All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

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.

Growth

Are you growing? Things tend to be dynamic or changing. They are not often static. If you are not growing you must realize there is really only one alternative, and it is the opposite of growing.

What is the opposite of growing? When we think of plants a good word to describe the opposite of growing would probably be withering. That brings to mind the reality of decay and ultimately leads to death. Basically once something has stopped growing it often enters the process of dying.

If we are not growing spiritually then we must ask ourselves are we withering. Is our spiritual life becoming dormant? What is the condition of your soul? Did you start off healthy and vibrant but have since languished, floundering in your faith? That is not what has in mind for you.

He wants you to grow.

First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. Mark 4:28 ESV

There is a process involved in all things that grow. It is unmistakable and undeniable. Nothing gets to skip steps. Things start small and grow into their full size with time. That principle is true in both the natural and spiritual realms. What are you growing to become?

 

Growth is a gradual process. It happens little by little. Though there are likely some weeds around you, how are you growing to yield the mature fruit God has in mind for you? Ask Him to show you the incremental steps you can take to become that fruit.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider your spiritual growth. Is it vibrant and dynamic, or lethargic and static? Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, show me how to grow.” 

Mature

There is a finished product to spiritual growth. We will not attain it until we reach our harvest-home. That should not keep us from pursuing it.

Do you have a clear mental picture of what you are striving toward in your spiritual life? The hymn says wholesome and pure. Conducive or suggestive of good health and free of any contamination. Think of that in spiritual terms.

Living in such way that spiritual health is likely or even expected. Even though there may be elements around that would deter such health you focus on doing what you need to do and trusting the Lord to do what only He can. Believing there is a process and the Lord will shape you for it and take you to enjoy it.

Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matthew 13:30 ESV

We want to grow and be the wheat that is gathered into the barn. We want to be that wholesome and pure grain. Grain the Lord of the Harvest will be delighted to take to our eternal harvest-home. Are you looking forward to that day when the angels take you there?

Wholesome and pure grain. That is what the Lord of the Harvest has in mind for each of us to become. Free of spot or blemish. What imperfections in your life do you need the Lord of the Harvest to heal so you can become that grain? Ask for His help in surrendering those?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about what being spiritually mature would look like. Are there things in your life that compete with that process. Are you willing to let them go? Pray simply, “Lord, help me surrender my imperfections.“

Lord, thank You for inviting me into a process of being wholesome and pure. You have made it so eternally and have invited me into the process of it experientially. Help me to grow until I am mature. In Jesus name. Amen.

Mature Thinking!

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Image Attribution
First the blade and then the ear Then the full corn shall appear – https://pixabay.com/photos/corn-cornfield-ripe-harvest-917354/
Lord of harvest grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be – https://pixabay.com/photos/barley-ear-grain-close-up-nature-3472570/

Come ye thankful people come
Raise the song of harvest-home
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied
Come to God’s own temple come
Raise the song of 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 begin 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.

Abundance

Are you mindful of God’s provision? Can you echo the confidence of the writer that God our Maker provides? That is a strong statement that God provides for our wants, not only our needs.

Whether you can wrap your faith around that or not it is difficult to deny that God’s provision for us is abundant. He not only provides what we need, but so much more. We really do not need that much. He gives us so much more, and invites us into the process of the harvest as well.

God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV

This verse specifically states that God will supply all of our needs, but does not go so far as saying our wants. Truthfully, God often provides for more than just our needs as a demonstration of His grace to us. Give praise to Your Maker today for how he supplies.

God provides everything we need, but He does expect that we will do our part to bring the harvest in. There is some labor involved but even that is dependent on God’s provision for the energy and stamina to do it. He is our Maker and the Provider of everything we need.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider God’s abundant provision for you. Thank Him that you get to participate in the harvest. Pray this simple prayer, “God, thank You for the energy to harvest.” 

Come Celebrate

The invitation is extended to all but remember this stanza was issuing a call to one group of people in particular: thankful people. If there are any group of people on earth that have reason to be thankful it is the people of God, after all we know He has provided everything we need, including our redemption!

Is it about coming to church? No. But why would we not want to gather with the people who have the same perspective on the provisions we enjoy? We can easily forget just how good God has been to us because we live in a fallen, ungrateful world. Coming together with God’s people to sing His praise for His provision for us reminds us how much we have to thank Him for in every season.

Come to God’s own temple come
Raise the song of harvest-home

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2 ESV

When we think of His provision through times of harvest, and acknowledge His supply for every need, we are compelled to raise our song of praise. We come into His presence to give thanks to the One who provides the harvest and so much more.

We should come to God to offer Him the praise that is due His matchless name for the way He provides. We are the temple of God and can offer Him the song He deserves only as the Spirit enables us to do so. Ask the Spirit to help you come and offer your song of praise.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and come before God with thanksgiving. How about a song? Maybe this one or another. Commit today to sing your praise. Pray simply, “Spirit, help me raise my song of praise.”

