HE has arrived!!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

(Luke 2:8-15)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

There He is... the newborn King.

The Savior.

Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Shhhhh.... I think He's sleeping!)

...with the Shepherds...

...with the angels...

...with all of heaven and earth...

REJOICE!!

to God be the glory...

For some reason this song keeps running through my mind today...

Truly, great things He has done...for us... and highest on the list is sending His Son... for us...because He loves us so very much. What better song to sing this Sabbath day?! As we begin to prepare ourselves for Christmas--for the very coming to earth of our Savior-- may we sing loudly and from the depths of our hearts in praise of Who He is and what He has done!

To God Be The Glory
by Fanny Crosby

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

celebrate the Sabbath...serving...

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD."

~Joshua 24:15

celebrate the Sabbath...singing for joy!

Give thanks to the Lord,

call on His name;

make known among the nations

what He has done,

and proclaim that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord,

for He has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy,

people of Zion,

for great is the Holy One of Israel among you!"

~Psalm 12:4-6

celebrate the Sabbath...at the Cross...

At The Cross

~Randy & Terry Butler

I know a place, a wonderful place

Where accused and condemned

Find mercy and grace

Where the wrongs we have done

And the wrongs done to us

Were nailed there with Him

There at the cross

At the cross, at the cross

He died for our sin

At the cross,at the cross

He gave us life again

*photo taken at Georgian Orthodox Church near Tbilisi, Georgia

celebrate the Sabbath... worshipping His Majesty...

"Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, unti they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."

~RC Sproul

Majesty (words & music ~Jack Hayford)

Majesty, worship his majesty;

Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority,

Flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship his majesty,

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

celebrate the Sabbath...going away to a solitary place...

When Jesus was tired and the crowds and the 'business of His Father' seemed to become a bit overwhelming...He sought time out with the Father.

He took time to pray.

And to be refreshed in body and spirit...

with a little Sabbath.

"...He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place..."

~Matthew 14:13

celebrate the Sabbath...with praise!

short and simple but so very powerful...

How Majestic Is Your Name

~Sandi Patty

O, Lord, our Lord

How majestic is Your Name

in all the earth

O, Lord, our Lord

How majestic is Your Name

in all the earth

O, Lord, we praise Your Name

O Lord, we magnify Your Name

Prince of peace, mighty God

O, Lord God Almighty

Shout it out! Praise His name!

He is amazing!

And He is worthy of our praise!

seeing the miraculous...

I have been thinking quite a bit the past few days about miracles... how they are more commonplace than we think--if we but have eyes to see...

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush

afire with God;

But only he who sees

takes off his shoes.

The rest sit round it

and pluck blackberries.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

God, we ask that You would mold us into those who would see Your presence and take off our shoes...

HE IS RISEN!!!

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ~Mark 16:1-4

The stone is rolled away...

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ~Mark 16:5

The tomb is EMPTY...

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. ~Matthew 28:5-6

HE IS RISEN!!!

celebrate the Sabbath in song...

A friend of mine lives and works in Brazil, and she recently posted the following worship song on her blog. She had translated it from Portuguese into English, and, for some reason, it spoke to my heart of such depth in its simplicity...

Enter into my house
Enter into my life
Change my structure
Heal all the wounds
Teach me to have holiness
I want to love only You
Because You are my greatest good,
Do a miracle in me.

Yes, Lord, this is my prayer...

reaching upward and outward...

On my recent trip to Arizona, I snapped quite a few photos. One that I really like was a photo of an Acacia tree blossom. I loved it's tiny little fingers reaching up to the sky.



As I was looking at the tree blossom photo on my computer, I kept feeling as though I had seen another of my photos that gave me the same feeling. I dug through my aquarium photo archives and pulled up the photo below:

Two photos.

Two very different subjects-- one a tree blossom and one a sea star.
Both born of the same Creator.
Both reaching upward, outward...reaching for something...

Reaching for sustenance--
one for miniscule sea creatures to eat,
one for sunshine with which to photosynthesize and make food.

Both reaching upward and outward... for life.

We, too, are born of the same Creator.
We, too, reach upward, outward...reaching for something...

Reaching for sustenance... reaching for LIFE.

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

~Psalm 28:2

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

~Psalm 63:4

I lift up my hands to your commands,

which I love,

and I meditate on your decrees.

~Psalm 119:48

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

and praise the LORD.

~Psalm 134:2

May my prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands

be like the evening sacrifice.

~Psalm 141:2

Let us join with creation as we reach upward, outward...

Let us lift our hands and reach out for LIFE...

the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

celebrate the Sabbath in song...

We sang this song at church last night, and it spoke so loudly to my heart... the heavens and the earth shout the glory of God... and the more we see and know Him, the more we love Him!

King of Wonders

by Matt Redman

We could try to count the stars,

You already know them each by name.

Every single galaxy was your design,

Your majesty displayed.

Your glory shines before our eyes,

The more we see, the more we love You

(Chorus)

King of wonders,

we stand amazed,

There’s no other, other than you.

King of wonders,

you know the way to our hearts and

The more we see the more we love you.

You reveal and we respond,

You have shown there’s no one like you God

Your love and mercy welcomes us

Into the beauty of this Holiness.

Your glory shines before our eyes,

The more we see, the more we love You

The more we see the more we love You, God.

~since I don't know how to link the audio to this post, if you want to hear the song, there is a YouTube video of it here...

celebrate the Sabbath with JOY-FULL praise!...(and a contest!)

I thought of so many photos to go with this song of praise, and yet, I felt it best appreciated solely for its wonderful words...

Celebrate the Sabbath today with a song of JOY-FULL praise...

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
in the triumph song of life.

