Verse of the Day 12/13

Verse of the Day 12/13

Psalm 84:4-5

New International Version

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

    they are ever praising you.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

Today's verses came from my daily reading in the Psalms.  You may not think of them as being "Christmas" or Advent verses, but take a few moments to consider them today,

The verses speak of those whose "hearts are set on pilgrimage", they are on a journey, a spiritual journey. In this season we can think of the wise men in the Christmas story in search of the coming king, guided by God through the use of a star. They find him and there is a celebration.

Another favorite Christmas hymn of mine is "Joy to the World".  I think of the line "let every heart prepare Him room".  If you are going on a journey, you prepare for it, as the wise men did bringing their gifts to offer to this child, who would be the Savior of the world.  As we head towards Christmas there will be plenty of hustle and bustle but hopefully, as Christians we will not miss the point of all of it, that of worshipping Christ our Savior and King.

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.

As you head out today, set your hearts towards Him, take some time to think of "the wonders of His love" towards you.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Psalm 84:1-5

New International Version

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.