I can wallow in worry... or I can worship!

Journal entry from:

November 17, 2015

Worship: Shepherd’s Song (God With Us)

On a cold cold night
So long ago
The skies rolled back
What a sight to behold
When an angel appears
To the shepherds and spoke 

Glory… 

As they trembled with fear he said don’t be afraid

Oh, I come with GOOD NEWS. The savior is born on this day,

And it echoed like thunder, as every Angel's voice sang
Glory… Glory…

They sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption have come

They sing Glory to God in the Highest

Emmanuel God with us

And from that night till now that joyous refrain
Oh it grows stronger still in the hearts of the saints
And it cannot be silenced oh we loudly proclaim

GLORY... GLORY…

We sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption have come

We sing Glory to God in the Highest
Emmanuel God with us

Lyric source: http://www.songlyrics.com/hearts-of-saints/the-shepherds-song-lyrics/

Video: https://youtu.be/j8wlM8Zsovw

Witness: A Christmas song already, you ask? Perhaps it has to do with how I felt today as time went on. It started out well with having lunch with my daughter Deborah and Tea my son-in-law. After that, I cleaned the kitchen and went through all my mail that had been piling up. I even ordered a gift for my wife online for her birthday. That proved to be more troubling than I thought it would be. By the time I sat down to my quiet time, I was feeling very tired and frustrated and melancholic. God was feeling far off. Finding a song has seemed challenging lately as well, which only added to the stress level. I typed in the phrase “Shepherd Songs” into the YouTube search box. “Shepherd’s Song” was one of the first songs listed so I thought I would give it a try. I almost clicked the back arrow to return to my search results and pick another song, when I realized it was a Christmas song. However, the tune was catchy and I thought, “Well, I should just watch it and make note of it for later use at Christmas.” I’m glad I did, because this simple song reminded me again, as we have to be reminded every day, that my Shepherd is with me. His name is Immanuel, God with us. That the approaching season, as well as every day, is about what God has and is doing. Even more than that, it is about Him, not me.  “I can wallow in worry and self-pity and take my focus off of Him (which is a form of idolatry), or I can worship Him, work for His glory, and walk with Him Who is ever with me!

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

Yesterday I had nothing to share in the witness section when I entered into that portion of my journaling. Nothing, I say until Immanuel came and filled it. For some, the WORD section may have seemed a little long and dry, because I was quoting a reference work. I hope that was not the case because I think it poured into that one word, translated as “love” or “mercy”, a much fuller meaning. If you missed that, I suggest you reread it. I have reread it several times. Then the phrase “my cup overflows” preceding these words will have a deeper meaning. Time is growing short and I have a few more things to say about this verse. For those who like fast food and hate shopping, this may be bad news. “Can’t we get this verse over with, let alone this Psalm, and get on with the next Psalm?”. I hope no one is thinking that. I originally began this Psalm skeptical that I could say much about it since it was so familiar to me. Boy was I wrong. God, my Shepherd has led me all the way, teaching and feeding me. Even now I have heard several songs that contained a word or thought from this Psalm. Right now a song by Shannon Wexalburg is playing which is causing my Spirit to soar. I end today with the lyrics to this song and a link to the video. After hearing this song, I realize that the phrase “goodness and love (HESED) will follow me the days of my life’’ can be replaced with one word… Jesus!

 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

I could climb the highest heights
Travel far beyond the sky
Even there I know You’d find me with Your love
I could cross the distant seas
Walk through valleys dark and deep
Even there I know You’d reach me with Your love

Nothing can separate me
Nothing could ever take me
Take me from Your love
There’s nothing strong enough
Nothing can separate me
Nothing could ever take me
Take me from Your love
The love of Jesus

Not tomorrow or today
Not my joy or deepest pain
There is nothing that could keep me from Your love
Not in life or even death
Not one pow’r of hell or heaven
For I know You’ll always find me with Your love

There is no fear
I’m in the perfect love of Christ
I’m resting here
And You will keep me through the watches of the night

Video: (I recommend that you watch this. It gives background and context that makes the song even more powerful) -  https://youtu.be/mmQffH5zJIo