As I was looking for Christmas music arrangements this year Eliot introduced me something called Reawaken Hymns- a resource that helps worship leaders incorporate hymns into their worship set. One Reawaken Hymns song we are playing on Christmas Eve- and it's from an album called, The Soul Felt It's Worth. 

That title moved me. I have sung Christmas hymns my whole life- caroling, in worship services, in the car, to my kids, etc. But I've never paid close attention to the lyrics. In "O Holy Night" the very first verse says, "Long lay the world/ In sin and error pining/ 'Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth". 

Isn't that joy? To be doing life in our own way, on our own time, doing what's best for ourselves- sin and error pining- and then insert Jesus. Insert belonging. Insert selflessness. Insert love. Insert joy in the midst of even suffering. Insert following Jesus.

You see, Advent is not just a few weeks of singing Christmas songs and decorating our Christmas trees. Advent is about the anticipation of Jesus coming to be with us. It's a time that we get to prepare our hearts and remember that God Emanuel, meaning God with us, came to be with us in the flesh. A time for us to remember that God loves us so much, that God would literally send Jesus, God's son, to live among us. What joy. What belonging. What love. 

The soul felt its worth. 

Do you know your worth? Do you know the joy of your worth in Jesus? 

Tomorrow is week 4 of Advent: Joy. Pastor Mark Nsimbi is going to teach us about the biblical meaning of joy and distinguishing joy from happiness. He says, "The true source of joy is God himself! Our joy comes from God and is rooted in the salvation we receive from Christ."

Let heaven and nature sing about that!

See you tomorrow at 10:30am in our sanctuary, or on Facebook Live, YouTube, and our church app.

May the peace and joy of the Lord be upon you,

Chelsea Maitland