Lord, thank You for giving me so many things for which to be thankful. Thank you for giving me songs to sing. Help me to be thankful every day and sing Your praise. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thankful Thinking!

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Image Attribution
God our Maker doth provide For our wants to be supplied – https://pixabay.com/photos/pumpkin-harvest-autumn-fall-season-3698130/
Come to God’s own temple come Raise the song of harvest-home – https://pixabay.com/photos/church-sunset-sunrise-worship-4911852/

Just as I am poor wretched blind
Sight riches healing of the mind
Yea all I need in Thee to find
O Lamb of God I come I come

Just As I Am 1835
By: Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)

Listen to this worshipful version of this 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 conclude our journey through this beloved hymn come with fresh ears. Sometimes a song can be so familiar some of the meaning can get lost. Try to reclaim a bit of this one as we look deeply at these words. Let’s think about this.

All I Need…

We come to Jesus to find all we need. These last two lines read as one thought, but a poetic one that requires a little bit of thinking to be able understand. Of course the same could be said of the cross.

One hymn writer referred to it as an emblem of suffering and shame, and rightfully so. It was a horrible way to take someone’s life. Yet Jesus was willing to go there for us and in so doing modeled the willingness to accept the Father’s will we should each seek to emulate.

The Father was not disciplining Jesus, but redeeming all mankind through His sacrifice. Still it teaches us that God is willing to go to great lengths to draw us to Himself, and that is not always through the suffering of Jesus. Sometimes that suffering is ours.

He is willing to reprove and discipline us. He knows it can lead to repentance and zeal. He shows His love for us in that.

Yea all I need in Thee to find

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19 ESV

All I need, yes. Love, indeed. But reproof, discipline, zeal and repentance? Those are not on many of our lists of needful things, but they should be. It is our willingness to accept these things that position us to receive far better. We find everything we need in His love.

They are gifts from God, not wages I have earned. He possesses everything I need and willingly gives it to me when I position myself humbly before Him. Are you sometimes tempted to think you have earned His gifts? That is dangerous thinking. Ask Him to search your mind.

 

 

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider your willingness to embrace reproof and discipline. They can lead to zeal and repentance, especially when we realize they are delivered out of love. But we are sometimes to self-reliant and proud to accept such love. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, search my mind for pride.” 

I Find When I Come to Jesus

When I come to Jesus I realize that He has already come to me. I did not have to go far. He made the coming easy by drawing near.

He makes it even easier by knocking on the door of our hearts. All we have to do is open the door. But many things keep us from even hearing Him knocking, let alone opening the door to Him: pride, activity, complacency, inattentiveness to name a few. We must chose to press through these and respond to His knocking.

O Lamb of God I come I come

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 ESV

This verse reminds us that even when we come we are simply responding to the initiative our Lord has taken. If you hear His voice and open the door it is only because He started knocking. Come and open the door of your heart to Jesus again today.

Jesus takes the initiative by coming to the door of your heart and knocking. Have you seen that depiction of the door with no doorknob? He will not burst in, you must welcome Him. He is knocking again today. Will you come open yourself to the love of Your Savior just as you are?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and listen for the knocking. That knocking is not only when we first welcome Him in. We must be mindful to keep opening our heart to Him or we will become complacent. Pray simply, “Jesus, I open myself to Your love again today.“

Lord, thank You for taking the initiative and making coming to you so much easier. If it were not for you doing so I could never have made it. Thank You for being everything I need. In Jesus name. Amen.

Responsive 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
Fightings and fears within without – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/woman-ghosts-depression-throughts-6400073/
O Lamb of God I come I come – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fear-woman-crack-score-furrow-615989/

Just as I am though tossed about
With many a conflict many a doubt
Fightings and fears within without
O Lamb of God I come I come

Just As I Am 1835
By: Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)

Listen to this worshipful version of this 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 beloved hymn come with fresh ears. Sometimes a song can be so familiar some of the meaning can get lost. Try to reclaim a bit of this one as we look deeply at these words. Let’s think about this.

Battle-Tested

Every one of us face struggles in our faith. We often forget that it is faith that either lies at the center of the problem or is the solution to it. What are you facing in this season or even today that is testing your faith?

Maybe it is some internal issue. Something that has you questioning yourself or doubting God. These can easily be the most difficult things to identify because it can be tough to get to the root of the problem.

Maybe it is some external issue. Something that is pinning you to the mat. It may be simpler to identify what is causing that conflict, but it does not necessarily make it easier to overcome.

Internal or external. Fightings or fears. Either way, God gives us what we need to not only identify the struggles but ultimately to face them with courage and faith.

Fightings and fears within without

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Often if not always there is a spiritual dimension in our fightings and fears that goes beyond the physical. Sometimes they are internal and other times external but always real, and ever a threat to keep us from coming to God when by His design they are meant to drive us to Him.

