From the beginning of the song, the theme of joy and gladness is interwoven throughout the words and music of this great piece. This song, like so many we sing, helps us to remember the joys of being a member of God’s family and of our family here at Grace. Our congregation is very blessed and one of the blessings I think we take for granted is the blessing of joy.

The Bible is filled with over 200 references to joy. From Isaiah 12: 5-6 we hear, "Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things;…shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” He is great indeed! How amazing to know that the Lord God Himself knows us personally and that He loves us and cares for us more than we can ever imagine.

        He loves us, cares for us, blesses us and even provides a way for us to share His love with others AND to love Him back – music. Music has the unique ability to convey a message in a way that words alone cannot. I can have an absolutely terrible day, but after an hour of Choir practice, feel so much better. It is truly hard to feel horrible when you’ve just been singing praises to our awesome God (not to mention the fellowship we enjoy at practice.)

        Many of you have the gift of music. Some of you can play an instrument and many of you can sing. Some of you can even read music and sing harmony. If you have this gift, I encourage you to use it. If you can sing and are interested in the Choir, please call me. I will be happy to arrange a time to meet with you personally.

In His Name,