Worship The Prince of Peace

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is 9:6

There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby. A child’s bedtime can be the greatest moment of the day. As the quiet settles over the household, dreams are dreamed, rest is renewed and God the Father looks upon His children in complete love.

Over two thousand years ago, nine months prior to Jesus’ birth, Mary received word that her world would be turned upside down. We can only imagine that fear filled her heart and soul. She was the only one who knew the truth; knew that there had never been another man and that the only way she could be pregnant was by a miracle. She was carrying rest, love and the hope of the world within her womb. A quiet peace grew within Mary. His name was God With Us, Emanuel. She carried Emanuel within.

Joseph, upon hearing the angel’s message in a dream, knew that he was to raise the Son of God. He was the man, who by God’ grace, would help Jesus grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. Joseph nurtured God’s Son into manhood. Imagine.

Christ, loving us, became our Prince of Peace in the flesh. Peace wrapped in swaddling cloths. Peace took on flesh. Peace lived out before our very eyes. Peace not as the world gives but as only He can give.

Take a moment to quietly reflect on the Prince of Peace. He longs to speak peace into your soul this very moment. Talk to Him. Tell Him your greatest fear, your deepest joy. Begin with “Jesus, it sure would mean a lot to me if……” You fill in the blank.

Now listen for His word of peace, direction, hope, desire and experience the result of God’s glorious plan this Christmas.

Worship - Value

Have you heard someone say, "I worship the ground he walks on," or "I just adore her"? Usually those words come from young lovers who find the soul mate of their dreams. Those with more life experience generally respond with, "Ah young love."

We respond to what we value the most. For instance, if my husband Dennis seeks time with me, I will drop what I am doing to spend that time with him. But let me get really honest with you. As much as I value Dennis, I have allowed work deadlines to crowd into my time with him, even when he asks for that time. Now I can say I value Dennis (which I highly do) but when I allow the cares of life to crowd out time with Dennis, then my actions speak louder than my words. Those actions communicate that work deadlines, laundry, cleaning or whatever is screaming the loudest is what I really value.

Worship is responding to what we value the most. Let that definition sink in for a moment. Worship is responding to what we value the most. The rest of creation worships God by living out what He has made it to be. Man and woman are the only created beings who can choose to worship or not; who can say they worship but don't.

Sadly I must confess that I allow distractions to rob God of worship. When my actions do not authentically line up with my values, then stress develops in the depths of my being.

Yet God gives us a new day. Today is the day that our Lord has made. It is a day to begin again. It is a day to start out with him, live in response to Him, turn to Him, love Him and worship Him. With our choosing, we begin this day with worship, work in response to God, embrace Christ in worship and minister to the world in response to our Savior.

"Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Psalm 150:1-6

Everyone Worships

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Is. 6:3

This morning as I drove into work, all of creation shouted of God's faithfulness. Our first snow danced before my eyes in response to it's Creator; swirling, dipping, leaping and worshiping my God. The whole earth is full of Papa's glory. Everything and everyone everywhere worships. It is in our DNA. Creation worships without a second thought. Creation responds to God in merely living out each day. Cardinals dot the snow covered evergreens with brilliant red. The sea continues its rhythm lapping up on the shore. Mountains stand in majesty reaching to the sky in worship of the Almighty Creator.

Everywhere people are worshiping. You are a worshiper. All day long, sun up to sun down you are worshiping. You may find that hard to believe but it is true. Because God put worship in your DNA, you cannot help but worship. You can't stop it. Hear me loud and clear, you are worshiping something. It may or may not be God. It may be yourself, your possessions, your abilities or another relationship.

Today's generations are some of the most expressive people around. Watch any televised sport. People paint their bodies, make signs, raise their hands, clap and scream as they watch their favorite athletes on the field. Go to any concert and you will see thousands of people clapping, singing along without thought of their ability to carry a tune (perhaps due in part to their favorite beverage of choice), raising their cell phones and reaching out for a touch from their favorite artist. Even some will cry in adoration for the star that they love. The crazy thing is this is how scripture describes worship. (Yes, even Paul calls us to be drunk in the Spirit.. More on this at another time)

Today our lives reflect what we value the most; what is central in our lives and lies in the depth of our being. Let's be ruthlessly honest for a moment. What do you value? Our standard answer is usually family, jobs, health, and if we are Christians we will say Christ. However, let's take a deeper look. Take a meditative journey, following the trail of your time, affection, energy, money and loyalty. Go ahead, look deeply. Follow the trail. At the end of this trail is a throne. On that throne is what you worship...honestly worship... not what you give lip service to. The trail never lies. Sobering, huh.

