In December 2016, to celebrate the music video for Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing), CCM Magazine did another interview with Rick Lee James. This time it’s all about Advent and Christmas.
I think half of my childhood was spent waiting on Christmas Day. When I was in the first grade I remember lying in bed one cool October night with my imagination running wild, just thinking about what it would be like when Christmas came. Like most 6 year olds, I didn’t have a very good grasp of time. I remember getting out of bed and walking into our kitchen where I heard my mother cleaning and getting our lunches ready for school the next day. I asked her how long it would be until Christmas. When she told me that I still had several more weeks to wait my heart sank a bit.
I was ready for Christmas. I wanted to see my grandparents, I wanted to eat Christmas cookies, I wanted to decorate the tree, and I especially wanted to open presents. The longing stayed with me. The hope, the expectation, the and the waiting were all part Christmas manifesting itself into my world. In my heart Christmas had already arrived, but Christmas Day was still to come. Those are my earliest memories of living in the already and the not yet.
As an adult the waiting and longing in life continues. This past summer–still in the shadow of the loss of my Grandfather only a month prior–I along with many of my family members, waited around the bedside of my Grandmother as hospice was called to administer care. Over several days, she slowly drifted from this life into the next. We sang hymns about heaven with her, we shared the Lord’s Supper, we recited the Apostles Creed as we grieved and steadied our lives facing the inevitable. We were waiting, watching, longing, and hanging on her every breath; wondering which one would be her last. When she waved her final goodbye we were relieved that her suffering was over, we were hurting because we already missed her, and we were heavy with the hope that all believers have. We will have to wait, but we hope in God, knowing will see her again.
My wife and I also experienced two miscarriages this year. The watching, waiting, and longing to see our babies ended in hospital rooms with doctors telling us the babies didn’t make it. As I held my wife in those hospital rooms, I recited the Apostles Creed again, trusting, believing and hoping in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. We needed that hope more than ever before. We still do.
2000 years ago heaven sent a baby into this world named Jesus. The prophets foretold his birth and for many, many years the people of God put their hope in the Messiah who would come to save them from the brokenness of the world in which they found themselves. They watched for him, they waited, they longed and prayed for the coming King, but it seemed that silence was the only reply from Heaven.
But then, in a way they never imagined, the silence of the years was broken. An angel came to Mary and her relatives with a message that the Messiah was coming. One night in Bethlehem as angels sang songs of glory and terrified shepherds trembled in their fields at the heralded announcement of his advent, Jesus the Savior of the world was born. The One who had been watched for, waited upon, and longed for was among us, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger where livestock fed.
God made good on His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. He was a man in the flesh and a Jew by birth; he grew up poor and lived in a small village until the time was right. At the age of 30 he left his home and journeyed into the world doing good, curing people through the power of his Father, teaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and revealing that the meaning of religion is love.
His people rejected by him, tortured him and nailed hands and feet to a cross where he died like a criminal between two theives. He lay buried in the grave, but death could not defeat him. On the third day, he rose from the grave, he revealed himself to his followers, he told them to wait on the Holy Spirit, he ascended into heaven and he is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the Lord and He will come again. We wait expectantly for him to return.
So, once again, we find ourselves waiting; just as we’ve been waiting for 2000 years for a Savior who is, and was, and is to come. We wait in the confidence that all our sins are forgiven through Him. We watch for him, believing that all who have faith in Him must repent, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, and live as citizens of the Kingdom of God. While we wait, we break bread together and in love announce this Good News to others until Jesus comes again: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
I’m still ready for Christmas. I still want to see my grandparents. I really want to hold my unborn children. I still want to eat Christmas cookies, I still want to decorate the tree, and I still like to open presents. Yet the gift that means more to me than any other is Jesus. The longing to see the Savior has formed me. Because he lives I believe I will see my grandparents again. Because he is alive, we believe we will one day hold our unborn children. We believe that one day soon, the the Kingdom of God will come in it’s fullness.
The season of Advent is a season of watching, waiting, and longing for the coming of Christ. With the season of Advent the Christian new year starts and we begin to tell this story of hope all over again. The word Advent literally means coming, in this four week season we are waiting for our Savior who was, is, and is to come. Advent is a season of hope.
“Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing)” is a song of expectation that looks to the second coming of Christ through the lens of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is a joyful song of celebration and a way to retell of the story of Jesus. I’m so pleased that Lifeway Worship has made this song available for churches to use during this Advent season. What a story of hope we have to share.
Check out the release of the brand new music video for Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting Longing).
This blog originally appeared on LifeWay’s WorshipLife blog found at this link link: http://worshiplife.com/2016/11/23/advent-hymn-watching-waiting-longing-by-rick-lee-james/
CCLI features Rick Lee James Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing) music video and sheet music.
Screenshot from CCLITV.com
It was such an honor to discover that the music video and sheet music for “Advent Hymn (Watching, Waiting, Longing)” are being featured right now on CCLItv.com.
