When God calls His faithful servants to their heavenly home, loved ones left behind naturally experience loss and sorrow. Yet, there is also celebration for a life lived in a meaningful way that brought joy to others and glory to God. Such is the case for our beloved former First Lady Barbara Bush.
How appropriate that she requested Henry Van Dyke's celebratory hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You" sung as her casket exited the church:
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
2 All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
This week as we seek to activate the word CELEBRATE in our lives, let's take time to sing and meditate on the words to this beautiful hymn. May we, too, spend our days in meaningful ways which bring joy to others and glory to God.
Celebrating Him and you,
Dalene Parker, guest blogger
#weeklywordstoliveby https://www.facebook.com/
we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal
I had "Joyful, Joyful" played as we exited our wedding!!
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