Seriously, take time with this journey. Wise men followed a trail that led to the King of Kings. Their knees buckled under them as they gave their possessions and adoration to the Prince of Peace. Shepherds after hearing the Good News from the heavenly hosts, sought the Savior. The course of their trail was forever changed and they praised God for the rest of their days telling everyone. They encountered the Hope of the world. The richest (wise men) and the poorest (shepherds) set out searching and found the treasure of their souls. His name was Jesus, God with us.

Friend, please, now... this very moment... pray with me.

Lord, I confess that more times than not, I have placed other things and relationships on the throne of my life. I have searched for peace, believing that the world could give it to me through possessions, power and pleasure. Nothing has filled me. Please forgive me. I receive you Jesus into my life as the only one who can save me and as the only one who can give me the joy and peace my soul is desperately craving. I need you and want you. I submit to you, believing you have my best interest at heart. Thank you for coming to earth. Thank you for saving me from my sin. And thank you in advance that you will come again someday and will receive me, taking me home to live with you forever.

You were created to worship God in all His glory. Now go! Worship Him.

(For more great teaching on worship, pick up "Wired for Worship" by Louie Giglio. My thanks to Louie and all he has done to take this generation to the throne of God, leading us well and compelling us to worship our Almighty God. Keep leading.)

The Light Burns On

Christmas is filled with gift giving. I generally feel bad when I receive a gift from someone I did not buy a gift for. It is hard to receive. Humility receives while pride causes me to run out to buy extra gifts for those awkward moments.

Diving into God's word is an incredible privilege and pleasure. His Word is truth that never changes. It is a sure foundation on which faith is built. The solid rock of Jesus Christ, who according to John 1 is the Word, provides the very stability that our souls hunger and thirst after. Jesus, being the Word of God, lived out the Father's heart before our very eyes. Through Jesus' deeds and love we see God's Word take on flesh. As Jesus lived out the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit, people were transformed.

The Word empowered by the Spirit brought light into the darkness of our world. This light was unlike any other light. In this light, the cares of the world fall away. Insurmountable problems are crushed in the presence of God's glorious Light. This Light is fueled by the anointing of the Spirit. We are told that all who receive the gift of salvation have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

I am convinced we have far more of the Lord's power and help at our disposal than what we ever turn to or ask for. It also seems to me that the only thing that stands in the way of receiving this power and help is our pride which keeps us from yielding to the Spirit. Yielding to the commands of the Word and responding to the whispers of God requires submission and humility to ask and receive help from the Lord.

Papa respects the boundary of pride. He never crosses over the rock wall around our hearts. Instead, Papa patiently knocks on the door, drawing us to Himself. He waits for our invitation. Invite Papa into the holy sanctuary of your soul. Join Him. Yield to Him. Listen for His whisper. Take in His Word. Be filled with the oil of His Spirit. Receive HIs Light.

Hope

I love Isaiah 61. It is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I go there often when I want to see who Christ is and why He came to earth. This scripture also reveals what is mine through the work of Jesus in my life. As I read it, I feel like Christ must of had me in mind. At various points in my life I have known the dark moments of the soul when hope seemed so far away.

In the past, I have been depression's captive and prisoner. I know the soul ache that does not go away. My kids remember this time as "The Great Depression." Today it is humorous. Back then, it was overwhelming. Unfortunately, I didn't feel safe around other Christians. Fear kept me isolated from the help and blessing God wanted to give me.

Today I am living proof of the testimony that Christ does and will set the captives free. He does and will release the prisoners from their jail. Christ comforts, provides, rebuilds, restores, and renews. He changes our mourning to gladness and our despair to praise. He is all we need.

No matter what you may face or the uncertainty that looms before you, God is faithfully watching over you. In His silence, He is at work on your behalf. Hold on friend. Hope is on the way. His name is Jesus. Reach out for Him. Seek Him now. Satisfy your thirst with His Living Water. Feed your soul with the Bread of Life.