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

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 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant;
For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!

Mary’s joyful response to the coming of Christ was to bring praises in song.

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

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.”

Charles Wesley carefully crafts this advent hymn and prayer of celebration and an invitation to bring praises for the coming and arrival of Christ.

PARABLE:  Other than the birth of my own two adored children, I have had the opportunity to be present during two extraordinary births. One was when my friend Mary and I were present during the birthing process of a young Haitian mother at the Northwest Haitian Christian Mission Prenatal Clinic in St Louis Du Nord, Haiti. Spending two days with her in moments of pain and joy of the anticipation of her first child without her husband (he had to work several cities away and could not afford the privilege of taking off work to experience the birth of his child) was a gift. We shared the love of Jesus, pampered her, and passed the lonely moments with reassuring smiles, hugs, and hand-holding during walks. This meant so much to her that she let us name her child. We named her Hope. This honor was priceless.

The second extraordinary birth I experienced was the birth of my great-niece Samina. I drove eleven hours alone and spent several days with my niece before the birth of her first child. When she went into labor, my niece and son also drove eleven hours to be present at the birth. We were on pins and needles counting the hours and praying that the baby did not arrive before they arrived. Ten minutes before Samina came to earth, my niece and son arrived exhausted from the long drive but in joyous anticipation of the birth of this special child. It was as if God stopped time to let them catch up with time and be present for Samina’s birth. This was a special birth and meant so much to us because my niece is the daughter of my sister who had recently passed away. Us being there for this special occasion was like being a proxy for my sister in Heaven. On both occasions, we prayed and gave thanks and praises to God for the coming of the children. While both births were extraordinary, neither were as significant as the coming and arrival of Jesus. 

It is a birth of the past that brought us blessings in the present and in the future. Jesus’ birth brought hope, love, joy, and peace. As the songwriter, I invite you during this advent season to bring your gift of praise to celebrate and reflect on the birth of Christ, acknowledge the gift He gave just for you, and give praises for the birth of Christ who has come to Earth.

Soul care training exercise: Go to him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth. As we experience this advent season, will you take time to Ponder the question “What did the arrival of Christ bring specifically for me?”

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what gift you received from the arrival of Christ? Let it be personal. Perhaps complete the sentence without the birth of Christ I would not have _____________________.
• 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 the gift you have because Jesus was born.
• 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: Abba, I give thanks, I rejoice, I sing praises that Jesus was born for me. Thank you for the gift of love that requires or expects nothing. Accept my response of praise and thanksgiving. Let me accept the gifts of hope, joy, love and peace that come so freely not because of the Advent season but because of the Gift-giver. 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 His hope, joy, love, and peace. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Praises at birth appeared first on Resonant 7.

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I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. It is a continuous mindset thanks God for yesterday, today, and the days to come.

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

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Henry Alford paints the image of gathering a harvest. He looks ahead at the ultimate gathering of Jesus coming for the saints as a reason the thankful people should come and give thanks. We give thanks in advance that Jesus shall come for us.

PARABLE:  I have many vivid memories of the Thanksgiving holiday which span from childhood to adulthood. The common memory that arises is the family Thanksgiving prayer. From the youngest to the oldest, we link our hands together and each person says a sentence prayer of what they are thankful for and why they are thankful. Each year the circle grows with a new toddler added. There is always a young child that stares forward in silence when it is their turn to share their gratitude because it is their first encounter with the gratitude circle. The child’s parent will prompt them by saying, “Just say, Thank you, Jesus!” Reluctantly, the child utters, “Thank you Jesus!” not fully understanding why He is saying this but understanding that reciting the sentence is not an option. 

Then it happens, one of the aunts or uncles gets the privilege to explain “why” we are grateful. Inevitably, a conversation about Jesus will erupt and usually ends in an explanation that we thank God that Jesus is coming back. This conversation is usually far above the comprehension of a toddler but the adults delight in painting the picture of the future and why we thank God in advance. This summer, I had the privilege to witness the “aha” of a great-nephew when he expressed that he understood the coming of Jesus. While we were 0n our family vacation and it was time for the gratitude circle, (yes, we do it at every family gathering and not just Thanksgiving) my great-nephew volunteered to lead the gratitude circle. He began, “I thank you God for Jesus!” and then went on to almost lead an alter call. He gave thanks for the family, for the privilege of vacation, for protection from Covid-19, and finally for the food. It was a priceless moment. The prayer that was planted as a toddler bloomed and my great-nephew knew that he should give thanks in advance for Jesus who is coming back for us.

Ultimately, in my opinion, giving thanks in advance to Jesus who will return to gather us and take us to live in eternity is the greatest blessing we can offer. As you gather this week to give thanks, maybe your sentence prayer will be “I thank you

Soul care training exercise: Come ye thankful people come and give thanks in advance that the Lord shall come. As we experience the blessings and miracles of each day, will you take time to Ponder the question In this moment, why am I thankful that Jesus will return? 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you why you are thankful that Jesus is coming back?
• 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 the things which came to your awareness.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing about the type of gratitude you expressed. Were the first things for the spiritual things of God? Physical things? or People?
• 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: Abba, I give thanks, I rejoice, I sing praises that Jesus will return for me. He will gather me like farmers gather the crops and take me to live with Him eternally. Help me to keep thanksgiving in my heart for the past, the present, and the future. Help me to thank you in advance for what you will do. In the saving name of Jesus, 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 his goodness, compassion, and lovingkindness. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Thanking in advance appeared first on Resonant 7.

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O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever!

Give thanks, for God is good. Give thanks for His compassion. Give thanks for His lovingkindness. Give thanks that His goodness, compassion, and lovingkindness are ENDLESS.