In the same way that purchasing a song from iTunes ensures that an artist is properly compensated for their work, CCLI guarantees a paycheck for worship song writers enabling churches to have real-time access to licensed Christian music and media while easing the burden of administration in the many complex issues related to copyright.
Thank you CCLI for featuring my music as we head into the Advent season.
You know how people are always saying that they are “spiritual” but not religious? They mean Spiritual but not faithful, right? I mean Jesus always talked in very concrete terms about faith and he put that faith into action. I don’t believe he ever spoke in “spiritual” terms in any of the gospels. He did however worship in Spirit and in truth, but that’s an altogether different thing than our individualistic emphasis on spirituality. As we reflect this holy week on the path that led Jesus to the cross we should be reminded that Jesus wasn’t crucified for being overly “spiritual”. He was crucified because he posed a threat to the Empire, by revealing who God truly is. He faithfully called people to to devote themselves to the true ruler of the world. Overly “spiritual” people don’t cause much of a stir in this world. “Spiritual” is what Caesar wants us to be so we won’t cause problems. The Empire never likes it when things get stirred up and people start changing their allegiances. “Spiritual” people don’t usually speak truth to power. “Spiritual” people don’t confront Caesar and remind him who the real Lord is. Being “spiritual isn’t much good without being faithful. It takes a faithful person to be involved in the scandalous activities of Christ. “Spiritual” may be what the culture calls us to be,but the call of Christ is to be faithful.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
Reflection
Peter had a problem that I think we can all relate to. He thought himself to be something that in the end he just wasn’t. Eventually, yes, he did lay down his life for Jesus, but at this moment he still had some illusions about who he was.
Can’t we all understand that? We post the best of ourselves to our Facebook walls while in our hearts we know we aren’t that clean and pristine. We want to project an image of ourselves that isn’t the whole picture. We may want to lay down our lives for Jesus, but when that rooster crows, how many times have we found ourselves denying him?
Jesus loved the real Peter . He didn’t love macho, fearless, action hero Peter because that Peter was an illusion. God doesn’t recogize our illusions. It is in our weaknesses that Christ’s power is made perfect in us, and yet we still try to be who we want to be rather than who we really are.
Jason Gray is one of the most thoughtful songwriters of our time. As I read this passage from the gospel this morning his lyrics came to mind. I’ll leave them with you to ponder. On this Holy Week will you have the courage to acknowledge the truth about who you really are so that God can create something more in you, something true that He can use?
“So take a good look in the mirror, can you tell me who you see,
The one who Jesus died for or the one you’d rather be?
Can you find it in your heart to show mercy to the one
The Father loved so much that he gave his only son?”
-Jason Gray “The Golden Boy and the Prodigal”
Consciousness Reflection
How am you really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted? You may be very much at peace, happy to be here. Equally, you may be frustrated, worried or angry.
Prayer:
Lord, I acknowledge how I really am. It is the real me that You love.
Blessings,
Rick Lee James
Holy Wednesday Reflection
Holy Wednesday reminds us that no one is outside of the love of God. There wasn’t a lot of difference between Peter and Judas in their betrayal of Jesus. One faced his guilt with suicide and the other with repentance. Neither of them were outside of the love of Christ. Both were welcomed to the same table, both were offered the bread and wine, and both were loved in spite of who they were, right until the end.
On any given day I can be just as wrong as Peter and Judas in their betrayal of Jesus. Thank God for the hope we have in Christ that leads us back to his heart when we are overwhelmed by guilt. How wonderful that there is mercy for all who will receive it and that we don’t have to end up like Judas, ending our own lives in hopeless despair.
Over the last couple of years since I met Michael Card has been a very kind to me and has embodied what it means to serve rather than to be served. He is a brilliant writer and as I’ve been reflecting on this idea of The Lord extending his love to all, one of his songs called “The Beginning” has come to mind. This song which captures the idea of Gods grace which leads to us restoration not despair. I leave you with his lyrics with you today.
In the beginning was the beginning
And in it all began
All that they had was God and the garden
The woman and the man
Before creation learned to groan
The stars would dance and sing
Each moment was new, every feeling was fresh
For the creature king and queen
But deep in the heart of that beautiful garden
Forbidden truth was found
That they were deceived, disobeyed and were driven
From that holy ground
But beside the tree of disobedience
The tree of life did grow
The gift of its fruit and eternal beginning
But they would never know
The beginning will make all things new
New life belongs to Him
He hands us each new moment saying
My child begin again
My child begin again
You’re free to start again
This very moment is filled with His power
That we might start anew
To break us away from the past and the future
He does what He must do
And so the Alpha brings to us
This moment to commence
To live in the freedom of total forgiveness
With reckless confidence, with reckless confidence
The beginning will make all things new
New life belongs to Him
He hands us each new moment saying
My child, begin again
My child, begin again
You’re free to start again
The beginning will make all things new
New life belongs to him
He hands us each new moment, saying
My child, begin again
My child, begin again
You’re free to start again
Songwriters
Michael Card
Published by
BIRDWING MUSIC;MOLE END MUSIC
Blessings,
Rick Lee James
Maundy Thursday Reflection
John 13: 3-15
And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Imagine that you are one of the disciples in this scene?
