An Era of Joy
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
Advent is a season of waiting. But it seems to be flying by some days... Paul is teaching me about the season of Advent this year, and I am learning that it's a great reminder. This week of Advent is about joy - a joy that's everlasting, for everyone, a joy that heralds a new age of God's relationship with man. I am filled with joy this Christmas. After waiting for so many years to find all the things I was looking for, it seems that 2009, despite being one of the most emotionally exhausting years I have encountered, is also the year where my dreams have come true. I've become engaged to a man so wonderful I couldn't have even dreamed of his gracious and special love. My business is taking off mere weeks after launching, and I am feeling like things are getting better and better every day.
For my whole life, I don't think I've ever reached a level of near-everpresent happiness like this. The whole ride of my life has been a rollercoaster, but I am exhilarated by life these days, ready to let joy become a part of me and stay. But it is not only a joy born of a romantic relationship, but of our mutual love of a God who freed us to love each other inside of His love.
It reminds me of the one part of Christmas that I am starting to see more clearly, the all-surpassing joy of the promise, that life would be better under the new promises, that the coming of Jesus meant a new era, a new take on what Saviour meant. It wasn't that he came to provide a lack of war on Earth, but peace that passed all understanding, joy that overcame grief, and victory in the hearts and lives of men and women. An almost unfathomable mystery, laid out for us in a rather bizzare story about a young pregnant woman on a journey that would one day lead her to heart-rending grief, but allow her to see the most joyous work of God unfold.
I am confident of this offered joy. I am holding on to it in every moment, knowing that my joy will be made complete in Him. I am celebrating a new era.
The Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
Advent is a season of waiting. But it seems to be flying by some days... Paul is teaching me about the season of Advent this year, and I am learning that it's a great reminder. This week of Advent is about joy - a joy that's everlasting, for everyone, a joy that heralds a new age of God's relationship with man. I am filled with joy this Christmas. After waiting for so many years to find all the things I was looking for, it seems that 2009, despite being one of the most emotionally exhausting years I have encountered, is also the year where my dreams have come true. I've become engaged to a man so wonderful I couldn't have even dreamed of his gracious and special love. My business is taking off mere weeks after launching, and I am feeling like things are getting better and better every day.
For my whole life, I don't think I've ever reached a level of near-everpresent happiness like this. The whole ride of my life has been a rollercoaster, but I am exhilarated by life these days, ready to let joy become a part of me and stay. But it is not only a joy born of a romantic relationship, but of our mutual love of a God who freed us to love each other inside of His love.
It reminds me of the one part of Christmas that I am starting to see more clearly, the all-surpassing joy of the promise, that life would be better under the new promises, that the coming of Jesus meant a new era, a new take on what Saviour meant. It wasn't that he came to provide a lack of war on Earth, but peace that passed all understanding, joy that overcame grief, and victory in the hearts and lives of men and women. An almost unfathomable mystery, laid out for us in a rather bizzare story about a young pregnant woman on a journey that would one day lead her to heart-rending grief, but allow her to see the most joyous work of God unfold.
I am confident of this offered joy. I am holding on to it in every moment, knowing that my joy will be made complete in Him. I am celebrating a new era.