The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Neh 8:10)
Although we are living in a time of worldwide crisis, let’s remember that the God we worship is full of love and compassion, faithful and unchanging, and with us in our suffering. His joy is our strength.
And in that strength, we can bring “a sacrifice of praise” – we can SING! even if we don’t feel like it.
We have seen people singing to one another from balconies in Italy. Let’s firstly sing praises to God! And through our joyful worship also be uplifted in our spirits and encourage others in our households. We can also be blessed as we realize we join in with other Christians around the world, united in the Holy Spirit, and accompanied by the angels in heaven, all praising God.
15 Our part, then, is this: to bring, through him (Jesus), a continual sacrifice of praise to God – that is, mouths that confess his name, and do so fruitfully. (Hebrews 13:15 NTE)
This is a time to sing and make music with heart and voice to God because he is good, and he is with us and for us. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:19b - 20)
Jesus produces love, peace and JOY within us as the fruit of his Spirit. They don’t originate in us and they are not dependant on the outward circumstances of our lives. So, come before the Lord our God, enter the “courts of his presence” as you lift up your voice in this time of trouble. SING!, sing in your home and your car, sing with your family, sing and praise God.
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,[a]
able to tread upon the heights.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Some song suggestions:
Hymn: The Hymn of Joy (words below)
Rend Collective song: Joy of the Lord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI
Chorus: Rejoice in the Lord Always
The Hymn of Joy (Henry Van Dyke)
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
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in Thee
Thou art giving and forgiving
ever blessing, ever blest
well-spring of the joy of living
ocean-depth of happy rest
Thou the 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 mighty chorus
which the morning stars began
Father-love[8] is reigning o'er us
brother-love binds man to man.[9]
Ever singing, march we onward
victors in the midst of strife
joyful music lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life
In Australia one in six females aged 15 or over has experienced violence from a partner or former partner. For males, it's one in 20. On average, one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner. Domestic and family violence is happening within our church. Maybe it's right here among us, in this congregation.
Visit www.preventDFV.lca.org.au for more information.
As we embark on bringing love to life at the LCANZ synodical convention this year, we are inviting members to join a new churchwide program of offering pastoral care to our sisters and brothers in Christ. Consider applying to be a pastoral carer. You will receive specific training. Applications close on the 31st March 2024.
Details at www.lca.org.au/pastoral-care