Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:65
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17
“Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 1 John 5:1
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. John 8:42
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Praise the Lord!
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of JOY.
A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,
A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow
“Behold, the Bridegroom draweth nigh!” Hear ye the often-repeated cry, for blest are they whom he shall find, with ready heart and watchful mind; go forth, my soul, to him.
“Behold, the Bridegroom cometh by!” The call is echoed from the sky, go forth, ye servants, watch and wait; the slothful cannot join his train; no careless one may entrance gain, awake, my soul, before it’s too late.
“Lo! he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending, swell the triumph of his train. Alleluia! Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.”
“Every eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty; those who set at naught and sold him, pierced, and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see. Now Redemption, long expected, see in solemn pomp appear! All his saints, by man rejected, now shall meet him in the air. Alleluia! Alleluia! See, the day of God appear!”
“Christians, awake, salute the happy morn, when the Savior of the world was born; rise to adore the mystery of love, which hosts of angels chanted from above; with them the joyful tidings were begun of God incarnate and the Virgin’s son.”
“Oh, may we keep and ponder in our mind, God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind! Let us trace the babe, who retrieved our loss, from his poor manger to his bitter cross. Tread in his steps, assisted by his grace, ‘till our imperfect state God doth replace.” Thank you, Lord!
“Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.”
We have so much to look forward to, let us go through this Advent Season expectantly. “Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.”
“On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry, announces that the Lord is nigh; awake and hearken, for he brings, glad tidings of the King of kings.”
Lord as we make preparations in anticipation of your coming, may we heed the Baptist’s cry. “Then cleansed be every breast from sin; make straight the way for God within; prepare we in our hearts a home, where such a mighty guest may come.”