Joy Inexpressible and Glorious

John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name.

 Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

This year, as I re-glued the weathered letters below back together

and pondered the word Joy, it was not without tears,

realizing how, this year I have discovered

a most holy, indescribable joy plumbed from the depths of

heart-wrenching grief!

For our God, acquainted with grief, 

comforts us with unspeakable joy...

Isa.53:3-6

He is despised and [d]rejected by men,

A Man of [e]sorrows and acquainted with [f]grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our [g]griefs

And carried our [h]sorrows;

Yet we [i]esteemed Him stricken,

[j]Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded[k] for our transgressions,

He was [l]bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes[m] we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord [n]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

(read the whole wondrous chapter HERE)

Joy is the outpouring of God's inpouring!

***

1 Peter 1:8

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,

***

Joy is the essence of Hope, hallelujah!

Joy is God's Presence of peace

Joy is believing while not yet receiving

Knowing soon sorrow will cease

Joy is the knowledge that if God is for us

Who can be 'gainst us and win?

Joy is salvation; the soul's separation

From hell and death's curse of sin

Go to, and howl, you rich men full of mis'ry

Joy cannot be bought or sold

Joy is soul's laughter that ripples long after

The glint that delighted earth's hold

Joy is the baby in Bethlehem's manger

The cross where redemption runs rife

Joy is the Saviour who will reign forever

Mankind's resurrection and life

Joy without Jesus is but joy's pale shadow

Fickle as Fantasy's Whim

True joy is Jesus, whose gift of grace frees us

Joy is love's wonder of Him

Joy is the posture of utter surrender

To God, worthy of all praise

Joy is an ocean of unplumbed devotion

Eternity cannot faze

© Janet Martin 

John 17:13

But now I am coming to You;

and I am saying these things while I am in the world, 

so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.

1 John 1:4

We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope

 fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, 

so that you may overflow with hope 

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Nehemiah 8:10

Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet,

 and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, 

since today is holy to our Lord. 

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; 

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

 At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee-Carrie Underwood

Lyrics- Henry J. van Dyke

(story of its inspiration HERE)

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
   God of glory, Lord of love;
   Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
   Op’ning to the sun above.
   Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
   Drive the dark of doubt away;
   Giver of immortal gladness,
   Fill us with the light of day!
2. All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
   Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
   Stars and angels sing around Thee,
   Center of unbroken praise.
   Field and forest, vale and mountain,
   Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
   Singing bird and flowing fountain
   Call us to rejoice in Thee.
3. Thou art giving and forgiving,
   Ever blessing, ever blest,
   Wellspring of the joy of living,
   Ocean depth of happy rest!
   Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
   All who live in love are Thine;
   Teach us how to love each other,
   Lift us to the joy divine.
4. Mortals, join the happy chorus,
   Which the morning stars began;
   Father love is reigning o’er us,
   Brother love binds man to man.
   Ever singing, march we onward,
   Victors in the midst of strife,
   Joyful music leads us Sunward
   In the triumph song of life.