Joy Inexpressible and Glorious

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. This year, as I re-glued the weathered letters below back togetherand pondered the word Joy, it was not without tears,realizing how, this year I have discovereda most holy, indescribable joy plumbed from the depths ofheart-wrenching grief!For our God, acquainted with grief, comforts us with unspeakable joy... Isa.53:3-6He is despised and []rejected by men,A Man of []sorrows and acquainted with []grief.And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.4 Surely He has borne our []griefsAnd carried our []sorrows;Yet we []esteemed Him stricken,[]Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded[] for our transgressions,He was []bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes[] we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray;We have turned, every one, to his own way;And the Lord []has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.(read the whole wondrous chapter ) Joy is the outpouring of God's inpouring! *** 1 Peter 1:8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, *** Joy is the essence of Hope, hallelujah!Joy is God's Presence of peaceJoy is believing while not yet receivingKnowing soon sorrow will cease Joy is the knowledge that if God is for usWho can be 'gainst us and win?Joy is salvation; the soul's separationFrom hell and death's curse of sin Joy cannot be bought or soldJoy is soul's laughter that ripples long afterThe glint that delighted earth's hold Joy is the baby in Bethlehem's mangerThe cross where redemption runs rifeJoy is the Saviour who will reign foreverMankind's resurrection and life Joy without Jesus is but joy's pale shadowFickle as Fantasy's WhimTrue joy is Jesus, whose gift of grace frees usJoy is love's wonder of Him Joy is the posture of utter surrenderTo God, worthy of all praiseJoy is an ocean of unplumbed devotionEternity cannot faze © Janet Martin But now I am coming to You;and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. We write these things so that our joy may be complete. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Lyrics- Henry J. van Dyke(story of its inspiration ) 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,Singing bird and flowing fountainCall us to rejoice in Thee.Thou art giving and forgiving,Ever blessing, ever blest,Wellspring of the joy of living,Ocean depth of happy rest!Thou our 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 happy chorus,Which the morning stars began;Father love is reigning o’er us,Brother love binds man to man.Ever singing, march we onward,Victors in the midst of strife,Joyful music leads us SunwardIn the triumph song of life.