Sometimes the struggles are spiritual which can be very difficult to discern and even more challenging to master. Are you familiar with those fightings and fears that seem to return with regularity? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify them rightly and then bring them to God.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and contemplate your fightings and fears. Have you been able to identify the real issues? If not ask for help discerning them. Then bring them to God for the help you need to deal with them. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, help me discern my fightings and fears.” 

Delivered

Are you able to acknowledge that God allows those challenges to our faith not so much to test us as to provide the tools to overcome them? We often are guilty of questioning why God allows certain things to happen in our lives. It would do us good to first consider what God might be wanting to do in and through those struggles rather than finding the fastest route out of them.

God knows our capacity better than we do. He also understands our propensity to escape those things that will strengthen our faith if we will come to Him in the middle of them. Doing so changes our perspective by giving us the opportunity to ask Him to use them for His glory in our lives and not simpler deliver us from them.

The most important thing is to come to Him. Though our tendency may be to blame Him and complain we would be better served by accepting there is purpose in those dilemmas. Come to the Lord.

O Lamb of God I come I come

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 ESV

When we respond to the fears and struggles by seeking Him and coming to Him He answers us. He delivers us from them though sometimes we still have to go through them first. Will you commit to coming to God when doubts and conflicts arise? It is by far the best choice.

Whether conflict, doubt, fighting or fears, we must learn to allow them only to drive us to God and never keep us from coming. He only allows them for that purpose yet we often fail to acknowledge this, embrace them and bring them to Jesus. Ask for His help to do that today.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider what things may have been keeping you from coming, or what things you have simply not brought to Him. Sometimes we try to act like superheroes, forgetting that we are simply the sidekicks to the real hero in every struggle. Pray simply, “Jesus, help me bring the things that may have kept me from You.“

Lord, thank You for allowing things to challenge my faith. Help me respond to those struggles by coming to You. Forgive me for the times I have failed to do so. In Jesus name. Amen.

Battle-Tested Thinking!

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Image Attribution
Fightings and fears within without – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/woman-ghosts-depression-throughts-6400073/
O Lamb of God I come I come – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fear-woman-crack-score-furrow-615989/

Just as I am Thy Love unknown
Hath broken ev’ry barrier down
Now to be Thine yes Thine alone
O Lamb of God I come I come

Just As I Am 1835
By: Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)

Listen to this worshipful version of this 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 beloved hymn come with fresh ears. Sometimes a song can be so familiar some of the meaning can get lost. Try to reclaim a bit of this one as we look deeply at these words. Let’s think about this.

Crucified with Christ

What is your response to the crucifixion of Christ? Maybe “Thank You, Lord”. Maybe “Hallelujah!” Maybe stunned silence “the hour you first believed”.

We must carefully consider our response. It must not be haphazard or lacking thoughtfulness. The action that broke every barrier down demands an appropriate response. Another hymn says it like this…

Love so amazing so Divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

It could be argued that offering ourselves entirely is the only appropriate response. Scripture bears out that truth as well. Can you say with Charlotte Eliott…

Now to be Thine yes Thine alone

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20a ESV

Having broken down all those barriers and ushering in His peace He enables us to be His. That requires us to die daily to ourselves so that we may live for Him. That is our response to His love: demonstrating we are His by allowing Him to live in us. What will that look like today?

My response to all that love? Giving myself to Him entirely, and Him alone. Easier said than done though. There are so many other things that come along that I want to give myself to, but I must remember that I have given myself to Him and must continue to do so.

 

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and contemplate your response to the crucifixion. How did you respond when you first opened your eyes of faith? How are you responding to it this week? Pray this simple prayer, “God, help me give myself to you and you alone every day.” 

Living By Faith

We should live our lives by faith, continually coming to the Lamb of God. There is a sense in which He is ever before us, drawing us heavenward and upward in a great procession of saving faith. Every moment of every day in every single pursuit this overarching purpose must be seen, coming to the Lamb of God who gave Himself for me.

Singing this hymn in or out of church? Yes. Driving down the road? Yes. Speaking to my family, a neighbor or co-worker? Yes. Spending my money? Yes. Fill in the blank ________? Still yes.

Learning to come through every activity in life is part of what living by faith means.

O Lamb of God I come I come

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20b ESV

As we come to him, we do so acknowledging our desire to live by faith in His Son. It is imperative that we acknowledge that because our flesh will war against it at every opportunity. We come to give our lives to Him because He came to give His life to us.

When I come to Him I am reminded that I need to continue to give myself to him as one part of my continual response to the work of His love breaking down every barrier, most notably the one between me and him. Come to Jesus again today and respond to His love.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how you will come to the Lamb of God today. He has already broken every barrier down so you have no excuse. Pray simply, “Jesus, I come in response to Your great love made known to me.“

Lord, thank You breaking every barrier down and inviting me to offer myself to You as You offered Yourself for me: completely and without reserve. Show me how to do that today. In Jesus name. Amen.

Dedicated 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
Now to be Thine yes Thine alone – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-sunset-humility-devotion-1448946/ (cropped)
O Lamb of God I come I come – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-sunset-humility-devotion-1448946/