Let Us Adore Him!

During the 13^th century, one individual wrote down the words to what would soon become a beloved Christmas carol, “O Come All Ye Faithful.”  While it is believed that John Francis Wade is the one responsible for bringing these lyrics to the Christian church, uncertainty remains as to who is primarily responsible for the accompanying tune.  Still, one thing will always remain crystal clear: this song is a call for all Christians to adore the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with a renewed joy due to the gratefulness in my heart for the love that He has shown to me every day of my life.  That is why I do not see this song as a Christmas carol, but instead, as an anthem for all Christians everywhere.  We should give praise and adoration to Jesus Christ 365 days a year.  He is so worthy of our praise.  So I invite you to join me.  Come, let us adore Him!

The year was 1745.  John Francis Wade found himself in the midst of a battle between the Church of England and the Church of Rome.  During this time, many Catholics were forced to hide their faith from those around them.  Others fled the country, seeking religious freedom.  John Francis Wade was one of these individuals who chose to leave everything behind on a desperate quest for freedom to worship the one true and living God.  Having found refuge in France, he worked diligently to preserve documents of the church and to transcribe sacred music that otherwise may have been lost forever.  God rewarded his persistence by giving him the ability to write many songs, including the beloved Christmas carol, “Adeste Fideles,” also known as “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Just imagine.  John Francis Wade was surrounded by trouble on every side, being persecuted for his faith and eventually having to flee his home country.  Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, He kept the faith and stood firm in his walk with God.  He knew that giving God praise and adoration was the key to having a meaningful and happy life, in spite of what was going on around him.  In the third verse of this cherished hymn, the lyrics state, “O Jesus!  Forevermore be Thy name adored.”  He did not write, at Christmastime be Thy name adored.  Instead, he wrote “Forevermore.”  Most assuredly, John Francis Wade knew that we should adore the name of Jesus continually, every moment of the day, every day of the year.  Despite the many trials and tribulations in his own life, he remained faithful.

Is there something in your life that is preventing you from praising the name of Jesus Christ continually?  Are you discouraged, due to a failed marriage, difficult financial circumstances, or wayward children?  Is there something at work that just doesn’t feel right and causes you to be stressed or even depressed?  Or is there a dark secret deep inside your heart that no one knows about but God?  No matter what you are going through, Jesus Christ cares about you.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Don’t let the trials of this life weigh you down.  Talk to Jesus and tell Him all of your worries, cares, and fears.  He wants to help you.  He will bear your burdens.  You don't have to do it alone.  Wherever you are, just lift your hands and praise Him for the blessings He has given you.  Ask Him to give you wisdom to handle all of life's twists and turns.  Stand amazed at how God works in your life when you are in tune with His still, small voice.  Listen to Him.  Trust Him.  Worship Him.  Give praise and adoration to the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised!  Don’t wait until Christmas or even until Easter.  Let us adore Him today!  O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

A Grand Adventure!

 As I sit here looking at photographs from my summer vacation, I am reminded of picturesque places we explored, amazing sights we saw, and delightful destinations that I hope to see again.  Above all, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, both to my dad and to my Heavenly Father, for the amazing adventure that I was blessed to enjoy.  While I wish you could have experienced our entire journey firsthand, I pray you enjoy traveling vicariously through my story.  So, pack your bags, grab your passport, and join me as we travel across Europe.  It’s going to be one grand adventure!

One experience that was extraordinary special was our visit to Ephesus in Turkey.  As I stepped off of the bus, the hairs on the back of my neck curled with excitement as I thought about the fact that the Apostle John and Mary had walked on those streets and that the Apostle Paul preached in the theater there.  At the same time, it saddened me to know that they ran him out because they did not believe that there was one true God, shouting, great is the god of Artemis.  Standing in the theater, my dad and I both proudly proclaimed, “Great is the God of the Apostle Paul!”  This day is one that I will always remember, as it was not only exciting to see a new country, but it had a spiritual meaning to my dad and me as well.

Of all of the places we were blessed to explore, one of my favorites was Santorini, Greece.  The brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea crashing against the bottoms of towering cliffs create a sight to behold.  Following a picturesque ride on a tender and then a cable car, we were soon at the top of the cliff where we picked up our rental car for the day.  We drove across the island to Perissa Beach, a beach that has volcanic black sand.  The water was so refreshing and the three and a half hours spent here were paradise.  We stopped at a local bakery on the way back to town and shared some baklava and apple spice cake.  Between the time spent swimming in the crystal clear water and the satisfaction for my sweet tooth, I felt as if I was on cloud nine.

Perhaps my most cherished stop of all was that of Zermatt, Switzerland.  Here, we stayed in a chalet hotel with a balcony overlooking the Matterhorn.  I was in awe of the beauty that was ours to behold.  We had picnics on the balcony and I sat there, glued to the mountain vista as a child might be glued to a television set airing a marathon of their favorite program.  The goats being herded through the streets in the mornings and evenings just added to the atmosphere.  A cable car ride, fondue, and apple strudel rounded out our Swiss experience.  But still, everything else paled in comparison to the beauty of the magnificent Matterhorn.

We encountered so many incredible sights, from the ancient ruins of Olympia where the Olympic torch is lit to the city of Pompeii where structures still stand, even after enduring a massive volcanic eruption.  We stood on the Acropolis in Athens, rode a gondola in Venice, and saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  We walked the wall in Dubrovnik, enjoyed the sights in Paris, and even set foot on the continent of Africa with a visit to Tunisia.  While it was a wonderful opportunity to see archeological sites like the Acropolis or Colosseum, my dad and I agreed that we do not need to see them again.  But when it comes to places like Perissa Beach or the Matterhorn, we could keep returning, time after time, and they would never grow old.  The things that God has created for us to enjoy have a timeless beauty.  They capture our attention, not for a moment, but for a lifetime.  And even greater than our summer adventure, all those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will be going on a grand adventure one day that makes all vacations here on earth pale in comparison.  One day, our grand adventure will not start on a bus, a train, or a plane.  Instead, the true Grand Adventure will begin when a trumpet sounds.  Won’t you join me on the ultimate Grand Adventure?

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer