Burst Into Song

Psalm 98:4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

When’s the last time you “burst” into song?

Was it when the radio was playing a Christmas tune that filled your heart with joy?

Was it when your kids were going to sleep and you couldn’t help but sing over the joy their sweet faces brought to your heart?

Was it when others were singing around you in a service of praise, and you too felt you had to exalt His name?

There are times when we ought to burst into jubilant song because we feel as though we will explode if we don’t.

If that experience was too long ago to remember, start shouting for joy today, and see if you don’t burst into a song you know, lyrics you love, or one that comes spontaneously to you that you just can’t stop from singing….

It will do you heart a world of good.

Shouts of What?

Psalm 118:15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

What shouts and sounds take place where you live?

Are there shouts of anger and frustration, sounds of sarcasm, fear, and mistrust? 

Sometimes our homes are full of nothing but loud complaints and condemnation of everything and everyone.  We don’t realize it, but we become overrun with the details of life and the noise in our home is deafening as we all go about our busyness and voices resound as grating as the scraping of nails on a chalkboard, until we all want to cover our ears and yell, “Stop!”

Inside the “tents of the righteous” should be shouts of joy and victory because of what the Lord has done for us.

When we wake, we can voice our anticipation of a good day full of good things from a good God.

We can share with our family the goodness of God by thanking him for the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the car we drive.

We can recall his faithfulness yesterday and proclaim his goodness for tomorrow, as we live for today.

What sounds are heard where you live, in the ears of those in your home?

Resounding Joy

Psalm 98: 7,8 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

Have you heard the sea “resound?” Have you listened to the ocean in a seashell?  Have you sat and listened to the waves lap against the shore?  That’s the sea singing for joy.

Have you sat by a river and heard it rush by over rocks, as it flows toward its destination? Or have you floated down a river as it moves you along without any effort of your own?  That’s the river clapping its hands for joy.

Have you observed the mountains and their beauty as the sun sets behind them, or as they change colors with the sunrise?  That’s the mountains singing for joy, as they respond to the sun.

We can observe all of nature and see God’s glory and splendor and join in the joyous celebration, or we can stay inside and look at our four walls and feel closed in and sad.

It’s our choice.

Slippery Feet

Psalm 94: 18,19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Support and consolation, two things we need daily and throughout our lives. 

Every day we encounter circumstances or feelings or thoughts that cause our feet to feel shaky, as though we’re going to fall.  We need support.

Every day we see or hear or experience sights and moods that tug at our minds and hearts to let in anxiety and stress, and we need consolation and assurance of our future and a hope.

And every day unfailing love and joy is ours from the Lord who loves us with a fierce love, a sustaining love, an eternal love like no other.

Are you slipping and anxious today?  Ask him to bring you joy.  He will.

What Has He Done?

Psalm 92:4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

What deeds has the Lord done for you? 

Start out by recalling the extension of love he sent to you through his son, Jesus, to save you from your sins and bring you eternal life, free of the shame and guilt that sin brings with it.  

That’s a deed worth singing for joy about!

What blessings has he given you and yours this year? 

Start by giving thanks for food, shelter, health, provision, etc. and see if joy doesn’t bubble up…

God is a generous God. I just read a great article reminding me of this here.  

It doesn’t take long to recall his generosity in your life, and that doesn’t take long to lift the burdens of the day into songs of joy that rise to praise Him, for all he has done.

Morning Satisfaction

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,  that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Did you enjoy the gifts you received?  Was someone disappointed because they didn’t get what they asked for?  Are you sad that it’s all over now?

This verse says his unfailing love is satisfying.

Nothing on this earth satisfies because it’s fleeting.  It’s here today (the gifts under the tree) and gone tomorrow.  It’s temporary.  The gladness wanes when the gifts are gone.

However, there is a satisfaction we can experience the morning after Christmas is over.  There are still songs to sing and gladness to have.

Take this psalm and put it to music and sing it as a request to the Lord, asking him to satisfy the longings that were not met this Christmas season.

His satisfaction doesn’t come in the form of a pretty bow on a package.  It comes in the form of peace, hope, and joy that sustains us “all our days.”  

Songs of Joy

Psalm 65:8

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

What a great Christmas Day verse!

