Joy to the World!!

For the third year in a row my favorite word at this time of year is JOY.  Christmas has approached quickly this year.  It has snuck up on me and I don't feel like I've dabbled in all of the usual holiday cheer.  But, my presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree so I guess I'm in good shape.  I just have been trying to soak in the wonder of the season and not be carried away with busyness and frustration.  JOY keeps coming back to my heart and mind to draw me in to Him.

As we sang Joy to the World today I couldn't help but feel such an overwhelming understanding of the words to the song.


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 Saviour 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 sins and sorrows 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 rules the world 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, wonders, of His love.

Wikipedia (yes, I wiki) says that "Isaac Watts wrote this hymn glorifying Christ's triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating his first coming."  This is the joy we sing about!  Christ came as a baby to live, die, and be raised to life again so that we may have eternal life with Him. He is coming back to make all things new and to rule and reign on His throne!  What amazing promises for those who believe!

This year has been an interesting year...not by way of adventures, but just in the everyday things of life.  We've had the blessing of good jobs and getting to see our families a bit more but we've also been unsettled at times.  Since moving back to this area, we have known we were probably just "passing through" for a time before moving somewhere else.  So, we've reached the point where we are moving somewhere else--Kentucky to be exact--and we are excited.  We are moving forward pursuing future goals and dreams with Casey starting his PhD program!!  Please pray for us as we pack up and start over again in the next few weeks.

"And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas from the Croys :)