"O Come Let Us Adore Him"

 

A Christmas Prayer and Blessing from 

 

Trumpet and Torch Ministries

 

 

 

Dearly Beloved of the Most High God -


I love that Christmas comes at the end of the year.  A year that has been filled with opportunities, challenges, blessings and trials is capped off with a gentle, quiet and holy reminder that we are dearly loved, protected, and cared for by a gracious and heavenly Father who has become for us the embodiment of love.  "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).  O how He loves you and me!  Our compassionate and gracious God deeply desires that we know and experience the heights and depths of His infinite, immutable, and extravagant love!  My hope for you, as we come to the end of 2014, is that, despite impossible circumstances or overwhelming busyness, a year overcome with deep trials or filled with incredible blessing and prosperity, you have grown to experience deeper levels of intimacy with the Lord who has purposed all that He has entrusted to you this year to draw you into the depths of His amazing grace and love.  "God is love" (1John 4:16b).  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose...He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"  (Romans 8:28, 32, 35a, 38-39).

 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God, but God's love does separate us from the world.  In 2014, "The Year of Consecration," the Lord graciously reminded us that we, His children, have been set apart for His special use and service.  There were thousands of believers all across the nation who participated with us and The Family Foundation in the 40 HOLY DAYS of prayer and fasting journey for marriage this fall, who found, that, despite our desire to pray and petition, our beloved Bridegroom had a holy purpose in mind when He set apart that protracted period of consecration.  When we respond to the Lord's prompting to fast and pray His desire is to lead us to closer communion with Him to obtain strength and connect to greater power than we would otherwise possess so that we can handle the challenging and distressing times we are living in.  Our obedience to set aside those 40 Holy Days to seek His holy face in the face of an ungodly age, was met by a compassionate heavenly Father who "heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant" (Exodus 2:24).  And He set out to remind those "who have an ear, to hear" of His unfailing love for His Bride; and, despite what the world has to say about marriage, He is the author of life and marriage and His Word cannot be altered or disputed - it is meant to be obeyed - and His covenant of love will be fulfilled! (Proverbs 14:12; 19:21). 

 

I have found through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting that so often the Lord simply wants to get our attention.  He wants our ear.  So often we rush in and out of the Lord's presence bombarding Him with our petitions that we seldom take time to sit at His table and feast from the abundant banquet He has so thoughtfully and personally prepared for us.  We open our mouths to speak, but He wants us to open our mouths and be filled.  Fasting silences us in the Presence of the Holy One of Israel because our mouths are so full of the richest of fare that we cannot speak, and this affords the Lord the opportunity He has been waiting for to speak to our hearts.  He has so much to say that will calm, comfort, heal, strengthen, encourage, and nourish us, but we must first learn to "Be still, and know that [He is] God" (Psalm 46:10).    May we continue to empty our hearts in His Presence as we come to the Lord in prayer, but learn to linger long enough for Him to fill us with more of Himself as we fast ("feast") in preparation for that great Wedding Feast to come and  in longing for our Bridegroom's return (Matthew 9:15).  Meeting with the Lord is our highest privilege, and it is a sacred honor that has come at the highest cost. When we come to the Lord we will never walk away empty.  He is all the fullness we need.  May we resolve to come often into His Presence in 2015!

 

"O come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye O come ye

To Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the King of angels

O come let us adore Him

O Come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord."

 

In the quiet stillness of that silent night 2000 years ago, the cry that caught the ear of heaven and woke up the world to the dawn of a new day that would shift the hands of time and even change the labeling of the calendar, was that of a newborn baby - and not just any baby - this was the Christ child -  Immanuel - God with us!  The love of God wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger - a gift for the whole world!  This is how He wants us to receive His love: Enter in - tenderly, cautiously, and quietly - with wonder and awe into the presence of innocent, newborn, hopeful, joy-filled life.  How much He adores us to come in such a fragile package, allowing us to hold Him and embrace Him.  This is how He wants to receive our love:  The fullness of His love placed in longing arms, tenderly and carefully holding onto the extraordinary gift we have been given, protecting this love with our whole being, and shutting out the whole world as we focus all our attention adoring His precious and beautiful face. This is how He wants us to share His love with others:  Holding out the precious package for all to admire and receive, joyfully sharing the good news of the blessed arrival of love, and allowing others to embrace this wonderful gift from heaven.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" (John 3:16-17).

 

"Sing choirs of angels

Sing in exultation

Sing all ye citizens

Of heaven above

Glory to God

All glory in the highest

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord."

 

As we come to the close of this Year of Consecration, may we continue to live our lives separated from the world and set apart to God, dedicating ourselves fully for His sacred use and purpose and living holy lives,  for  "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14b).  May we enter 2015, The Year of Adoration, with our hearts open ready to be filled to overflow with the love of God, and our eyes fixed to gaze upon Him in all of His beauty, splendor and majesty, and resolve to give Him all of our love (holding nothing back from Him - He deserves all!), and give away all that He graciously pours into our lives.  May the words of His first Advent encourage us as our Bridegroom continues to sing His perpetual love song over His Bride to strengthen us and prepare us for His return:

 

 "Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you." 

