Bread for the Journey - First Advent

It was one of those frustrating things.

For days I'd been humming a tune. You know how it is sometimes -

the music returns to mind at odd times during the day and you can't put words to it. After concentrating a bit, I remembered snatches of verse and reached for my hymnbook. When I found the words that matched the music, I was compelled to write them down and meditate on them.

As Advent approaches, I've been thinking of that song. It was written by Gerhardt Tersteegen in 1729 and yet the truth of the song still applies today. God is absolutely Holy and all praise and adoration is due Him.

Although God is holy beyond our human understanding, He loved us so much that He humbled Himself and came as a man to die for our sins. During the Advent season I hope you will make this the prayer of your heart and that you too will bow down in awe and reverence before our God and Saviour.

God Himself is with us: Let us now adore Him,

And with awe appear before Him.

God is in His temple- All within keep silence,

Prostrate lie with deepest reverence.

Him alone, God we own, Him, our God and Saviour;

Praise His Name forever.

O thou Fount of Blessing, Purify my spirit;

Trusting only in Thy merit,

Like the holy angels who behold Thy glory,

May I ceaselessly adore Thee,

And in all, great and small, Seek to do most nearly

What Thou lovest dearly.