Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

  Day 4 of playing/practicing through my song catalog. They say parents are not supposed to have a favorite child.  But we all know they do!  This song that I wrote, one of my "babies," is one of my favorites. I wish I would have kept a better record of how I was inspired to write my songs.  I wrote this one so long ago that I honestly don't remember.  But from my sentiment, I will venture to guess that I was seeking God more, wanting God more, needing God more, wanting Him to capture my heart with Himself and His love. Some things never change. I am still seeking God, wanting God, needing God, and desperately want Him to capture my heart with His love. He has done this work in my heart through the years.  But because our relationship with Christ is inexhaustible, there is always more intimacy with Him to seek.  More of our hearts that we let Him into. And though His Holy Spirit filled me the day I was born again, it is a process to allow  Him to fully invade and live in

We are all familiar with the three Wise Men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. One brought gold. The other, frankincense. And the other, myrrh. If you want to learn more about the symbolism of these gifts, you can read more  here. But I want to talk specifically about the gift of gold. What is the "gold" that we bring Him?  What is the most valuable thing that we possess?  Are we giving it, or them, to Jesus to show Him honor and respect? I think of worship.  When we worship the Lord, it is truly golden.  It is precious to Jesus.  When we worship with our whole hearts, it is even more priceless.  He is worthy of all praise, honor, glory, and worship.  So when we give Him what is due Him, we are bringing our best to Him.  It is costly because in the flesh, we are not prone to worship God at all.  So it costs us our "natural" inclinations.  It costs us time and attention.  It costs us focus.  Time is precious and valuable.  So when we give of our time to worship Christ