Joy to the World

Joy to the World by Isaac Watts is one of the most beloved of Christmas carols. It is a favorite of mine.







Verse 1
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.

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12


Verse 2
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" Psalm 98:4


Verse 3
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" Galatians 3:13


Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:14


Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Day

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I have much to be thankful for -

I am thankful to God for Kathy. Every day we have together is a gift from God and words do not suffice in expressing my gratitude.

I am thankful for my children - Kirsten, Michael and Stephen. They bring me many more joyful days than I deserve.

I have many more reasons to be thankful but the best reason of all is captured in this passage from Isaiah 12.

You will say in that day:"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:1-4