To me there is not a more welcoming, joy filled place than to be than in the presence of God. From the time I was young, I have always loved being in church, loved being with God’s people and loved serving God in any way. Sunday is my favorite day of the week, because it is church day! My encouragement to you is to make God feel welcome in your life everyday! Even though the song says that Santa knows when you are sleeping and knows when you are awake, God is the one who really knows everything about you. He counts the numbers on your head, and knows the thoughts and intents of your heart. Nothing escapes Him. So we should put out the welcome mat to God permanently. The welcome mat for baby Jesus wasn’t at the Inn where they were told there was no room. He wants to be welcome in your life moment by moment. I hope that during this season of joy, your heart gets expanded to really know how much God wants you to experience fullness of joy. Getting to know God up close and personal brings greater joy, because in His presence is where we experience joy overflowing. Knowing that God wants that for us, and was determined enough to make it happen through a baby in a stable, makes the nativity story come to life. Not just a story, but an unfolding of God’s breath of life, manifested in humanity, wrapped in divinity, so that we can know Him, and then live for Him because in His Presence is fullness of joy.
O Come All Ye Faithful by C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade
Verse 1
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
Chorus
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav’n above
Glory to God all
Glory in the highest
Verse 3
Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
Word of the Day: Ps 16:11
Song of the Day: O Come All Ye Faithful by C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade