The Need For Silence by ems 12/15/21
19th Day of Advent
Week 3: Joy (or peace) ~ Light 2 purple candles and 1 pink candle
Advent Hymn 🎼 Silent Night! Holy Night!🎶
In 1818 assistant pastor Josef Mohr of the small Church of St. Nicholas in Austria was inspired to add verses to a poem he had written a few years prior. His poem painted the picture of the angels announcing the birth of Christ to shepherd on a hillside. With the church organ in need of repair, he sought the church organist Franz Gruber’s assistance to compose a melody that people could sing with guitar at the Christmas Eve mass. When some well-known families of singers heard it, they helped spread the carol across Europe. However, it wasn’t until 23 years later that it was performed in German in New York City’s Trinity Church. Although greatly popular, it wasn’t translated into English until almost fifty years later, in 1863. Today it is sung around the world in more than 300 languages!
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm; all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
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10 “Be still and know (recognize, understand) 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 stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
~ Psalm 46:10-11
When during the course of your day do you experience silence?
Do you protect the quiet areas of your life that you may be RESTored?
Silence is so valuable and missed greatly when we do not have it.
Learn why silence is needed for our well-being.
The Need For Silence by ems 12/15/21
Silence is a valuable tool for our health and well-being. It can be restorative, especially when we are facing stressful situations. Silence is needed to reboot our brains; it brings a quiet stillness. Stillness is a necessary discipline of self-control. We learn to embrace sounds around us and thoughts within honestly with it. Silence often brings peace. Even creation quiets itself as the sun sets, and the beauty of silence blankets the earth for rest.
I often encourage others to protect the quiet areas of their lives.
“Think time” is essential for us to process daily experiences and try to learn from them. Silence is a gift from God that causes us to pause and remember that He is God, and we are not. God is our refuge and strength and is very present in times of trouble. Do we stop, revel in His presence, and crawl up into His lap for comfort and rest?
An assistant pastor penned the Christmas Carol Silent Night as, in quietness, he contemplated the birth of Christ. As the voices of Old Testament prophets ceased, Jesus was born after a 400-year silence of no input from God to humanity. Our Emmanuel’s entrance to the world was not with fan-fare announcements but to a small town, small stable, and revealed to lowly shepherds.
Think of it: God’s greatest gift to us was given unadornedly for the whole world in simplicity.
Do you take the time to listen to God’s voice? Do you search for His input into your heart by reading the Bible? Do you wait in stillness, recognizing His majesty is more than enough to satisfy you and to quiet your fears? May you learn to enjoy silence and make it part of your daily routine.Â
God speaks in such times. May we be willing to listen.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me still and quiet my soul so I might hear Your heartbeat and be refreshed. May I listen earnestly for Your tender words to my heart, and may I embrace the peace that comes from disciplining myself to cease striving and know You are God and that You will be exalted among the nations throughout the earth. How great You are, my God, and how small my fears become in Your presence!
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Learn more about Jesus here:
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
https://watch.thechosen.tv/
The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas
https://youtu.be/lVt14Ug-GOs?si=9eoBBSsVJHHwP3Gp
Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night
https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479?language=en
A young mother labeled “impure.” A shepherd boy considered “unclean.” Experience Jesus’ birth through their eyes as Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story. This special feature also includes an original performance from Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, six favorite songs from the past, and two beautiful new monologues.
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