His Blessings Flow

Doesn't it appear that this world is reeling under the sin-birthed curse more and more every year? 

And so, I find it wonderful to come back to the carols of Christmas once again and sing hope-filled truths, such as:

He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

Do you recognize that carol?

As my family and I sing through the Christmas section of our hymnal this year - one carol each evening with our advent reading - we came on Sunday to the familiar clarion-call of George Frederick Handel's one-octave scale. 

  

Joy to the world!

"Why?" you may ask. What is there to bring joy this Christmas??

Thankfully we have the same reason for joy this year as for twenty centuries past: Emmanuel - God with us!

The Lord is come!

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! 
- 2 Corinthians 9:15

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

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.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.

Isaac Watts, 1719 

As a bonus, read Psalm 98, on which these words [written 301 years ago!] were based. You can find the Psalm by clicking here.