Arise, shine...

I listen to it for two or three months, over and over and over.

Handel's Messiah plays via my iPhone as I close the door to my home office and have my morning devotions.  

It plays through my earphones while I go on my daily walk/run.

 I put my phone on the iPhone dock in the living room, 

filling the house with Handel's music as done by the London Philharmonic,

 as I do the dishes and mop the floors.

It's in my mind, my thoughts, my heart, the words of Scripture put to music.

The story of the Messiah, the prophecies of His coming, His birth, His death, His resurrection,

 His return, all there in this heaven born music penned so long ago.

It's my constant companion through the holiday season, 

and even after it lingers in my mind and thoughts.

The words of Isaiah 60 won't leave me.

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

The words become personal.

Him in me and I in Him.

His light filling me so full that His glory is seen upon me.

Me like a God-magnet that others are drawn to.

Not to me, Elizabeth, but to Him, to the Jesus in me.

It becomes a prayer.

Arise.

Shine.

Come.

In the darkness, arise over me.

Let Your glory be seen in me.

Let others come to the Light through me.

It becomes the cry of my heart.

It is the cry of my heart.

Shine, Jesus, shine.

Still following,