JOY, THE CHOICE OF CELEBRATING…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE SADDEST TRADE EVER KNOWN TO HUMANITY COULD BE? NO ROOM…
MY MOM TAUGHT ME ONE OF THE SADDEST STORIES OF THE BIBLE… Mom told me of King Herod killing all the baby boys… That was mean. But the story mom told me was of the SON OF GOD that was at the creation. Jesus watched Noah build the ark. Jesus visited Abraham. Jesus was God’s son… Jesus walked down streets of gold… Jesus had a rose garden that had no thorns. Jesus lived where there were no graves and death never visited. Jesus was God’s only begotten son… NO TEARS, NO PAIN, NO HURT, NO HATRED… PERFECTION AND LOVE WAS THE NORM… JESUS TRADED EVERYTHING FOR REJECTION AND TO BE DESPISED AND HATED…
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
I SAID: MOM, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN MARY MY BED…
JOY TO THE WORLD, JESUS GOD’S ONLY SON REIGNS FOREVER AND FOREVER…
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
JOY IS A FREE GIFT TO THOSE THAT WILL RECEIVE GOD’S PLAN. WHERE THERE IS JOY THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MUSIC AND SINGING… MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE…
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 96:2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
A LARGE PART OF THE STORY OF JESUS’ BIRTH IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM SIN AND SORROW. THE CURSE HAS BEEN REVERSED… GOD HAS BUILT A BRIDGE TO THE HOPELESS, LOST AND DYING HUMANITY.
JOY? A SONG OF HOPE?
There was a hymn writer that was very gifted by God. His name was ISSAC WATTS. ISSAC WROTE OVER 750 HYMNS. He wrote “WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS,” “ ALAS AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED,” and he wrote: “O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.”
ISSAC PUBLISHED A FAMOUS SONG IN 1719 THAT WE ALL KNOW: “JOY TO THE WORLD.” The song goes on to say: LET HEAVEN AND NATURE SING.”
Many people think this is a song of the birth of baby Jesus to Virgin Mary. Let us look at this more closely. While the song is about the FIRST ADVENT… much of the song is about the SECOND ADVENT… The song is very prophetic. The song reminds us of WHY JESUS WAS BORN but the song also encourages us TO LOOK FORWARD TO JESUS COMING BACK FOR US. Jesus will show the world and prove HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and WONDERS OF HIS LOVE…
JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD HAS COME…
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…
JOY TO THE WORLD! 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.
NO MORE LET SIN AND SORROW 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.
HE WHO RULES THE RULE 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 AND WONDERS OF HIS LOVE.
JOY IS A CHOICE… YOU CANNOT HELP WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU… BUT MY FRIEND YOU DAILY HAVE A CHOICE OF JOY. HOW YOU ACT AND HOW YOU REACT. Why do we excuse our behavior? Why do we blame others? A BAD MOOD IS A WAY TO PUNISH YOURSELF AND PUNISH OTHERS.
Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
Grippy
NO ROOM… YOU HAVE A CHOICE… YOU MUST REALIZE YOU CAN BE MEAN, GRIPE, ANGRY, BIG MOUTHED, OPINIONATED, NEGATIVE… LIFE AND ATTITUDES DEPEND ON YOUR FOCUS… ALL THINGS ARE GOOD…
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
IS THIS THE HILL I WANT TO DIE ON…??? SMILE, BE KIND, CELEBRATE, FOCUS BEYOND THE NEGATIVES… THIS TOO SHALL PASS… SMILE? GOOD MOOD? TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY! Appreciate the day… This is a good opportunity. I HAVE GOOD NEWS IF YOU CHOOSE…
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
JOY --- GOD IS THE SOURCE OF JOY! IF YOU ARE LACKING JOY, PRAY MORE, READ YOUR BIBLE MORE… TRY MORE OF GOD…
Psalm 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
JOY IS A CHOICE PURPOSEFULLY MADE.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 (MSG) Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13 (MSG) Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
CONCLUSION: WE ARE DESIGNED TO LIVE WITH FULL JOY TANKS… DON’T BE CAUGHT EMPTY.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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