Yummy Lemon Bar Cookies 🎅 Joy To The World

Joy to the World!

Luke 2:10-11; I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

I enjoy the Christmas season. It’s my favorite time of the year! I like the cheerful decorations, spending time with family and friends, and preparing all the Christmas goodies. And the Christmas carols… I love to sing Christmas carols — and although it wasn’t written as a Christmas carol - “Joy to the World” is one I find myself humming the most!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, and heav'n and nature sing…

This song is based on the 98^th Psalm, and was written by Isaac Watts’s to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. And was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America in the 20^th century. 

The second stanza declares the Savior’s coming - Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy…

This is good news for all of God’s world!

What is so good about this news that is announced each Christmas?

Why do so many sing this carol with such exuberance?

The third stanza answers that question - 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…

Here the composer of this hymn declares that Jesus has come to deal with the curse of human sin and rebellion. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus brings the blessing as “far as the curse is found.” 

In Watts’s hymn, this phrase repeats several times—and for good reason.

For we have been released from bondage to sin and the power of death over us. We are now freed to live with joy, to love God and our neighbor, and to cultivate the earth God has given us.

The last stanza declares - He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love,

So, let’s sing with joy that good news: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come”! 

Like we’re told in the 98^th Psalm –

"Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity." (verses 1-9)

Life Happens – and let us stout His praises… for the wonders of His love!

For Jesus, came to release us from the ­power of sin and death.

And I pray that we will live in ways that proclaim the wonders of His love each and every day!

 😊💕🎅❄️🎁🦌⛄🎄🕯️✝️