Joy

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Are you experiencing joy in your life right now?  I’ve always heard people say that happiness can come and go, depending on your circumstances, but joy lasts and can never be taken away.  I’m not sure about that statement, but I do know that in order to have joy, we must “prepare him room.”

In other words, if our heart is full of hatred, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness (to just name a few fillers), there is very little room for Christ, or his joy.

A heart full of joy sings.  A heart full of joy acknowledges the King of her heart.  And a heart full of joy has very little of anything else but joy!

I know when my heart is full of other things, because it feels heavy, sad, and tight.  I have to make a choice to bend my knee, acknowledge my weakness and let go of the things that weigh me down, in order to make room for joy.

A joyful sound and a disgruntled groan cannot reside in the same heart.  One has to fade, and the other increase.

Which will it be for you, this season?

Do It

Jingle  Bells

I love this Christmas carol, and most kids love it as well!  It’s a kid sort of tune, with lyrics that have often been adjusted to make us laugh (“jingle bells – batman smells”).

Laughing is a good thing.  In fact, this verse says “laughing all the way” on a “one horse open sleigh.”

Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh – o’er the fields we go laughing all the way- bells on bob tails ring making spirits bright – what fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight!

We don’t ride sleighs where I live.  If we ever get snow, it’s usually only a dusting, not enough for a sleigh or a sled!  But I’ve ridden in a sleigh in another city, through the snow, and you can bet I was laughing and smiling.

Life is hard, work is tedious, family is stressful at times, and very often there’s more to frown about than smile.

However, these next few weeks – find reasons to laugh.  If you don’t have a sleigh to ride, then find a place to visit where the lights are twinkling, carols are being sung, and perhaps apple cider is being offered to those who are thirsty.

It’s fun to laugh and sing. 

Do it.  It’s good for your health.

A Glorious Song

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon a midnight clear that glorious song of old – from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold – peace on the earth – goodwill to men – from heaven’s all gracious king – the world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Have you ever met a king of a country?  I have not.  But I can imagine that were a king to visit my street, people would line up along the curb to see him in all of his royalty, and would feel very special indeed if the king himself reached over, bent down, and shook their hands.

This carol is full of just that sort of imagery.

The King of Kings – the gracious one – leaned towards man to bring us hope, life, and peace.

And this leaning was followed by the angels bending to play their harps in a beautiful melody that chimed in with God’s grace extended to all.

And the world’s response was to lie still and listen.

Are you listening to your King and his angels as they bend toward you, today?  

It’s a glorious song they’re singing and playing over you….

Ris'n with Healing

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – last verse

Hail the heav’n born prince of peace – hail the son of righteousness – light and life to all he brings – ris’n with healing in his wings – mile he lays his glory by – born that man no more may die – born to raise the sons of earth – born to give them second birth – hark! The herald angels sing – glory to the newborn king!

Were you ever in a Christmas pageant as a child, wearing angel wings and a white robe that someone made for you out of a sheet?  It’s fun to pretend to be an angel and even more to imagine that we can fly like one!

My favorite part of this verse is the “healing in his wings” phrase. Matthew 4 says this about Jesus: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

This joyful tune rings out every year across intercoms and in churches, as the holidays approach, telling listeners to “Hark!” – “Listen up!” – something good is about to be said or sung!

One part of the good news that Christ came to earth is that he came to heal all of our diseases.  That includes diseases of the body, the mind, and the spirit.  He is the Healer.

Are you sick?  Do you know someone who is ill? 

Sing this song this Christmas loud and clear, and remind yourself that the Healer, the Christ, the Son of God is here, with healing in his wings, for you and yours.

Jesus has the power and authority to heal everything that afflicts us, and it’s a sure promise to those who believe – whether it’s here on earth or as we pass from life on this earth into eternal life with him.

Healing is here!

Good Giving

Good King Wencelas

King Wencelas was considered a “father to the wretched” because he went out in snow and cold to feed the poor and needy.

Good King Wencelas looked out on the feast of Stephen – when the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even – brightly shone the moon that night though the frost was cruel – when a poor man came in sight gath’ring winter fuel …

In his master’s steps he trod where the snow lay dinted – heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed – therefore, Christian men, be sure – wealth or rang possessing – ye who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing!

In Acts 20 it reminds us of Jesus’ words: remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 

At this time of year, more than any other time, we are encouraged everywhere we go to give to those in need.  We can wrap gifts for Blue Santa, we can sponsor a child from an Angel Tree, or we can give money to any number of causes for those less fortunate than ourselves. 

And when we do this, we have the promise that we will be blessed, as well. 

There’s nothing more heartwarming on a cold winter night than to go to bed knowing we’ve given and blessed someone else.  It doesn’t matter how they receive it, if they are thankful, or if they deserve it. 

What matters is that we give.

Rejoice

Last verse of Good Christian Men Rejoice:

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice – Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! – Jesus Christ was born to save – Calls you one and calls you all – To gain His everlasting hall – Christ was born to save – Christ was born to save!

I’m loving these carols and their lyrics!  Who knew they were so full of truth, besides being so festive to hear?

Christmas time is all about rejoicing, not because our world is prospering, not because we are healthy and strong, not because we have lots of gifts under the tree – but because Jesus conquered death!

We don’t have to fear the grave.

And besides that awesome fact, Christ came to save ALL – that includes you and me!  He didn’t come to save the rich, those who look appealing, or those who have the greatest skills.  He came to save all people from all sin for all eternity.

That’s a huge reason to rejoice – today.

O Tidings

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

I like hearing this song when the voices of men ring out this melody low and deep. And I love to hear this carol sung on the streets by wandering singers, as they stroll along.  

The words of this song are powerful, and essential to our lives as believers.

There's a verse that says this in Psalm 42: Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God...

This carol reminds us of the same thing, that there's no reason to dismay.  Why?

It's because Christ came to save us from Satan's power.  Satan wants to destroy our minds, souls, and bodies, but he has no authority to do that - unless we give it to him. Jesus has all authority to save us - if we let him.

That, my friend, is truly a "tiding" of great comfort and joy.

Rejoice (the opposite of being dismayed)!