Look at what it says!

Everyone (the whole earth) is filled with awe at His wonders. “And wonders of his love…and wonders of his love…” Recognize those lyrics?  Be filled with wonder at his great love FOR YOU.

At the beginning of the day (where morning dawns), early as it may be when your kiddos awake for unwrapping of the gifts, be joyful.  Sing for joy as you rise this morning, even if you’re alone, or surrounded by family.  He is there WITH YOU.

At the end of today (where evening fades) when it’s all over, the gifts are open, and everyone is asleep once again, be joyful.  Sing on your bed songs of joy because he SURROUNDS YOU.

God has songs of joy he has placed deep within your soul when he called you to Him and you answered.  Listen for them. 

Then sing for joy.

Enter In

Psalm 45;15 Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king.

Have you ever been in a king’s palace? I have not.  And I suspect I wouldn’t be that impressed.  No human deserves to be called King, in my book.  And when I see all of the hoopla over Prince William and his wife Kate, I actually feel sorry for people like that who are in the spotlight and every outfit they wear or every hand movement they make is scrutinized and criticized…or copied and adored.

However, imagine with me being led into the place of our King – Jesus.  He’s the one who was born in a manger, of lowly stature.  The one who came and became one of us, lived as we do, suffered more than we do, and conquered death.

He is now exalted over all the earth as King of Kings – my King.

This verse says “led in with joy and gladness…they enter…”

We don’t have to enter the palace in fear that we aren’t dressed appropriately, worried that he won’t have time to touch our hands, or afraid that we aren’t worthy to receive a nod from his head.

We can enter joyfully and gladly, because our King is our Savior – our personal Lord – our God and friend.

He invites you into his presence to sit by him on his throne.  Go on in.  The door is open.  Just skip right in and sit on his knee, unashamed and unafraid in his palace of mercy and grace.

Merry Christmas Eve.

Sorrow Turned

Esther 9:22 ...as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Sounds like Christmas doesn’t it? 

The people realized their blessings, experienced their own sorrows turning into joy, and their own grief transforming into celebration.

And in response to their own release to celebrate, they ate with joy and gave presents of food to each other, and gifts to the poor.

The truth this season is that no matter where we are on that spectrum of life – in the middle of a sorrowful season or not – we are on a journey.  And our sorrow will TURN.   And our mourning will BECOME celebration.

When we experience God’s solace and deliverance, we cannot help but respond by celebrating and having the desire to give and bless others.

As you wrap, prepare your food, and offer your gifts, see it all in a new light this year.  See all of your doing for others as a gift to them in response to your joy, for his gift to you.

See if that perspective doesn’t lighten your load a bit.  

And if someone doesn’t like their gift, sneers at your food, or doesn’t notice your decorate wrapping – who cares?  He notices.  He gives you the permission to be joyful anyway.

Celebrate

Nehemiah 8:12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

There are many verses that talk about celebrating “with great joy,” which is how Christmas ought to be observed.  But for many, joy is the furthest emotion from them at Christmas time.  Maybe you’re one of these.

Perhaps you’ve lost someone this past year, you or a family member is ill, or the work of gifts and wrapping and cooking has left you joyless. 

The reason the people in the above verse celebrated with great joy was because “they now understood the words that had been make known to them.”

Sorrow and sadness are a reality, they’re a part of our lives.   But so is joy. 

And we’re allowed, and even encouraged, to celebrate with joy.  It’s okay to sing a joyful tune, to skip about in glee, or to twirl in excitement with anticipation.

The words that were made known to the world when Jesus was born was that JOY had come to the world.  Jesus was the embodiment of JOY.  He brought joy to a dying world by offering them eternal life and right standing with a holy God.

You have a reason to be joyful today…so celebrate…with great joy.

S & M

I Chronicles 16

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

When’s the last time you witnessed splendor and majesty before your eyes?  I think one of the most spectacular views I’ve seen is The Painted Desert.  What natural beauty, especially as the sun shines across the land and creates a rainbow of color.  Wow, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that picture.

When we experience the splendor and majesty of our creator we breathe in a deep breath and sigh, as we take it all in.  And it’s then that we also have the privilege of standing in his strength and joy.

