go and tell. Pray simply, “Lord, help me respond to the call to worship.“

Lord, thank You for letting me hear the angel song. Help me respond to it with my own worship: praise to You and proclamation to others. 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.

Image Attribution
O’er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth: – https://kclivefreeordie.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/singing-with-the-shepherds/
“Go to him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth.” – https://www.seniorlifestyle.org/express/my_world/been-to-bethlehem

Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

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.

Hope

Where is your hope? Is it in some institution or construct of man? Those things are not inherently bad, but they must not be the repository of our greatest hope. That must be reserved for God alone.

Tribes and nations are useful things. They give us groupings of people that help us to govern ourselves and allocate resources. Even still they are not where we should place our highest aspirations. That must be reserved for the King of nations.

Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art

The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. Joel 3:16 ESV

Jesus is not only the strength and consolation of His people Israel, but truly of all the earth. He has made Himself known through His long association with Israel, but He wants to be embraced by all the earth. Take refuge in Him today.

Though many of them do not realize it, Jesus supports and sustains Israel, the people of God, and comforts them even after loss. At the same time He is also the hope of all the earth, not only the people of God but all people, but even more of them fail to recognize it. Where is your hope?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the source of your hope. Where does it lie? When things get really bad where do you turn? Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, help me embrace Your strength, consolation and hope.” 

Joy

Jesus is that One Who is the hope of al the earth. but that is not all. He is the desire of every nation and the joy of every longing heart. In Jesus we find everything we are searching for. In Him is the delight of every longing heart.

When we look elsewhere to find satisfaction and joy we find approximations. But those things are meant to point us to the source of them, or are simply counterfeits of the real thing. What are you longing for? What is your deepest desire?

Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV

Not only is the Desire of every nation, He is the joy of every longing heart, even before they realize it is true. We can not see Him yet, but we love Him, believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible joy. That is what the presence of Jesus does for us. Welcome Him!

He is the Desire of every nation though they often pursue very different things thinking they will satisfy. The longing heart that finds Jesus finds joy and in Him the satisfaction that eludes every other pursuit. What are you desiring or longing for today? Jesus alone satisfies.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about your longings and desires. Are there things in your life that you have used to satiate the desire only Jesus can truly satisfy? Turn from them and to Him today. Pray simply, “Lord, fill my longing heart with Your joy.“

Lord, thank You for the reminder that my deepest longings can only be satisfied with You. You want to fill me with hope and joy so help me to turn to you today, and every day. In Jesus name. Amen.

Hopeful 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.

Image Attribution
Israel’s strength and consolation Hope of all the earth Thou art – https://unitedwithisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/shutterstock_189303509-e1527431102587-604×400.jpg
Dear desire of every nation Joy of every longing heart – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/flags-world-peace-symbol-global-646562/