Pages

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Joy to the World (Christmas is Far More Than Just a Happy Holiday)


How shallow a happy holiday is compared to the Christmas Celebration
of God's gift to humanity when the fullness of time had come!

This post is inspired in part by Luke 15...

Gal.3:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, 
God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 
5 to redeem those who were under the law, 
that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Hallelujah!
This week's advent theme is Joy...
Joy can seem a hard-fought battle when we focus on what we see without
The world groans with oppression,
with havoc and loss through natural disasters,
with sickness and sorrow,
but, Jesus is still the true light,
Still joy unspeakable
because He is the living hope for humankind...

Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and are filled
with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
1 Pet.1:8






Castles built on the sand cannot withstand life’s stormy cares
Thus, nations disregarding God, (fools, unfaith-flawed) will fall
The One who came to save us and to make us sons and heirs
Is still the Rock of Ages and the Godhead over all

He is not mocked; He who suffered and died to set us free
(Though some may scoff and buffer fear and doubt with foolish pride)
He, to his own a stranger on the earth, left majesty
Laid in a lowly manger at his birth, then crucified

All hail the True Light of the world has come, the Son of God
 Pierces the dark. A star unfurled in sympathy and grace
When all creation groaned beneath oppression's brutal rod
Jesus obeyed His Father and atoned the human race 

He fulfilled mercy’s masterplan, afflicted and despised
King of kings, rejected by man and acquainted with grief
Like a lamb to the slaughter led, eyes esteemed Him chastised
Not knowing yet that His blood shed hope’s bedrock of belief

Then let’s make Christmas more than just a Happy Holiday
Let’s worship and adore the Reason for this season’s joy
Jesus, is mankind’s Saviour still, hope’s confidence and stay
No death-fated dominion will with hate God’s love destroy

Like a banner, let’s lift the name of Jesus above all
And praise Him for the love that came to seek and save the lost
Though He could see the awful price and sorrow of God's call
He saw beyond the sacrifice and deemed us worth the cost

He welcomes home each prodigal and meets us with arms wide
He works in us the miracle of righteousness and peace
By gift of grace the soul is saved and sinner justified
Praise Jesus for the cross He braved, with songs that never cease

© Janet Martin

 'leap for joy, for great is the reward in Heaven'.
Luke 6:23

After hearing that the remaining missionaries that were taken hostage in Haiti exactly two months ago were released today I wept for joy! Pure joy! Praise the Lord!

No comments:

Post a Comment

I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!