Polar NewsFlash
Contact us:
  • Donate
  • NewsFlash
    • NewsFlash Archives
  • Prayer Requests
  • About Us
    • Shirleen's Blog
    • Adam's Blog
    • CYAK Ministry >
      • Amundsen Educational Center >
        • About AEC
        • AEC History
  • Media
    • Pictures >
      • Family of 5
      • Shopping for Baby
      • Fall & Winter 2012
      • Youth Group
      • Summer 2012
      • Thomas Joseph
      • Colorado Adventures
      • Chicago Life
      • Life before Thomas
    • Videos
  • Resources
    • Alaska Church History >
      • Original Works by Adam London >
        • ECCAK History
        • Axel E. Karlson
        • Sheldon Jackson
        • A History of Covenant Bible Camp
        • Grandpa Ost Summary
        • The Early Lutheran Church in Alaska
        • Ferdinand Drebert and the Early Moravian Church in Alaska
        • Alaska Church History Bibliography
      • Axel E. Karlson Diary
      • Call of the Arctic
      • A Time To Remember
      • Covenant Companion Articles
      • 1930-1980 ECCAK Yearbook Reports
      • KICY 50 Years radio special
      • Ost: Grandpa A Mission in Alaska
    • AK Facts
    • Links
  • Guestbook

Advent 3: Joy

12/15/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
​​It’s hard to think about joy today for those of us in Unalakleet, our small village of about 750.  Yesterday, we found out that we lost another person in our community to a tragic death.  I’ve lost track, but I believe this is the 9th person we have lost just this fall.  Our village is full of the tears of those that grieve.  God gives us tears to bring about healing.  It is good and right to grieve.  And yet, we do not grieve as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  We cling to the promise that Jesus gave us, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
 
This advent season, we have taken a look at how we celebrate the love of Christ, the peace of God, and today we look at the joy of the Lord.  Like love and peace, joy is something that may seem fleeting if separated from God.  However, when we have the joy of the Lord, this is something that cannot be taken from us or destroyed.  Christ loves us unconditionally, the peace of God surpasses all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is our eternal strength.  None of these depend on us, but are firmly rooted in who God is, what He does, and the glory of His Kingdom come. 
 
That is why we, as Christians, faced with great grief, can sing songs like the Bible Camp song, “Trading My Sorrows.”  It is a song that is based off of several Scriptures and is an encouragement to me today.  The author, Darrell Evans, says in an interview that he hopes that this song is sung as an intercessory prayer for someone that is experiencing sorrow, pain, sickness, or shame.  http://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/song-story-trading-my-sorrows-by-darrell-evans-1236482.html.
 
I invite you to pray this song with me today.  Maybe you are grieving and you are the one that needs the joy of the Lord to be your strength.  Or maybe God has brought someone to your heart to pray this song for today.  Either way, let us lay down our burdens and take up the joy of the Lord.
 
Trading My Sorrows – Darrell Evans, © 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
 
I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I am pressed but not crushed,
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy is gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

And we're singing
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

Yes Lord, Amen
Yes Lord, Amen!
 

Picture
1 Comment
Clare link
4/15/2021 05:16:08 pm

Thanks ffor sharing this

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2012
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008

    Contact Us: 

    PO Box 203356
    Anchorage, AK 99520


    adam@cyak.org
          
    ​shirleen@cyak.org

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.