* * * * *

Today is also the celebration of a blog-iversary for me... my 200th post!! And, I would love to celebrate it with you, my faithful "followers" and readers, with a little contest. For all the kind and encouraging words and delightful smiles you've given me with the comments you've left me on these 200 posts, I'd like to give someone the opportunity to win a little prize. I make blank greeting cards with my photos, and I would love to treat one of my blogging friends with a little packet of them. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I will close the contest on Tuesday, Feb 17th at 10am PST, and will randomly select one of the names as the winner. Have a wonderful Sabbath, my friends!

edit 2/23/09 -- my sincere apologies for being so SLOW in getting the winner announced!! i did a double-blind random choosing (that is, written your names on equal-sized pieces of paper, folded them exactly the same, and put them in a bowl from which my co-worker chose the winning name!) of the winner... (drum roll, please....).... and the winner is.....

JERRI!!

celebrate the Sabbath...with praise in song...

It is good to praise the LORD

and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

and your faithfulness at night,

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre

and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;

I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

~Psalm 92:1-4

Charles H Spurgeon (1874) on verses 1&4 regarding SINGING praises:

"It is good to give thanks in the form of vocal song. Nature itself teaches us thus to express our gratitude to God; do not the birds sing, and the brooks warble as they flow? To give his gratitude a tongue is wise in man. Silent worship is sweet, but the vocal worship is sweeter. To deny the tongue the privilege of uttering the praises of God involves an unnatural strain upon the most commendable promptings of our renewed manhood...Our personal experience has confirmed us in the belief that it is good to sing unto the Lord; we have often felt like Luther when he said, "Come, let us sing a psalm, and drive away the devil.""

"It was natural for the psalmist to sing, because he was glad, and to sing unto the Lord, because his gladness was caused by a contemplation of the divine work. If we consider either creation or providence, we shall find overflowing reasons for joy; but when we come to review the work of redemption, gladness know no bounds, but feels that she much praise the Lord with all her might. Ther are times when in the contemplation of redeeming love we feel that if we did not sing we must die; silence would be as horrible to us as if we were gagged by inquisitors, or stifled by murderers. "I sing for joy at the works of your hands." I cannot help it, I must and I will rejoice in the Lord, even as one who has won the victory and has divided great spoil!"

celebrate the Sabbath...with PRAISE...

It is good to praise [thank] the LORD

and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

and your faithfulness at night

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre

and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;

I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

Psalm 92:1-4

Charles H Spurgeon (1874), regarding vs 1:

• "It is good ethically, for it is the Lord's right;
• it is good emotionally, for it is pleasant to the heart;
• it is good practically, for it leads others to render the same homage.

When duty and pleasure combine, who will be backward? To give thanks to God is but a small return for the great benefits wherewith He daily loadeth us; yet as He by His Spririt calls it a good thing we must not despise it, or neglect it. We thank men when they oblige us, how much more ought we to bless the Lord when He benefits us. Devout praise is always good, it is never our of season, never superfluous, but it is especially suitable to the Sabbath; a Sabbath without thanksgiving is a Sabbath profaned."

celebrate the Sabbath... reveling in His creation...

That's what I'm doing today. I and my camera are going to a wonderful beach about two hours from my home. For some reason, it is a beach I really love... very different from the ones right around here, and I usually find some fun sea treasures (or at least a few shells). I'm sure I'll be posting some delightful photos tomorrow to show you some of the glorious creation I shall see!

Celebrate Him today by enjoying what He has made....

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being."

~Rev 4:11

For since the creation of the world

God's invisible qualities—

His eternal power and divine nature—

have been clearly seen,

being understood from what has been made,

so that men are without excuse.

~Romans 1:20

o holy night....

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope-- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

the star is pointing the way
to the birth of our Lord
a babe in a manger
born for us... God in human flesh...

Welcome the child...
Worship the King!

angels we have heard on high...

Angels We Have Heard On High
French carol, ca. 1862

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Joy! Anticipation! Excitement!

He is coming....

(Lord, prepare my heart to receive You...)

the Shepherds' Song...

The Shepherds' Song

It was a dark and starry night; the shepherds quaked in fright
As a host of angels filled the cloudless sky.
They said, "Do not fear...Rejoice! for we are here
To tell you of a child that's born this night."

In Bethlehem He lay in a manger filled with hay,
For there was no room in any of the inns.
There His mother, Mary, smiled as she gazed upon the child,
For she knew that He was born to be a King.

For unto us is born in the City of David
The Son of God, Jesus Christ the King,
God Himself on earth, through a humble baby's birth
Has come to save all people from their sins.

So the shepherds quickly went to see this great event.
They found the baby as the angels said.
Though a king He would be, there were no signs of royalty--
No velvet robe nor a crown upon His head.

But the shepherds, they believed
the word of God which they'd received--
That the Babe would be the Savior of all men.
Messiah was born! The shepherds couldn't wait til morn;
They hurried off to tell the world the news right then.

For unto us is born in the City of David
The Son of God, Jesus Christ the King,
God Himself on earth, through a humble baby's birth
Has come to save all people from their sins.

Now, all who heard were amazed.
The name of God was greatly praised
For the glorious things the shepherds saw and heard.
The Babe, they could see, was fulfilling prophecy.
Once again, the Lord Jehovah kept His word!

So, like the shepherds we should be telling everyone we see
Of the love of God which He so freely gives.
Through forgiveness of our sins, the peace and joy of Christ begins
When within our hearts we let this Saviour live...

For unto us is born in the City of David
The Son of God, Jesus Christ the King,
God Himself on earth, through a humble baby's birth
Has come to save all people from their sins.

(song written by Sharilyn based upon the account in Luke 2:8-20)