There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.
From Jeremiah 17:7: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”
Jack Hyles (1926-2001) was an American pastor, who led his congregation at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana from 1959 until his death. He was well-known for creating a bus ministry to bring people to worship at First Baptist Church.
The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.
The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) was an American pastor and abolitionist.
From Luke 2:8-11: “Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
Humble shepherds
Tending flocks at night
Angel sharing great news
Shining from Bethlehem’s light
Minds awaken
Praising with great joy
Hearts filling with wonder
Witnessing love in this boy
Promise fulfilled
Giving thanks to God
Savior comes to rescue
Raising hope, at last unthawed
Darkness conquered
Forgiving man’s sin
Forever, King of Kings
Locking redemption’s linchpin
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Talent is what you possess; genius is what possesses you.
Age is not different from earlier life as long as you’re sitting down.
Malcolm Cowley (1898-1989) was an American writer, editor, historian, and literary critic.
From Isaiah 9:6: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Ultimate grace appears
Sharing Father’s every love
Savior’s purity shall breathe
Holy Spirit waits above
Virgin mother gives birth
Revealing destiny’s sign
Emmanuel will walk with us
Glory forever divine
Out of darkness stirs light
Echoing heavenly choir
Witness Messiah’s first breath
Peace honors Father’s desires
Come all to Bethlehem
Embracing hope born this night
Answer to prayers arrives
Shepherds praise this newborn Knight
Brilliant star fills with joy
Hearing each mountaintop sing
Timeless pledges beam with truth
Salvation this Prince shall bring
As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their eternal Savior, you are invited to listen to one of the season’s most stirring hymns, “All Come, All Ye Faithful.”
From Psalm 80:3: “Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”
From highest heavens
Father’s love descends
Destiny of hope
Bringing light, darkness bends
Witnessed from above
Father’s love restores
Salvation’s light waits
Rising tides come ashore
Aligned with David
Father’s love defines
Gospel breathes through One
Restoring light divine
Filled with angel’s joy
Father’s love unfolds
Prophecy fulfilled
Embracing light so bold
Virgin carries child
Father’s love reframes
Emmanuel’s light
Bearing peace in His name
From Isaiah 7:13-14: “Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.'”
One of the most stirring of hymns during Advent is “What Child is This.” The lyrics were composed by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. The melody follows the familiar tune of “Greensleeves.” Here is American singer, Vikki Carr, sharing her interpretation of this beloved song.
From Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
God hears cries of anguish
Transmitting hope from above
Heaven’s spirit of joy
Assigning Bethlehem’s love
Out of darkness, light comes
Raising everlasting peace
Filled with harmony’s joy
Granting New Covenant’s lease
Patience fills righteous hearts
Waiting, Savior shall arise
His birth will bring great joy
Shepherding salvation’s prize
Virgin filled with Spirit
Bearing Father’s only Son
Grace reaches out with joy
Praising all that will be done
Prophecy’s truthful sight
Sharing Father’s divine plan
Hearts nourished with His joy
Kneeling before Son of Man
From Psalm 146:8-9: “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin.”
Dawn of new day descends
Sky buckles from thunder
Clouds of darkness contend
Filled with newfound wonders
Storm calms, dances away
Sunny face welcomed back
Good vibes arrive to say
Filled with joy’s precious snacks
Hours pass with timely bliss
Thirsty minutes consumed
Yet, life never amiss
Filled with flowers all bloomed
Moonlight ascends on cue
Tomorrow’s sunlight waits
Every shadow’s breakthrough
Filled with transforming fate
From Romans 15:12-13: “And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Longing for inner peace
Patience fills every heart
Shepherds wonder this night
Spirit’s goodness imparts
Viewing Bethlehem’s peace
Mercy nestled with love
Deliverance of light
Precious to God above
Raising harmony’s peace
Root of Jesse shall bring
Spring of living waters
Hope abounds, joy will sing
Hearing God’s voice of peace
Salvation’s breath of light
Messiah’s truth to come
Angels now taking flight
Shining beacon of peace
Heaven’s intent descends
Hope wakens in stable
Love invites joy, God sends
From Psalm 72:12-13: “For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.”
Gray sky flies overhead
Winter’s cold arrives
Autumn now asleep
Chilling nature’s hard drive
Spirit fills every tree
Spring postpones her speech
Peace lands with each flake
Covering whitest beach
Silence rejoins landscape
Yet, very much alive
Transfusion hidden
Feeding grace to survive
Arctic freeze now coming
Double seal each hatch
Ship awaits next storm
Traversing icy patch
Night’s dreams seeking comfort
Winter’s frost deploys
Hope’s blanket of snow
Snuggling beneath warmth’s joy
Big Sky Buckeye 