(Luke 1:28)

 

"Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God." (v.30)

 

"What is conceived in you is from the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:20b)


 
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever;

His kingdom will not end." 

(Luke 1:32-33)

 

"For nothing is impossible with God" (v.37)

 

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.

I promised you to one husband, to Christ,

so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him."

(1 Corinthians 11:2)

 

"Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy,

cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

and to present her to Himself, as a radiant church,

without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish,

but holy and blameless."

(Ephesians 5:25-27)

 

Indeed, what has been conceived in us is from the Holy Spirit.  May we tenderly and compassionately care for and nurture this priceless and precious gift we have been entrusted with, and live as pure virgins in an unholy and defiled land so that the world may wonder and be drawn to the glorious light and love of the Lord. "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one many for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you" (Philippians 1:27-28a).  "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16).

 

"Yes Lord, we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all

Glory giv'n

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord."*


 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! 


 

Grace, Peace, Hope, and Love in the Lord,

 

Traci Alexander

Trumpet and Torch Ministries

[email protected]


 
 

Continue your Christmas Celebration with:

 

Epiphany_header  

 

A Twelve Days of Christmas 

Devotional Prayer Journey

December 26th through January 6th

To begin your online devotional journey - 

click HERE

 

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When the Lord called me to a lifestyle and ministry of fasting and prayer 8 years ago, He opened the door to an unending feast of spiritual delights at His abundant banqueting table and turned over the tables of flesh and of earth in my life.  I tasted the sweet, satisfying and sustaining Bread of Heaven and experienced a strength and power I had never before possessed.  Where once I ate to only nourish my own body, through fasting I tapped into the eternal Fountain of all fullness from where I could draw abundant supplies to nourish and strengthen the Body of Christ.  This year give the gift of deepening intimacy with Christ.  Please invite your friends and family to sign up to receive my weekly encouraging email -

"Becoming Broken Bread and Poured Out Wine."  Let us learn to feast on Divine Love this New Year and give Him all the adoration He desires and deserves.   Please visit www.trumpetandtorch.org to access free online devotional journeys to guide you as you daily seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

 
**Please note: If you joined us for 40 HOLY DAYS and would like to continue receiving the Trumpet and Torch email newsletter please update your mailing list profile HERE.
 

 

"The LORD will give strength unto His people;

the LORD will bless His people with peace"

(Psalm 29:11).

 

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Heavenly Father,

You have loved us with an everlasting love

You have drawn us with loving kindness.

We praise You for Your indescribable gift!

There are no words to express the gratitude that fills our hearts for Your extravagant love and extraordinary sacrifice which You have given on our behalf.

I give you all that I am.

I give you all that I have.

My heart is yours.

Take it and fill it with all of You that it can hold.

And let that love overflow into the hearts and lives of everyone You graciously intersect my path with.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for Your Word.

Thank You for the revelation and gift of 

Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Bless all the dear saints who hunger for You

with fresh manna from Your Word to satisfy their souls

and to strengthen their frames so they may be a blessing to others. Nourish Your Body; bless Your Church with unity;

and stoke the dwindling embers of the prayer altar into a raging fire, so that Your house "will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Visit Your Church with power and restore sound doctrine and holy living, so that we can advance Your kingdom and win many souls to Christ.

Keep us waiting,  watching and adoring You

as we pray earnestly and expectantly. 

"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

The heavens are full of Your glory.

May the "earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory

of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Flood this land with righteousness and saturate it with holiness. Bring all men to repentance that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. You alone are "worthy to receive glory, honor, power, and praise."

In the precious Name of the One who

is the embodiment of love -

Jesus Christ.

Immanuel - God with us.

Savior.

Reigning and Coming King!

"Amen!

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!"

(Isaiah 56:7b; Habakkuk 2:14; Acts 3:19; Revelation 4:11; 7:12; 22:20b)

 

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Thank you for your prayers and support for 

Trumpet and Torch Ministries

Your hunger and passionate zeal for our Lord are inspiring and your testimonies of His abounding love and faithfulness are an encouragement!

May 2015 be one continual feast in the presence of the Lord!

 

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"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus

and of the love you have for all the saints -

the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven

and that you have already heard about in the word of truth,

the gospel that has come to you.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

we have not stopped praying for you and asking God

to fill you will the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

and may please Him in every way:

bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might

so that you may have great endurance and patience,

and joyfully giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

(Colossians 1:3-6a, 9-14)

 

*"O Come All Ye Faithful" - Original Lyrics by John Wade; Music by John Reading; English Translation by Rev. Frederick Oakley.

 

Trumpet & Torch Ministries

Trumpet and Torch Ministries, Inc.
a 501(c)(3) Virginia Nonprofit Corporation


P.O. Box 5933
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188

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