1. 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.
2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sin and sorrow 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.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
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Where have you seen the wonders of God's love in your life? On this Christmas Eve, consider making the phrase "wonders of his love" a central part of your prayers. Repeat it, reflect on it. Who are the people who bring to you the wonder of Christ's love? In what moments have you wondered, amazed, at the presence of the Holy Spirit?
The last time my husband and I visited with my grandmother, she was non-responsive. My husband held her hands and said, "Etta, you are safe in God's hands." She opened her eyes, looked at him, and nodded. The wonders of God's love--that in her death she would bear witness to the faith for all of us!
Perhaps you have experienced deliverance from danger, or a kind word when sorely needed or a feeling of peace in a sea of chaos. Hold those wonders close to your heart today.
May the wonders of God's love surround us all this night, and may we continually call them to mind. Amen.
Cameron B. R. Howard
Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
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The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108 United States
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