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

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

Henry Alford invites the thankful people to come. Where are all the thankful people?

PARABLE:  The World of Disney’s International Food and Wine Festival is happy place for those who love food. People gathered from all over the world with gratitude that we finally could experience a vacation after being shut in and imprisoned by Covid-19.

Disney groupies from all over the globe transitioned back into vacation explored the festive travels of Epcot Park’s International Wine and Food Festival outdoor venues. Australia features grilled sweet and spicy bush berry shrimp with pineapple, pepper, onion, and snap peas, roasted lamb chop with sweet potato puree, bush berry pea salad, and pistachio-pomegrante gremolato. Belgium tastes erupt with beer-braised beef served with smoked gouda mashed potatoes. Kenya explodes in Kenyan coffee barbecue beef tenderloin with sweet potato and corn mealie pa and kachumbari slaw. The taste of soy-glazed sticky ribs with green onions and peanuts can be found at the Swanky Saucy Swine. Mac and Eats have a unique macaroni and cheese with house-made Italian sausage and peppers. The small appetizer plates tamed my food obsession and gave me an opportunity to taste in abundance. Yet, after a full day in the park, we had only explored one-third of the park.  The Epcot world showcase taste experience is endless.

The taste of gratitude is endless when we focus on the everlasting Goodness, Graciousness, and Generosity of God. It does not run out. His giving is like an endless buffet of mercy, grace, love, compassion, and kindness that refreshes every day. I realize I have been guilty of only counting the big blessings and that every day little blessings and miracles met me like appetizers, wetting my gratitude taste buds, fragrancing my nostrils with the aroma of Thanksgiving. The experiential lessons of Covid-19 continue to illustrate that life is not something to take for granted. The privilege to wake up each day is a blessing. Now I understand why the old timed Saints began their prayers with “I thank God for a reasonable portion of health and strength. For my laying down and rising up. For the use of my limbs.” I resonate with why when they didn’t hear the words, “Thank you God” that they asked the question, “Where are the thankful people at?” and would say “Come ye thankful people come” to the alter.

Though not always, today I can be found being thankful as I respond to to the Saints, “Here I am!” I am grateful. I am here to respond to God with my words of thanksgiving and my heart of gratitude! As I journal my way through November and count my blessings, I realize that the blessings of God are too numerous to count. 

Soul care training exercise:  Come ye thankful people come. As we experience the blessings and miracles of each day, will you take time to Ponder the question In this moment, what are ten things that I am thankful for? 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what things you are thankful for in this moment.
• 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 the things which came to your awareness.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing about the type of gratitude you expressed. Were the first things for the spiritual things of God? Physical things? or People?
• 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: Abba, I give thanks that You are good, generous, and gracious. I am grateful that You are merciful and a Miracle Worker. I am blessed to experience that You are a faithful Father. Help me to continue to count the ways that You are good. I don’t want you to have to look for me and ask “Where are my thankful people at?” I want to bless you for more than what you do. I want to thank you for who You are! In the name of Jesus 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 his goodness, compassion, and lovingkindness. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Where are all the thankful people appeared first on Resonant 7.

Take five minutes Bonus Guided Gratitude reflection.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.

When we are tossed about, Jesus is our rock of refuge, a sheltering stronghold, a fortress that will hold us steady.

PSALM: Just as I am 1835
Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)

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

Some tossings are to tame the waves, overtake our fears, and fight our doubts. Sometimes, the waves of darkness can bring our attention to the Light.

PARABLE:  I begin standing. Bracing myself by sinking my heels in the sand. I slightly trust that I am stable yet doubt that I am grounded enough to withstand the waves. I try anyway. Fighting back my fears. The gentle waves wash over my feet until the big wave comes and washes the sand away beneath me and tosses me to my knees. Eventually, I surrender and come to my knees. I kneel in the sand with the heat of the sun warming my legs. I wait for the cool breeze of the waves to crash on the shore, toss me about, and wash over me. Clinging to his hand, I say to Troy, “Hold me steady.”  Something about tossing when I am on my knees and holding on to Troy’s hand, helps me feel safe and certain. 

I want to trust God in the same way. Yet, I confess there are times when my emotional earth is shaking, when my spiritual confidence is in an earthquake, when my logical mind is drifting, that what I believe at that moment and what I KNOW are at war. That is when, just as I am, I come to The Lamb of God. The one who is tender enough to hold me steady in the waves. I reach my hands to the Son, call upon His name, and hold desperately to His promises. I remember what I know. There is peace available to me in the raging waves. The sinking sand is converted to jointing sand that fills the empty spaces of my anxious heart. My sanctuary, Jesus will find me where the waves of life meet the rock of refuge and sheltering stronghold that holds me steady.

Soul care training exercise:  Situations can appear to crumble the ground beneath us. When the ground seems to give way, you can come to the ROCK that NEVER moves. Jesus will hold you steady. Ponder the question In this moment, what truth do I most need to know about Jesus’ promises to be the constant, steady, Rock of Ages? 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you His promise He wants you to hold on to in this moment.
• 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.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do as you come to Jesus just as you are in this moment. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before.
• Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. With a breath of assurance, breathe in and breathe out and accept what Jesus is offering to you.

PRAYER: Jesus, I come just as I am knowing you are my constant. You steady the waves of my crashing mind. You hold me steady when the chaos is taking my breath away. You are the Breath of Life that leads me back to the truth that fear is a liar, doubt is a liar, and your faithful, constant, steady, kind, and gracious love is true. The tossing waves will be tamed. You will meet me where the waves meet the sand. In Jesus name, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank Jesus that He will hold you steady. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Hold Me Steady appeared first on Resonant 7.

Take five minutes Bonus Guided Meditation Steady.

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