What is it like when Jesus, your master and teacher, washes your feet?
What are you thinking as you watch him pour water in a basin and wraps a towel around himself, assuming the position of a servant?
What does it mean that Jesus is washing the dirt, animal feces, and just
general filth from the road off of your feet?
Would you allow him to serve you?
Would you try to stop him from doing this most humble act?
What does it mean that the King of all the Universe doesn’t want to Lord over you, but loves you enough to make you clean, becoming a servant?
Now that he has served you in this way, he instructs you to do the same for others?
Are you willing to serve others in the way that Jesus has served you?
The new mandate (Maundy) Jesus gave to his followers was that they love each other in this way. Love everyone this way. Then he again led by example, and loved to the point of death on a cross, offering not vengance, but forgiveness.
How do you notice yourself reacting as you pray with the Word of God?
Blessings,
Rick Lee James
Good Friday Reflection
Yesterday I asked if you would allow Jesus to wash your feet. Here’s an even bigger question, Would you allow Jesus to die for you? The disciples didn’t want it. Judas hung himself when he realized what he had done. Peter lashed out with a sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the Jewish high priest who came to arrest Jesus. Christ commanded him to put away his sword and he healed Malchus’ ear. (Side Note to all believers, don’t be surprised if people won’t listen to your message about Jesus if you’ve cut off their ear. Violence and even biting words literally take away a person’s ability to listen.)
Pilate seems to have given Jesus every opportunity to get out of the crucifixion, believing he had the power to make a decision like that.
The religious leaders wanted someone else to do it so they would avoid ritual defilement. After all, it was Passover and they wouldn’t be able to partake of the meal if they had blood on their hands. (It’s curious that they saw no reason for plotting a death to keep them from the Passover meal, as if not actually doing the deed yourself exonerated you).
The truth is that no one took Jesus’ life from him, no one could stop him. He willingly laid down his life. Can you look at the Cross and allow Jesus die for you?
What does it mean that God would rather die himself than to take your life?
God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. We didn’t always know this, but we know it now. Everything we think about God is wrong if it isn’t like Jesus. It turns out that God wasn’t wrathful at all. He was literally dying to show us love, forgiveness, and grace. No it wasn’t God that was full of wrath, it was us.
This is God, hanging on a cross, suffering, experiencing the worst that man can do. Deicide, the murder of God is man at his worst. “Father, forgive them”, is God at His best.
Here is a beautiful cover of Sandi Patti’s VIA DOLOROSA performred by by friend Andrew Greer and Ginny Owens. Let it lead you in reflection today.
Holy Saturday
The Light of the world is gone.
Lamentations 3:26
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (ESV)
“What is happening today? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.”
— from St. Thomas Aquinas’ homily on Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday
He is risen, He is Risen Indeed!
I recorded Easter Worship Experience 2014 at First Church of the Nazarene in Springfield Ohio on April 12th, 2014. In the prayer room at my church with no one else present, I played guitar and sang all the songs in one take with no overdubs. I added Pad Loops in post-production but other than that it’s all live. These raw tracks were recorded in a private worship time, with the hope that they will be used to help others worship. These songs, birthed out of a local congregational setting, are intended to guide you to worship the Risen Christ wherever you are in the Easter season and beyond, whether you’re in a church service, in your car, or a private time of prayer. These are not songs of lament, they are songs of celebration telling the story of the Risen Lord. The final track is a song of invitation intended for communion in a congregational setting but it’s also an invitation to enter into God’s Kingdom of grace and peace. May God bless you as you listen and worship along with these songs of resurrection.
This is a medley of songs I’ve written or arranged for Easter Sunday. If it is any help to any worship leaders who may read this blog, all lead sheets are printable for no charge at www.RickLeeJames.com/freesheetmusic
Blessings,
Rick Lee James
Click To Download From Noisetrade
Easter Worship Experience 2014
I recorded Easter Worship Experience 2014 at First Church of the Nazarene in Springfield Ohio on April 12th, 2014. In the prayer room at my church with no one else present, I played guitar and sang all the songs in one take with no overdubs. I added Pad Loops in post-production but other than that it’s all live. These raw tracks were recorded in a private worship time, with the hope that they will be used to help others worship. These songs, birthed out of a local congregational setting, are intended to guide you to worship the Risen Christ wherever you are in the Easter season and beyond, whether you’re in a church service, in your car, or a private time of prayer. These are not songs of lament, they are songs of celebration telling the story of the Risen Lord. The final track is a song of invitation intended for communion in a congregational setting but it’s also an invitation to enter into God’s Kingdom of grace and peace. May God bless you as you listen and worship along with these songs of resurrection.