It’s interesting to note that we take in the splendor and majesty (visual) and then we experience his strength and joy (emotional).

If you have trouble visualizing his splendor this season, take time to sit by a window and just observe.  Either gaze at the lights on your own tree or out the window at the lights down your street.  Think about how those lights dispel the darkness and create ambience at Christmas time, the ambience of hope.  Visualize all of the glory of the Light of the World who came to save, heal, and restore. 

Then just ask Him.  Ask him to strengthen you and fill you with joy as you dwell in his presence.  And worship Him.

A Joyful Sound

I Chronicles 15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

I cannot imagine a Christmas without music.  Christmas music is so joyful, and it’s why I love to play it every day of December. 

In this verse, the leaders are told to make a joyful sound with their instruments. 

For your listening pleasure this evening, here’s one of my favorite joyful Christmas tunes.  Enjoy and be blessed…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC3SwhJsLqU&list=ALGLx1orRGw4XHMaByfswV1cCC0sKIMHqx&index=6

No Change

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Change is part of life, isn’t it?  In fact, I’ve heard before that unless we learn to embrace change, we will live a miserable life.  Changes like job promotions, unexpected gifts, or a new baby bring about joyous occasions to celebrate.  But changes like death, loss of a job, or the unthinkable loss of a child or parent bring about sadness that overwhelms and stops us in our tracks.

God is our constant.  He’s with us in the joyous moments and he’s ever present in times of trouble.

God is light.  He doesn’t go out when life is dark, and he doesn’t grow dim when our path is unsure, and he doesn’t lurk in the shadows playing hide-n-seek with us when we’re lost and alone. 

In him is NO variation, due to change.

So when changes happen in our lives, he’s the foundation on which we stand, and we won’t fall or be crushed under the weight of the tornadic winds that whip through our being.

I don’t like changes of the hard kind, I suppose no one does.  And if I sit and think about the future and the worries of tomorrow, I can produce tears in less than 60 seconds.

This season I hope that we all see the beauty and the peace that comes with knowing God doesn’t waver, because he was, he is, and he always will be.  And he’s the only part of life that offers us that assurance. 

So he’s the only part of life that it makes sense to develop a good relationship with – one of son/daughter to a good father – the Father of Lights.

While you sit and enjoy the twinkle of the lights on your tree and you notice one bulb out, and you think about how you need a few new strands for next year, or you make sure you turn them off when you leave the house so there won’t be fire – give thanks that the Light of the World burns bright, forever, and secure!

Unspeakable

II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Have you ever received a gift from someone that rendered you speechless?  I’m not sure I have.  I suppose if I won a car, a trip, and a million dollars on Wheel of Fortune I might not know what to say.  That would be a gift beyond what I’ve ever received before. 

My parents are giving our family a gift of a trip together this holiday, and I’m amazed at their generosity and humbled that I get to be part of such a beautiful gift of family, but I’m not speechless. 

This verse, however, says that when we give thanks to God, we can notice the great gift he’s given in his Son, and we can be silent in awe at his great love.

“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright…”

Close your eyes and sing that carol, shut out the noises and the lights of the season and forget about the spending and the gift wrap.  Begin to give thanks to God for his son Jesus, and receive that gift afresh and anew daily, amid all the chaos that surrounds you.

Sit in silence, speechless, as you consider the best gift of all.

One of the best things you can do for yourself, your family, and for Him is to honor him with your silence as you sit in reverence and awe at the beauty of the season brought to us by Jesus Christ.

When we take five to do this throughout the day, we will be more pleasant, less stressed, and super thankful – and this peace will permeate our house – so that our entire family is blessed.

Abound in Hope

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Here’s that word again – HOPE.

Here’s that word again – JOY.

Here’s that word again – PEACE.

But there’s a new word in this verse – ABOUND.

HOPE, JOY, and PEACE are lit up around town on houses, in yard signs, on cute little mugs and wall hangings, and all over town!  However, for most, those words are not associated with the power of the Holy Spirit.  They’re associated with wishful thinking of what will be under the tree, giddy excitement over the fun of the season, and the hope of no war among the nations around us. 

However, after Christmas is over, we go back to not seeing those three words around town.  They won’t emerge again until next fall, when Christmas nears again.

