3. ADVENT - JOY

The arrival of a brand-new baby is such a source of JOY!
This little one is now 2 years old!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 in 1907

    Comments

    Doris Sturm said…
    You are a very gifted poet! Happy 3rd Advent to you and yours.

    Christ has died...Christ is risen..Christ will come agian... God bless us all and a Merry Christmas.
    December 12, 2010 at 10:11 AM
    Peggy said…
    I couldn't help but sing this - thanks for sharing!
    December 12, 2010 at 11:23 AM
    Linda said…
    Love the picture of your sweet little one...and also the words of that beautiful hymn.

    May we all adore the Christ child at this Holy Season of His birth!

    Love, Linda
    December 12, 2010 at 1:28 PM
    Karin said…
    Hi all,
    Going to have to look for the author of these lyrics. They are definitely note something I wrote!
    December 12, 2010 at 3:35 PM
    Betsy Banks Adams said…
    He is gorgeous, Karin... How nice to have him closer to you now--so that you can spoil him rotten... (Grandmother's job--you know!!!! ha)

    Hugs,
    Betsy
    December 12, 2010 at 3:42 PM
    Mari said…
    That is one cute baby!
    That hymn is one I've always liked. It's playing in my head now - thanks!
    December 12, 2010 at 3:46 PM
    Ginny Hartzler said…
    Well, that little baby looks extremly joyful!
    December 12, 2010 at 4:36 PM
    Glenda said…
    We sang this beautiful hymn this morning at church as we focused on the joy candle on our Advent wreath! Beautiful, joyful words!
    December 12, 2010 at 4:43 PM
    ellen b. said…
    Sweet, sweet baby photo. And this is a wonderful song. It's makes me joyful just thinking through the words.
    December 12, 2010 at 6:14 PM
    pam said…
    I was singing. So good to read these words today. And I LOVE that precious little happy face...beautiful.
    December 12, 2010 at 6:32 PM
    George said…
    This is a marvelous post for joy. Thanks for a beautiful Advent 3 message.
    December 12, 2010 at 8:06 PM
    C. JoyBell C. said…
    That ffffaaaaaaaaccccceeeeeee!!!!!! weeeeeeeeeheheheeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! jooooooyyyyyy!!!!!!
    December 16, 2010 at 11:54 PM
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