Joy

Worshipping Like Wise Men

December 21, 2020 by Ellen Leave a Comment

Today’s reading: Matthew 2:1-12

I can’t fib here, or skirt around the truth: I struggle with worship. Oh, I can praise God for Who He is: God of love, faithful, healer, jealous, provider. I can thank Him for all He does: answers prayer, protects.

But worship? If I praise God for who He is, how then do I worship Him? Because we all know it’s more than just singing songs.

So, I looked to the Magi.

They were foreigners from the East. Although the Magi were Gentiles, they knew what was written by the prophets about Messiah. They followed the star that led to Jesus.

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2 (NASB)

And then?

They rejoiced with great joy.

They fell to the ground in worship.

Finally, they presented Him with the treasures they had brought.

The Magi found great joy in Jesus. We can too, during this season. At times it may be stressful, but we can choose to rejoice that our Savior lives, and that He will one day return for us.

They gave Him their treasures. What treasure do you hold dear? For me, it is control. As I worship Jesus, I can honor Him with my love, and submit control of my life to Him.

The Wise Men worshipped Him. In a literal sense, this means to fall to the ground, to prostrate oneself. But I’ve also found a definition that is befitting worship of the King of Kings:

Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

True worship, in other words, is the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of preferences. True worship is a matter of the heart expressed through a lifestyle of holiness and submission.

We can worship by honoring God with God honoring behavior.

To worship Jesus, we can surrender our treasures to Him in love and honor; we can humble ourselves and bow low before Him; we can recognize His worth, and keep Him top priority during this Holy season – and always!

Points to Ponder:

*What are different ways you can express your worship of Jesus this Christmas? Caroling, giving, finding joy in your circumstances?

*For further reading: John 12:1-8. Mary pours expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. What treasure can you lay at the feet of Jesus?

2018: Year of Joy

January 18, 2018 by Ellen 8 Comments

So, I’m probably a little tardy to the party, but – after much thought and prayer – I have decided on my One Word for 2018.

It seems like everybody in the blogging world has posted their goals and their One Word for the year. Well, I’m not everybody, which I am beginning to realize! I have a few notes about what I’d like to accomplish this year, but they aren’t finalized yet. And it’s mid-January. But, as Lara Casey said there is nothing magical about January 1. Not sure about y’all, but that’s a big ol’ “Praise God” from me because I’m SO slow.

As most of you may know, I had a lot of changes going on at the end of 2017. Some of the changes caused a lot of sorrow. Some I’m just not too thrilled about. I’ve been trying to adjust to all my new normals.

One day, as I was walking into work, I realized I was fussing at myself. Not out loud, by the way!

“Don’t scowl. Don’t be scowling when you walk through that door!”

I just can’t walk through life with a mean ol’ look on my face. I just can’t be that woman, especially as I near sixty years old (that’s a whole ‘nother story, coming soon).

Oh! Off track! Back to my word: JOY.

I prayed about it, waited and listened, and I believe the word God has given me for 2018 (or at least the first season of 2018) is JOY.

At first I thought it may be Abide, from John 15:5. The only thing is, every time I read the passage, verse eleven kept stopping me.

“I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete…” John 15:11 (HCSB)

I need the joy of Jesus in me, don’t you? I need His joy, so that my joy may be full or complete. I had to know more!

I did a quick online search, and found this on BibleHub:
#5479 xará (another feminine noun from the root xar-, “extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”) – properly, the awareness (of God’s) grace, favor; joy (“grace recognized”), xará (“joy because of grace“)

I can be aware of God’s grace in my life, and have joy because of it. I won’t have joy in all circumstances. To be totally honest, I flat out won’t be happy about some of them. But I can rejoice, because of God’s grace gift to me.

No matter what my circumstances, I have salvation, this gift given to me through my faith in Jesus. And the grace of God poured out on me, enables me to walk through any circumstance in His strength, not my own. With joy.

Yep, 2018: Year of Joy!

How about you? Have you prayed about having a “One Word” focus this year? I’d love to hear about it! Please share in the comments.

Grace be with you,