What Are You Joyfully Celebrating Part Four

bursting pipe

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, Christmas eve, my husband returned home after attending our church’s 2:00 pm worship service to tend to our pets before heading over to a friend’s house to share an evening meal and play a game of Scrabble.

While my husband was outside walking our dog, he noticed running water coming from the back of a neighbor’s house. Given the temperatures had been at record lows for our area overnight and had barely risen above freezing by this point, my husband immediately intervened.

Thankfully, the neighbor was home, enabling my husband to instruct them on how to turn their water off and encourage them to contact an emergency plumber.

Then, as we were loading our car up to head to our friend’s house, a fire truck arrived. Another one of our neighbor’s homes had sprung a leak as well. Unfortunately, they were not at home. Thus, the firefighters had to turn their water off from the street with some guidance from my husband where the access existed. 

Even though we were running late, my husband took time to reach out to our neighborhood group to report that water was off in these two homes, with the specifics of one being turned off from inside the house and the other from the street. 

What does any of this have to do with joyful celebration and verse four of the carol Joy to the World?

Continue reading “What Are You Joyfully Celebrating Part Four”

What Are you Joyfully Celebrating? Part Three

driveway fellowship

Recently my husband and I have hosted some driveway firepit nights. 

The most recent time was on Thanksgiving evening. We prepared a traditional thanksgiving meal but shared it around a driveway firepit instead of a formal table setting. It was a relaxing and simple time of joyful celebration with our friends who joined us.

One of our neighbors even came over to join in the fun for a bit.

Our conversations flowed easily as we enjoyed the warmth of the flames, the succor of the savory foods, and the fellowship in a laid-back setting.

How does this relate to this series of considering what we are joyfully celebrating this holiday season?

Continue reading “What Are you Joyfully Celebrating? Part Three”

O Christmas Tree: Part Three

OChirstmasTreeBell

A Sublime Lesson

Spending time pondering the meaning of a familiar Christmas carol, O Christmas Tree, has revealed a depth of meaning to this tree song previously overlooked.

In everyday conversations I seldom hear the word sublime used.

The first definition of sublime is: lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner.

Lesson, though, is frequently used in a variety of ways.

But did you know that the first definition of the word lesson is: a passage from sacred writings read in a service worship?

Why does verse three of O Christmas Tree use these two words?

Continue reading “O Christmas Tree: Part Three”

O Christmas Tree: Part One

OChristmasTree

I have pointed out before the intention of God’s landscaping the earth to bring us and himself pleasure. Writing now in the month of December our American culture is busy setting up trees and decorating them in our homes, work, and public places. We also decorate doors, windows, mantles, etc. with fresh greenery (or imitation!)  Have you ever wondered why we do this? What is all the fuss about dragging trees and greenery out to decorate in honor of Christmas and singing O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree for English speaking people)?

Continue reading “O Christmas Tree: Part One”