“(John 1:1) In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…(John 1:14) and the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a very fascinating piece of history that I wanted to share with you. This cultural phenomenon will make you think twice about denying who Jesus is. I thought it would be very fitting for the current Christmas season. 

There is a group of European Jews called the Ashkenazi Jews that have held an inspiring custom for the last 400 years. When their sons are circumcised, the mothers wrap them in swaddling clothes. They then take that garment and decorate it personalizing it to the boy and his family. When the boy comes of age (13) he moves from boyhood to manhood were he is required to recite from the Torah. After he has done so his mother will take those same swaddling clothes (from the child's infancy) and wrap the Torah scroll with it becoming a cherished family heirloom. 

This tradition is particularly interesting because when Jesus was born he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Jesus was and is “God in flesh” but is also known as the “Word of God.” The actual Word of God was wrapped in swaddling clothes just like the Ashkenazi custom. It is astonishing to me how God has revealed Himself here by taking the culture of a people group who will not recognize Jesus as the Messiah and use that as a profound revelation as to who Jesus really is. The living Word of God.

Merry Christmas! 

This year has been such a whirlwind! I have been busy writing new music and playing some amazing church communities across the country. Stops have included San Diego, Albuquerque, Lake Havasu, St. Louis, Silver City, Orange County, Denver, etc! It's been an incredible blessing to be able to see so many old friends and to be making new ones in a refreshing new season of life. I am currently booking dates for the fall/winter so contact us here if you want to bring me in! 

"All to Jesus I surrender 
All to Him I freely give 
I will ever love and trust Him 
In His presence daily live 

I surrender all, I surrender all 
All to Thee my blessed Savior 
I surrender all" 

Thomas Chisholm wrote “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. He lead a very ordinary life selling life insurance. Towards the end of his life he stated, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.” 

Here is the challenge. I can see the unending mercy of Jesus all around me if I can only make myself aware. We are quickly approaching the Thanksgiving holiday and with that in mind, we should put effort into being more grateful in life for the astonishing goodness of our Lord. Try to see all areas of your life, both big and small, that God has so intricately provided for you and be thankful for his faithfulness and I bet you will see more of God's goodness than you knew before. Happy Thanksgiving!

"Great Is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! 
There is no shadow of turning with Thee; 
Though changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not 
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. 

Pardon for Sin and a peace that endureth, 
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, 
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow 
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great Is Thy faithfulness,  
Great Is Thy faithfulness,  
Morning by morning new mercies I see;  
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided  
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!" 

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; 
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. 
Thou my best thought, by day or by night, 
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; 
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; 
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; 
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, 
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: 
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, 
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. 

High King of Heaven, my victory won, 
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun! 
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, 
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."

Click on here to get your copy of "Be Thou My Vision" today.

"What can wash away my sin? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus; 
What can make me whole again? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone, 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus; 
Naught of good that I have done, 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow 
That makes me white as snow; 
No other fount I know, 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

"O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder 
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made 
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder 
Thy power throughout the universe displayed"

(Rocky Mountain National Park)

"My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; 
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 
But wholly lean on Jesus' name. 
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; 
All other ground is sinking sand."

Thes lyrics stand the test of time and give credence to the faithfulness found in the Lord. I think the challenge is that we put in the effort, daily, to build and rebuild our house on the solid rock.

"It is Well With My Soul" echoes in the hearts of Christians around the world since the late eighteen hundreds. This song has a specific and special place in my heart because of the backstory. This story has challenged me to the core to try and find the goodness of God in every hardship remembering that, when you feel the world cracking beneath your feet, Jesus is the only soft place to land.
 
Heratio Spafford is responsible for this timeless anthem. It was 1873 and he had made plans to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, his ship crossed the wreckage where he lost his family, he then penned these words...

"When peace like a river attendeth my way.
When sorrows like seas billows roll.
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul!"

(Original Lyrics)

Hymns: Joey+Rory

Be Thou My Vision
Give Me Jesus
I Need Thee Every Hour
Great is Thy Faithfulness
My Jesus I Love Thee
It is Well With My Soul
On Christ the Solid Rock
 I Surrender All
Nothing but the Blood
How Great Thou Art (You Make My Whole Heart Sing)

I can't wait to share this music with you. I'll keep updating you as we go. Tunes soon! 

Jeff

My hymns record "You Make My Whole Heart Sing" is finished! I am so excited. I will be posting details about release date, track listing, etc. I think you will really love this project! Stay tuned!!!