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

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s think about this.

What’s Growing in Your Garden?

Working a garden is not easy, but it is very rewarding. All the sowing can lead to reaping, as long as the time between the two is active as well. What are you sowing?

When you have sown things that bring blessing there comes an eagerness for the reaping. When you have sown other things there will more likely be dread. All the work to cultivate and tend your garden can seem like futility, and it certainly can be very difficult, but when you care for the process blessings can certainly flow.

He comes to make His blessings flow

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21 ESV

The freedom of the glory of the children of God.How we long for that! We hope for the creation itself to be set free from its bondage to corruption. Jesus made all that possible. He came to start that work and will return to complete it. We long for His blessings to flow!

Thanks be to God that Jesus has a different plan for the garden of our lives. He wants blessings to flow instead of curses. He has already done the significant work required to make that possible, but we have to partner with Him. Will you prepare for your garden work?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about what you are allowing to grow in the garden of your life. You can weed out the bad, and cultivate the good. Make this your simple prayer “Lord, help me prepare for my garden work.” 

What Fruit Is Flourishing in Your Grove?

From the garden to the grove the same principles are in play. Trees are known for the fruit they bear. The same is true of us. What are you bearing?

Are there blessings bursting forth from you? Or are there curses? Our sin has wrought a curse, but we bear in our lives the firstfruits of what is to come. Are the signs of those fruits evident in your life?

Far as far as the curse is found

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23 ESV

The redemption of our bodies. The curse brings death, but the blessing Jesus offers is life. The firstfruits of the Spirit deposit that longing in us for our adoption as sons and daughters, when the curse is removed and all we know is the blessing of being with God eternally, like the garden.

His intent is there will be no thorns in our gardens. He will make it so one day. Until then we can labor with Him to remove thorns and create a scenario in which blessings flow. But please note, this is not easy work and must be engaged in regularly for those thorns are insidious.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on the firstfruits of your life, things that demonstrate the work of the Spirit. You can partner with Jesus to bear the fruit He wants. Simply ask Him “God, help me tend my garden regularly.“

Jesus, thank You for the work you are doing in the garden and grove of my life. I can produce nothing but thorns and curses without Your help. Help me partner with Your work. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
He comes to make His blessings flow – https://pixabay.com/photos/farm-garden-rows-cabbages-1094434/
Far as far as the curse is found – https://pixabay.com/photos/orange-tree-orange-grove-plantation-1117420/

Joy to the earth the Savior reignsLet 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

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s think about this.

Creations Response

We should be using our songs to declare that joy has come. The opening of this stanza is calling all mankind to lift their voices and  offer songs to God. This second portion is describing the natural response of creation.

And just what parts of creation will be joining in? Every part. Though this list is short, it is fairly comprehensive.

• Fields, places where crops are grown, fertile soil
• Floods, all the surface of the water
• Rocks, all the places nothing can grow
• Hills, all the places that are not flat
• Plains, all the places that are flat

While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
  the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
  let the hills sing for joy together. Psalm 98:7-8 ESV

Our songs join those of every part of creation. This is not adding some new melody, as much as finding that which is woven into the very fiber of every created thing. Have you found that inmost melody? Look to God’s creation for your inspiration and ask the Spirit to help you receive it.

What a beautiful picture of creation offering praise to the Savior! The most common of all topographies are mentioned in this nearly comprehensive list. Yet, did you notice they are responding or rather adding their praise to ours?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about creation offering praise. If there songs are repeating ours that implies we are offering some. We get the song started, then creation follows. Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, help creation praise.” 

Something Worth Repeating

Echo. That what this next line means. Earth, and all its topography, is echoing our joy. The repeat the joy we are sounding.

So are you sending any joy into the airwaves? Are you making a sound that could be echoed? Are you giving earth something to repeat?

Repeat repeat the sounding joy

before the Lord, for he comes
  to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
  and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9 ESV

What does joy have to do with the judgment of God? We know His judgment will be done with righteousness and equity. Because we personally trust in the righteousness of Christ, we have peace knowing He has saved us from the wrath we deserve. Hallelujah! What a joy!

Our joy is prompted by the peace afforded in the Incarnation. Because the Savior reigns, and He is with us, we have joy. When was the last time you spent some time simply reflecting on the reason for our joy?

We sound out our joy and the rest of creation echoes. If that is indeed the case, we better make certain we are leading the way with our joyful praise. They cannot repeat our joy if we are not declaring it in the first place. Are you?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on the reason for our joy. Jesus arrival in the manger gave us a path to peace with God. Think about that. Then ask Jesus “Lord, help me declare my joy.“

Jesus, thank You for giving me a path to peace. May my joy this season be informed by your coming, and your reigning. Joy to the earth, help my praise sound forth. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains – https://pixabay.com/photos/river-fields-trees-meadows-hills-6066233/
Repeat repeat the sounding joy – https://pixabay.com/photos/colorado-echo-lake-mountain-1213206/

Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n and nature sing
And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this carol in which we call the whole earth to worship, let’s make certain we are diligent about doing that as well. Let’s think about this.

Every Heart Prepare Him Room

No room in the inn. Jerusalem was crowded because of the census so it makes sense on one level. But to think that the King of Kings had no place to rest His head other than a manger seems inconceivable.

Of course, part of the plan of the Father was to demonstrate that He was willing to go to extreme measures to show us He had made a way for His presence to come to all, even those of the humblest, lowest state. That is good news for us because we all come to that very place, the end of ourselves, before we are in a position to make the room necessary for Him to enter. Even still that entrance must not be the only time we make room.

We must continue to make room for Him. It requires a conscious effort because there are so many things that compete with that affection. We make room in our hearts for Him, and then we must keep making room.

Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 ESV

No room in the inn meant the King slept in a manger. No room for Him in our lives means we are the ones not finding the rest He has made available. How will you make room in this busy season to welcome Jesus into your heart? It will require some space, and some time.

Welcoming a King with a parade or banquet is common. Welcoming a King by yielding your entire life including eternity is not. This is however exactly how our King must be received, offering Him not just room in our heart, but its throne. Our heart must become His throne room.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about what might be crowding Jesus from His rightful place in Your heart. Determine to make the room for Him to demonstrate He is indeed your King. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, make my heart Your throne.” 

Heaven and Nature Sing

There is coming a day when the heavens, the earth, the sea, the field and even all the trees of the forest will offer praise. It is hard to imagine what that will be like, and exactly what our place will be in that. All the more reason why we should practice now every chance we get so when those moments come we will be ready.

And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12 ESV

Heaven and nature will be certain to sing, rejoice, roar, and exult. Will you join in, participating in the praise, or will you be found simply spectating instead? We offer a call to worship when we sing the carol, but make sure you are continuing the praise through the season, and beyond.

When our heart becomes His throne room, joining all heaven and nature singing His praises becomes the only appropriate response, and one we long to do. Do you love to sing to your King? If not, ask the Spirit to reveal why. Maybe there is an issue in the throne room.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how you will sing. Of course, part of that is in this season, but even that song can be empowered with that thought that one day you will be a part of the symphony of creation in praise to the Lord. Is there anything keeping you from offering that worship now? Ask Him, “Spirit, is there an issue in my throne room?”

Jesus, thank You for reminding me that I need to make room for You and offer my praise to You. Both require awareness and diligence. Help me through this season and beyond to practice these disciplines. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
All I Have Needed Thy Hand Hath Provided – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-hand-resurrection-4676641/
Great Is Thy Faithfuness Lord Unto Me – https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-hand-together-prayer-5216585/