Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.
REFLECTION: Written by Vickie Stone
How perfectly appropriate to use Psalms as the focus for this Season of Advent. What other season does music feature as such a significant part of the celebration?! No doubt many have their favorite Christmas carols, yet this year for me, thinking of a song that was especially poignant for 2020 is the song “There Was Jesus”. I only heard about this song when I was on Zoom for the choir’s retreat in September. Renown pianist/lyricist/music arranger Joseph Martin (who has worked with our choir on many occasions) was the guest speaker from Austin TX. He happened to mention he recently worked with Dolly Parton for arranging a song she did as a duet with Zach Williams. Now I adore Dolly Parton- her authenticity and her Christian heart. So when I watched the music video (included below) and then read the lyrics I was captivated by how perfectly this song fit with all the challenges the world has faced in 2020.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.
Pause and meditate on the Scripture.
PRAYER: From a 6th century Gregorian Rite.
O Lord Jesus Christ, by your incarnation you united things earthly and heavenly. Fill us with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill, that we may join the heavenly host in singing praises to your glory; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Click on the link to see and hear the music video.
MUSIC VIDEO: Zach Williams and Dolly Parton: There Was Jesus submitted by Vickie Stone
IMAGE: Yongsung Kim: Calm and Stars
Pathways Press.com 