Verse of the Day 12/22

Verse of the Day 12/22

Psalm 46:10-11

English Standard Version

10 "Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Today's verses may not often be thought of in relation to Christmas, but in reading them this morniing, the thought of "be still" is one we often need to hear.  With all the hustle and bustle, the search for gifts, the preparations for getting together with family and friends, we don't always take the time to truly enjoy Christmas for what it is.

One of my favorite things around Christmas is the quiet times.  It may be thinking back to Christmas when the kids were little and those times sitting by the tree with just the tree lights on, reflecting on past Christmas's and thinking about what is important in life.  We take time to sing and contemplate the words of hymns such as "O Holy Night", "Joy to the World" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Take some time over the next few days and "be still", knowing and experiencing that God is with us, realizing also that God is our fortress, and in Jesus, "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Him."

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And fathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King,
And peace to men on earth.

3. How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
Oh, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!

Be still, and know that He is God.

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 46

English Standard Version

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present  help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah