The Joy of Advent

Joy

Unspeakable Joy

In the midst of darkness we await.

In labor we groan with longing for release...

for deliverance.

Unspeakable Joy.

When clouds hover threatening and thunder rolls,

when we feel we will drown in the torrent...

we cry.

Unspeakable Joy.

As a shaft of light pierces the black,

as the veil of night spilts, shimmering in the promise of dawn...

we lift up our eyes.

He is coming.

He is coming.

This here and now, 

this struggle to trust as the world weighs heavy,

weighs down our tired feet,

this is not our final destination.

We have not arrived.

He is coming.

He is coming.

Our hearts beat with the imminence.

Joseph and Mary are packing their belongings.

She is heavy.  Tired.  Burdened.

They have set their faces like flint toward their destination...

BETHLEHEM.

The promise is sure.

The prophecies...they are true.  

Can you feel Him?

The babe turns and kicks and nestles down into position,

prepares to be birthed into a world that will reject Him...

a world that will crucify Him.

Unspeakable joy...

for the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

For those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them a light has shone.  (Isaiah 9:2 ESV)

Unspeakable joy...

Yes, we are a people of joy.

Despite pain and persecution,

despite the forces of darkness that try to turn our focus off of Jesus,

we are a people of joy.

We WILL see a great light.

His light WILL shine.

He comes to die, he dies to live.

He lives in us.

The promise is sure.

The prophecies...they are true.

We, the people of joy,

can light the candles and sing because

JESUS,

the promised one,

our King,

the Lover of our souls...

He is awakening our souls!

Sing..."A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!"

Yes, our Savior is coming!

Hold fast to the joy, the anticipation, the knowing!

You will enlarge the nation of Israel,

and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest

and like warriors dividing the plunder.

(Isaiah 9:3 NLT)

He will.  They will.  WE will!

The promise is sure.

The prophecies...

They are true.