JOY TO THE WORLD

You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures

forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

For many years, I have loved the Christmas carol Joy to the World. For many years, I didn't really pay much attention to the words. The first sentence of this particular carol is significant, at least as I have seen it.

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME!

I believe it to be a truth that the earth knew no joy until the arrival of Jesus. You see, joy is of God, a part of spiritual fruit. Only believers can know true joy. With the coming of that precious baby boy came a joy the world hadn't or would ever know without Him.

Sometimes in Sunday school we may have been given a good definition of joy: J-esus first, O-thers second and Y-ourself last. In reality, the saying should read: Jesus first, Jesus second and Jesus not even last. Joy is nothing you and I can conjure up, manufacturing or humanly working into our personalities. We may have happiness through serving others and even in having what we might think of as good lives. Joy is another thing altogether.

LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING.

Now we have joy...a joy straight from God, ours for the accepting, enjoying and sharing. May we always be welcoming of that Joy brought to us by a King. .

Help us Father to know the difference in happiness and joy. The world offers happiness in various ways, but Your joy is the real thing. Thank You for that Joy Jesus brought to us and continues to make available to each believer. Thank You too for Your Gift that is joy unspeakable and full of glory. In Jesus' precious name.....Amen 

 

LEST WE FORGET

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103:2

There was a statue that for many years was situated in front of our local VFW in my hometown. It was of what looked to be a wounded soldier and I think the lettering on it was “Lest We Forget.” As a kid when I saw or heard that phrase, I wasn't sure what it meant. Of course later, it took on meaning regarding that and some other things I should never forget about.

We of the older generation are often accused of being forgetful and at times we are. Everyone is at one time or another. What younger folks fail to realize is the older one becomes in age, the more that person has stored in their brains, so, information isn't always easily retrieved when put on a spot.

Feeling forgotten is something just about every human being will sense at one time or another. There is ONE who will never forget any one of us and that's our Heavenly Father. He will never leave us or forsake us, a promise we can hang on to for dear life.

However, how many times do we forget Him and His goodness in our lives? We get busy with holidays and varied celebrations and often our Father is put on a back burner of our lives. God is the nearest and dearest to us...The One who sent His precious Son to this dirty old earth eventually to die for us. It's so easy for us to have lapses of thought and consideration of the One who is the reason for the season...may it never be....lest we forget.

Father God, may I never forget or be thoughtless of Your presence and activity in my life. I never want the things of this world to take presidense over my love attention and appreciation for You. May I never forget how You have worked in my life and loved me when I was so unloveable. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

OBEDIENCE RECOMMENDED

Children, obey your parents

in all things, for this is well

pleasing to the Lord.

Colossians 3:20

When a very little girl, I always knew when Christmas was around the corner. There was no hint of it to speak of. There was no big deal about all the gifts and trimmings until well into December. Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree didn't go up on a stool until sometime later and just before THE day. There was one program at church celebrating Christmas the Sunday evening before Christmas.

So how did a little girl have any big expectation about the holiday. I knew because I was usually asked two questions on the part of family members or close adult friends. One question had to do with what I wanted for Christmas. The next comment with many adults in my life would have to do with my behavior in past days and had I been minding (translated: obeying) my parents. That obedience thing seem to have a lot riding on how many and types of gifts I might receive on that exciting day.

It's odd to me and convicting as well that we have a lot to say about obedience as it relates to children. There seems to be an expectation for them that is off the table for adults. The verse I referred to in this blog is one of few in the Bible where children in particular are admonished to be obedient.

Incredibly, God's Word often speaks of a believers attention to obedience in appropriate areas just as with children and expectations of them in this area. Our obedience toward our Father is essential. We may not receive a trove of gifts at Christmas time for such obedience, but no matter, we are gifted every day from You, our loving Heavenly Father...no holiday necessary.

Thank You Father for the gift of Your Son through whom we are loved and given the gift of eternal life. Thank You for all You all bestow in our lives through Your love, protection and provision. You don't wait for holidays to gift us and we are grateful for Your presence constantly in our lives. In Jesus precious name...Amen

 

The B-I-B-L-E

Thy word have I hid in

mine heart, that I might

not sin against Thee.

Psalm 119:11

Thinking back, I could take you to a side area, like an open room that looked into our church auditorium. That is one of the area's used in the summer for the junior department's Vacation Bible School. Sometimes we spilled into some of the pews in the bigger area for singing or special classes, but that was the VBS home for we juniors at the time.

It was one of those summers I recall memorizing the above verse. In those younger years, we memorized many verses where we didn't quite comprehend their meanings, but the words still stuck at least in my own mind. Around that time, there was also a short chorus we sang with great gusto, that you might remember as well:

“The B I B L E

Yes, that's the book for me.

I stand alone on the Word of God

the B I B L E.”

These days, when teaching adult ladies, I often give them a caution about those early learning days. We often memorized verses or choruses but were too young to really grasp their meanings.

I think most of us struggle with singing hymns of perhaps commitment that we don't pay much attention to when it comes to application. Do I, with anticipation, hide (memorize, meditate) God's Word in my heart. There are many benefits in doing so but the verse mentions keeping us from sin. Again, do I stand firmly on His Word, knowing it's the only true source of my spiritual strength. I'm saying to myself that if I'm going to quote or sing such precious words, I should be sincerely strive to live up to them.

Father, I thank you for precious childhood memories in Your house with Your servants. Thank You for using them to teach me and others the importance of Your Word throughout these years. May I live up to their efforts and Your love in how I regard and live up to Your precious Word. In Jesus precious name....Amen