The third week of advent celebrates joy!
Our temporary joys pale in comparison with the eternal joy of Jesus!
Scripture is filled with proclamations of joy!
hallelujah!
...in this world we will have trouble but take heart!
He has overcome the world!
John 16:33
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.
Remain in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love,
just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.
John 15:9-11
The joy that waits to transport us from faith to sight defends
The joy still set before us with the joy God’s Spirit sends
To be a friend and comforter, to anoint lips with praise
For what the Lord has done to fill us with joy all our days
The joy that is complete begins with love’s obedience
To worship He who forgives sins and voids its consequence
He is the Vine, the branch apart from Him can bear no fruit
Of righteousness because the heart denies Truth's Absolute
The soul that is redeemed proclaims God’s goodness all day long
Then bless the beauty of the name that fills our hope with song
For glad tidings of joy, no worldly riches can afford
Bethlehem’s baby boy became our Saviour, Christ the Lord
Let all who believe shout for joy for what the Lord has done
No power on earth can destroy what Calvary has won
He broke the curse of death and hell; the world He overcame
He authors joy unspeakable and Jesus is His name
Let all who take refuge in Him rejoice, yes! shout for joy
For time and trouble cannot dim the Voice of hope's employ
Then, may the joy and peace of God, anoint and overflow
In all we do and say, awed by God’s gift so long ago
© Janet Martin
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By His great mercy He has given us new birthb into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
reserved in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power
for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory,
and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;
and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him
and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
Psalm 5:11-12
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy.
May You shelter them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
12For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;
You surround them with the shield of Your favor.
Such a joy-filled and powerful post, Janet. So much here to mull and ponder! Thank you.
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