Music all around

Steph and I participated in our church's Christmas musical this weekend. We did two showings of "Christmas Shoes." Both went very well! We had a great time singing with our fellow choir members and bringing glory to Jesus--even through goofy songs like "Mr. Grinch." Hopefully the gospel message was presented clearly through the starting point of the Christmas story our culture is quazi-familiar with.

Here's another verse that I liked from a Christmas hymn. The third verse of "Joy to the World" goes as follows:

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,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

The Bible is very clear that death, suffering, and pain are all part of the curse that God has placed on humanity--and on the earth in general--because of Adam's sin. "Sins and sorrows" are prone to grow all around us, because our hearts are naturally slaves to sin, and sorrow is part the punishment that our sin has brought upon us. And "thorns infest(ing) the ground" are constant reminders to us that the world is not how it was created to be. They are a visible symbol of God's judgment for sin (see Genesis 3). So, the curse's effects are far-reaching; it affects everything we experience in this life.

BUT, through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has shown human beings an undeserved blessing. We can have forgiveness of sin. We can be set free from sin's chains. We can have hope in the face of sorrow. In this life, we can find victory over evil. In the next, that victory will be completely realized! What great hope Jesus has brought to us who are living in a cursed world!

Hopefully there will be more posts to come with even more great songs.

Steph goes in for her next check-up tomorrow. So please pray for us and our baby--that God would protect them both and that He would give me the serving attitude that my wife really needs right now.