Emmanuel #6

-

 

Day 6 From Jealous to Joyful

Simon relates how the song lyric in "O Holy Night" acknowledges our "quest for joy and longing for satisfaction: 'A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.' The world to which Jesus came was curled up in a purpose of weariness from endless striving, strife and want."

Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. The people were looking for a king to be like other nations and in their longing, spurned on by jealousy, they missed the joy of the greatest treasure God has ever given.

"Nothing steals joy faster than jealousy and comparison."

Whew!  Think about Herod. He had some major jealousy issues towards Jesus.

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  1 Timothy 6:18-19

Where are our longings off kilter?  

Do we long to hold things in our hands more than desire You in our hearts?

Pray this prayer written by Ruth Chou Simon in Emmanuel

"Father, we confess that we are people far too easily pleased.  We don't grasp what riches of glory You've purchased for us through redemption.  Help us to treasure You, to find our joy with You, and to be satisfied in You.  Forgive us when we long for what others have, as if You've forgotten us in our need. May we trust You for the path of life-for what is truly life-and know joy in Your presence alone this Christmas. Amen."


The Songs

Joyful Joyful  Reawaken Hymns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yZVweZ2Cvg

or

Joyful Joyful Libera Boys Choir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAkXHhs9vOc


And if you really want a kick of joy or a special song to share with your

children or grandchildren...

Oh What a Glorious Night - Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGLV5CfoTU

Popular posts from this blog

She Fought the Good Fight

-
Image
February 27 Bible Gateway's verse yesterday was: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him . 1 John 4:9 A fitting verse for the day my everyday friend, soul sister, monster of the faith and mischievous partner in crime, Kaye, left this world behind and headed to her heavenly home. My husband was able to be by her bedside and said he knew she heard the words of our faith that he shared. Her sweet daughter held the phone up to her ear so I could say good-bye and the brightest single star you have ever seen shown through my bedroom window as she exited this earth! Yesterday, my heart literally ached so badly that I told the Lord, "Take me too!" Wouldn't she have been surprised if I had snuck up on her in heaven and said, "Thought you were going somewhere without me, did ya." When we received the call she was ready to go, I called out to the Lord for comfort and He led me to the Bible Gat
Read more

Marriage Matters #1

-
Image
One of life's deepest hurts is when the one you love is unfaithful. Forty years ago, I remember an older friend, whose wife had been unfaithful and left him for another man saying to me..."Boo, I hope you never experience having the person you love and are married to, living 8 blocks away loving someone else." Deep hurt. They divorced. The wife of another friend of ours was having an affair with a fellow church member and a neighbor of theirs who lived 5 blocks away. She moved in with this man and our friend said one evening he was walking by the house where they were living together and saw them sitting at a table having a candlelight dinner. Ugh. The torment. I've always said it would be aweful to find out the person you were married to and  loved deeply loved another.  Hmm. We are the bride of Christ.  Is He our first love? 2 Peter 2:14 says: They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed
Read more

Are You Sinking... Being Tossed About?

-
Image
  A text came in from our neighbor recently, on a cold blustery day, when I was home with a stomach bug and awful headache. He said, "My canoe blew off our dock and has floated over to your shore."  And I'm thinking..."And you want me to do what?" I explained my husband was at work, but could help in the afternoon. I went to the window and could see the boat being tossed back and forth along our shore line. One minute it was close to our main dock and the next the winds had shifted and it was 200 feet in the opposite direction.  What I then realized is it had been taking on water. A text came again that he was in his car and driving around to our property.  Climbing out of my night shirt, I put on warm ups, UGGS boots and a hooded coat and limped outside to see how I could help. When I arrived to the shore line, the neighbor had tossed a 3 prong hook tied to a rope into the boat and was pulling it to the shore with one hand.  He had recently had hand surgery and
Read more