“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:21
Encouragement
By Ace Collins, “Like so many early Christmas songs, this carol was written as a direct reaction to the music of the 15th Century Church. During this period, the songs of organized religion were usually written in Latin and their melodies were somber and dark, offering singers and listeners little inspiration or joy. In fact, though few admitted it in public, most church members secretly disliked the accepted religious songs of the day. Yet the laymen of the time had no power over the way they worshiped and had to accept things as they were. So, while they continued to go to worship, they created their own church music outside the walls of the cathedrals and chapels. In this way, the peasant class led a quiet rebellion against the tone of religious music by writing religious folk songs that were light, lively and penned in common language. Their Christmas folk songs became the foundation of what are now knows as Christmas carols.”
Being new in faith
I remember as a kid that the church would sing hymns from the hymnal. Everyone stood staring at the book for the words. I refused to hold or look down at the book. I looked right up front for what I could see, mouthed whatever words I thought came close, and pretended that I did not need the book to sing. I wish I was doing it for a different reason, but I wanted to impress everyone who saw me that I knew all of the songs by heart, telling them you want to get to know me because of how good I am. I understand now that growing in faith is a journey, and that God just wants us to experience Him along that path. We are always drawn closer by Him, no matter where we think we are in the journey. The beginning is the same as the end, we are all infinitely separated from God, but by His grace we can be near. Like a phone call, no matter calling to the neighbors house or to a different country, the person is right on the other end of the line. God wants us know He is right here.
I was at a men’s retreat. We had a wonderful day on Friday of hearing 5 different speakers, followed by depth provoking discussions with 4 men at my table. Friday evening for me was easy with a pleasant walk through the woods while following the Stations of the Cross. At my bed I read letters from my family and I completely broke. I felt open to whatever God wanted to share with me, without walls or preconception of what could or could not be. I was ready to follow God completely in my life and to get to know Him on His terms.
Saturday morning we opened with some worship. Unfortunately for me, my seat was now in the very back of the area. Being one of the shorter people there, I could not see our music leader. So, I got up on a chair. I noticed that the view of the room was different. I commented later about it saying this gave me a new perspective.
During worship, I sensed His presence with me. The Holy Spirit was someone who I had not understood at all, who I had more than just a little difficulty acknowledging, and who I did not expect to feel. This was like the sense of touch, but instead of someone placing a hand on my upper back, it came from just under the skin and spread around my back and neck. He told me things like, “That is true”, “I gave inspiration for that”, or “God is that good to do that”.
I would grow accustomed to this sensation over the next several months as I studied the gospels with the eyes of a child. I wanted to know all that Jesus said and did.
I wish to share my stories here about walking with the Holy Spirit, about what God likes to do, and about letting Him do the good that He desires to do.
Doc Dave DeWitt 