Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
- Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day! - All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee. - Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine. - Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life. Henry J van Dyke
Darling Pam,
Last night we experienced a darkness that we have not heretofore. Not that I think there is anything wrong with that, Sweetheart, sometimes the uncertainty of the future and the longings of the heart are bound to collide. Darkness is the likely, if not inevitable, result.
Fortunately, to quote Luther we can, “Let God be God.”
We have also learned from nights at sea, that the darkest night always gives way to the dawn of a new day. How appropriate that in this mornings Advent studies we would hear a reference to the hymn Joyful Joyful, the words appear above.
I was particularly moved by this phrase:
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
Not only does this remind us of the morning dawn, but also reminds us that we are the recipients of immortal gladness, unending joy.
Later during my quiet time, I reread this prayer recorded in my journal from April nearly 3 years ago…
“God, although I may not always understand my circumstances, You do. You are glorified in every situation and season. Nothing is too difficult for You. So today, I just want to rest in that. I acknowledge that You are in control, and because of that, I don’t have to fear tomorrow. Today, I choose to sit in Your presence and worship You. In Your name, Amen.”
As I sat to write this letter, the sky was dark, the Christmas lights out front shone brightly and you are again resting, but as I finish and look up, the Christmas lights are fading against the luminescent dawning sky and once again time, which we know is constant, seems to ebb and flow with the speed of both race cars and glaciers. Sometimes with dizzying speed and other times a slowness that makes drying paint appear supersonic. Regardless of time, we shall overcome.
I love you with all my life, Darling.
Brad