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"When Jesus then was born at Bethlehem in Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came Wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is the King of the Jews that is born? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2 The Wise men came ~ seeking only one thing ~ They came to worship Him. Wise men still seek Him ~ To worship Him. We come to Him for many things ~ Seeking answers, seeking things, seeking position, but have we come only seeking to Worship Him? Wise men still seek Him ~ To worship Him. This Advent season I am setting my heart to seek Him ~ To Worship Him. I have many things on my heart these days which can weigh it down, but I am choosing to focus my attentions on Seeking Him to Worship Him. I know the stresses of the holidays can be overwhelming. The gifts to buy, meals to prepare, parties ~ galore, but, let's choose to set aside time and preparations in our hearts to simply come before Him and adore Him, the Christ, the risen King. You see, He is not the babe in the manger anymore. He is the crucified and risen King. The King of our hearts and lives, as we relinquish ourselves and give Him all authority to reign and rule. "O Come Let Us Adore Him," and let us bow before Him as our King. Isn't that what this season of Advent is really all about? ...Coming before Him to adore Him and worship Him... Take time to pause and reflect ~ and Worship. Give back to Him as He has given to you. This season prepares us for the New Year and prepares us for His second Advent ~ His second Coming. Overwhelmed as we may be, He is worthy. The early morning hours are my favorite time of day. I mean the really early morning hours when everything is quiet and still and I can come before Him and find rest and comfort and bring Him Worship... It's our time. This season has meant so much more to me since I have discovered how to set aside time for the Advent devotions and allowed this Christmas season to be a time of "heart" preparation and "soul" searching, seeking to Worship Him, just as the Wise men who came looking for Him did over 2,000 years ago. ~ Wise men still seek Him ~ "Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning: Jesus, to thee be glory given! Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing! Oh, come let us adore Him, Oh, come let us adore Him, Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord." John F Wade 1767 As Women Finding Grace ~ Let's be found this Advent season, seeking Him ~ to Worship Him.
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"And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and the things hid in secret places, that thou mayest know that I am the Lord which call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:3 (Geneva Bible) The treasures of darkness and things hid in secret places...The gifts of our God. That we may know Him by His great name...I Am. "Yea, though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 Walking through the valley, in the shadows we can find the gift of boldness ~ "I will fear no evil" and the gifts of the "rod and staff" signifying "discipline and support". The gifts of God can be found, seen, felt and learned ~ with the correct perception ~ the heart that receives from the hand of God ~ His ways and ideas. From his book The Art of Divine Contentment written in 1653, Mr. Thomas Watson brings out this point, "There are some who would be rich, and fall into a snare (I Timothy 6:9). Are you troubled that God has prevented a snare?" We can be troubled by a great number of things in our lives, but if we could stop and allow God to make us "see" we will find that He has given us gifts, all around us, not as the world gives, but eternal gifts... ~ Gifts from trials ~ The gift of discipline The gift of humility The gift of sight ~ the ability to see as He sees The gift of grace ~ Receiving His grace and learning to give His grace The gift of "knowing the love of God" ~ seeing His love for us and giving His love to others The gift of "knowing the heart of God" ~ Understanding the heart of God through our trials and seeing His purposes, His gifts. The gift of "Submission of our Will" ~ to know His Will The gift of "Laying down our lives" ~ to know His Life You see, God's gifts are quite unique and must be appreciated to be seen. His ways are most definitely not ours. "And though he were the Son, yet learned he obedience, by the things which he suffered. And being consecrated, was made the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Hebrews 5:8-9 By the things he suffered he received the gift of "obedience" ~ "discipline" which also gave the gift of "consecration" or "maturity." The gift of discipline from the Lord leads to the gift of maturity (perfection). How could we not be thankful for that gift? The gift of "knowing" and truly understanding God and His ways. Look for the gifts in the trials... and thank Him for those gifts ~ the deeper gifts. Thank you God for the gift of your Son and eternal redemption, steadfast love and never~ending faithfulness. Thank you Jesus for the gift of your life, your sacrifice ~ not only on the cross, but the sacrifice of a sinless life before the cross. Thank you for the gift of shepherding and all the many gifts that come from that. (Psalm 23) The gifts are endless...We just have to see. As Women Finding Grace ~ Let's look for the deeper gifts this season, and be thankful.
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