I’m one of the many who feels a bit sad when Christmas is over.  I love being surrounded by the lights, the sounds, and the scents of the season and when it’s all taken down and put away, the darkness of the night seems especially dark, once the houses have removed their lights.

In this verse, we are offered to be FILLED with all of those same blessings by believing, and by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit so that we ABOUND in hope all year.

To abound means to “exist in large numbers.”

I want that for me and mine in 2015.  I want to abound in hope.  I want it for you, too.

But...it's Free

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I LOVE the contrast in this verse:

Wages are something we earn by working, doing, meeting deadlines, making a profit, etc.  We put out our best effort, and if we have a kind boss, we receive just wages that might meet our needs.  But after the bills are paid, we need more wages.  So we work some more.

Free gifts are just lying there for the taking, they’re screaming “Take me!” and all we have to do is pick them up.  They are non-discriminatory because they are free to all, to those who pass by, to those who dare to reach and take the tasty morsel, to those who desire to be blessed.

I love it when I pass by Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and one of the workerss is handing out a free taste of that buttery goodness.  I just had a sample yesterday, and it made me smile, it tasted great, and it made me want more.

Jesus does not demand that we put out in order for him to put in his salvation.

It’s ours if we just believe, it’s free, and it’s a gift we’re reminded about every Christmas.

I’m so very thankful I live in a community that still plays Christmas carols, still places manger scenes in their yards, and still says “Merry Christmas” with a smile (at least most of the time.)

This time of year we are reminded what a small distance our wages go.  We budget, we look for sales, and we spend in order to bless others, worried that we won’t have enough to pay bills when the spending is done.

Not so with the free gift of Jesus – it’s the gift that’s on the tray – and he’s offering you a bite.

Taste and see that He is good.

Believe

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I suppose this is the most popular, most quoted, verse in the entire Bible.

And although many of us know it and can quote it in our sleep, we need to know it and quote it again, today, December 15, 2014.

There is so much hope in this verse that we are walking in disobedience if we feel hopeless.  Hope keeps us full of purpose.  Hope gets us up in the morning, looking forward to a new day of wonder and joy.  Hope sustains us in the hard times of life when the ground crumbles beneath our feet.  And HE is our hope – the Son of God.

No matter where you are in your walk with God today, stop and consider God’s love again.  Consider the love of a Father who willingly sent his only Son to be the savior of the world, and then increase your belief and trust in Him.

After all, if he spared not his own Son, will he not freely give you all you need in this life, and in the life to come?

If you’re sitting well and life is good, give thanks.

If you’re standing in the middle of a storm, give thanks.

If you’re lying flat of your back, unable to move, give thanks.

Give thanks for God’s love, believe in his Son, and receive new life today. 

The Message

Luke 2: 10, 11

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The whole message of the gospel is told here by the angel, in this one passage, and it’s the message we all need to hear, and share, at Christmas.

Don’t be afraid.  There is no fear in following Christ, because he brings us peace. After all, he is the Prince of Peace.

It’s good news! Jesus – our Savior – is here – to save us from certain death and offer us life with him!

Great joy awaits you.  Not only is fear not in the equation of a life with Him, but in place of it he brings joy – unspeakable joy – joy to the world.

No one is left out.  Perhaps this is the greatest message some of us need to hear this season. Others may ignore us, treat us wrongly, or even abandon us, but this Jesus – the Savior, Christ the Lord – is available for ALL. 

If we feel we are unworthy, he invites us to come.

Read again the words from the angel and take them to heart. Be at peace and leap for joy.

Visitation

Luke 2:15, 16 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

The shepherds had a visitation from heaven and they responded by obeying what they were told.

I’ve not seen an angel (that I know of) but I have had the Lord prompt me, share with me, or inspire me to see something he has done.  It might be a thought to give or share part of my earnings with a friend in need, it might be a nugget of truth from his Word that changes some dark place in my heart, or it might be a wonder in his creation that makes me stop and pause, and stand in awe.

God revealed to the common shepherds the birth of His son – Jesus – and showed them where to find him, where to worship him, where to adore him.

God wants a relationship with all of us like that, one where we look up, he speaks, and we obey – discovering the beauty and awe and power of Christmas – every day of the year.