Joyful Words for Christmas

Spurgeon wrote: "There is too much in this Psalm for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the Church."

Psalm 103. One of my favorites.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who ovey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul."

As you celebrate the birth of Christ with family and friends, praise His name with your whole heart, and may your celebrations be filled with joy and love.

The pictures are ones my friend, Kathy Kreyling, took in previous years at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.