{"id":26879,"date":"2020-12-09T22:26:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T03:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=26879"},"modified":"2020-12-09T22:26:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T03:26:40","slug":"worship-wednesday-behold-him-francesca-battistelli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=26879","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Behold Him – Francesca Battistelli"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Bible.org, Suzi Ciliberti<\/a><\/p>\n

The word “behold”<\/a> has fallen to disuse in popular literature, but it is a powerful word in the Scriptures. It is used to draw attention to something – to contemplate, to consider – to look at.<\/p>\n

Certainly, the life of Christ, as Creator, God-man, Savior, and returning Conqueror is something incredible to behold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold<\/strong>, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son<\/strong>, and shall call his name Immanuel<\/strong><\/em> [God with us].<\/em>
\n<\/span>\u00a0– Isaiah 7:14<\/a><\/p>\n

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. <\/span><\/span>Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…<\/span>A voice cries: <\/span>\u201cIn the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord<\/span>; <\/span>make straight in the desert a highway for our God.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nEvery valley shall be lifted up, <\/span>and every mountain and hill be made low; <\/span><\/span>the uneven ground shall become level, <\/span>and the rough places a plain.\u00a0<\/span><\/span> And the glory of the Lord<\/span> shall be revealed, <\/span>and all flesh shall see it together, <\/span><\/span>for the mouth of the Lord<\/span> has spoken.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Go on up to a high mountain, <\/span>O Zion, herald of good news; <\/span><\/span>lift up your voice with strength, <\/span>O Jerusalem, herald of good news;<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nlift it up, fear not; <\/span><\/span>say to the cities of Judah, <\/span>\u201cBehold your God!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nBehold, the Lord God<\/span> comes…<\/em> <\/span><\/strong>– Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-10<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, \u201cBehold, the Lamb of God<\/strong>, who takes away the sin of the world!<\/em>“<\/em> – John 1:29<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The angel said to the women, \u201cDo not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.<\/em> Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.\u201d<\/em> So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them<\/strong> and said, \u201cGreetings!\u201d And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.<\/em> <\/span>– Matthew 28:5-9<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And Jesus came and said to them, \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always<\/strong>, to the end of the age.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>– Matthew 28:18-20<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold, he is coming<\/strong> with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. \u201cI am the Alpha and the Omega,\u201d says the Lord God, \u201cwho is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.\u201d<\/em>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 – Revelation 1:7-8<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Christmas is a time for us to train our eyes, our thoughts, and our heart on the coming Savior. We look back to the prophecies…to his birth in the lowliest of circumstances…to his remarkable life…to his heartbreaking death…to his glorious resurrection and ascension. Then we look to the present Savior in our lives, transforming us as we walk with God…into people who have the power to love like He loves, to serve as His hands and feet, to give witness to His stunning presence in a sin-racked world. Finally, in Christmas worship, we look to the future, to His coming again to take His children Home.<\/p>\n

He is present with us now. We will be with Him forever.<\/p>\n

Behold.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Singer, songwriter Francesca Battistelli<\/a> has given us a song that exposes the pain of this life for so many…and yet she also reveals the great peace and hope we can know even in the hardest of times.<\/p>\n

So thankful we never have to go through whatever life in this world throws at us…alone. “Feel the thrill of hope; you (we) are not alone!”<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me.<\/p>\n

She put up the tree
\nStockings one, two, three
\nThey all know one is missing
\nIt’s been a whole year
\nWithout him right here
\nWon’t be the same kind of Christmas
\nSome years it’s wonder and lights in the sky
\nSome years it’s okay to cry<\/p>\n

In your silent night<\/strong>
\nWhen you’re not alright<\/strong>
\nLift your eyes and behold Him<\/strong>
\nFeel the thrill of hope<\/strong>
\nYou are not alone<\/strong>
\nIn this moment behold Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

December twenty-third
\nFour months out of work
\nAnd the bills just keep coming
\nTrying to stay strong
\nBut he wonders how long
\nHe’ll come home empty handed
\nIn every prayer that you lift to the sky
\nIn every tear that you cry<\/p>\n

In your silent night
\nWhen you’re not alright
\nLift your eyes and behold Him
\nFeel the thrill of hope
\nYou are not alone<\/strong>
\nIn this moment behold Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

Born to seek and born to save
\nBorn to take our pain away
\nGod with us, Emmanuel
\nIn His arms, all will be well<\/p>\n

In your silent night
\nWhen you’re not alright
\nLift your eyes and behold Him
\nFeel the thrill of hope
\nYou are not alone<\/strong>
\nIn this moment behold Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

King forevermore
\nCome let us adore
\nChrist our Savior behold Him
\nFeel the thrill of hope
\nWe are not alone<\/strong>
\nIn this moment behold Him<\/strong>
\nIn each moment behold Him<\/strong>
\nBehold Him<\/strong>*<\/p>\n

*Lyrics to Behold Him – <\/em>Songwriters: Francesca Battistelli, Molly Reed, and Jeff Pardo<\/a><\/p>\n