The Corporal’s Lot

I’ll tell you a tale from a long time ago

I hope you will share it, let everyone know

A story of love and of glistening hope

Of a corporal who died in the morning 

Charlie van Scott bred from quite a fine lot

He was raised to accel, not to plod or to plot

He studied until he knew each sailors knot

And soon he gained charge over many

His fleet how it grew and if you only knew

How his men all admired him, captain and crew

They’d give him their sweat and sacrifice too

If the chance e’er arose to their honor

He led many excursions to hunt pirates down

In the name of the queen, the flag of the crown

Fortunes were saved, they called him ‘The bloodhound’

For he sniffed out the brigands of thievery

His wife back on land never gave a demand

But prayed for his safety with the clasp of her hand

She trusted his calling would surely withstand

Though perilous journeys be many

For seventeen years he overcame all her fears

And his victories brought about plenty good cheer

To the men on the docks who lifted their beer

And sang shanties of Corporal Charlie

It was windy the day the waves washed him away

From the quarter deck where now the dirges do play

Weeping and grieving yet some dare to say

That he’s out there somewhere still a’chasing

If you ever find yourself floating aloft

Where the sea may seem to be pillowy soft

Don’t loosen your grip if you’ve sneezed or you’ve coughed

For you may share the fate of the corporal

Fine Corporal van Scott he knew not his lot

And under the waves benevolent bones rot

You may think it matters if you do or do not

Yet God calls your name when it’s ready

If you think I’m a pessimist here to cast doubt

Then show me the man who made his own route

Who pointed the way and stole from God clout

To ignore the hour of his ending

I caution you then to relinquish your sin

And be ready to go with the change of the wind

Like Corporal van Scott you know not your end

But Heaven is just the beginning.

by Royce Waxenfelter 

3/15/21

The Tempt

I’m takin’ the train back home
I’m takin’ the train back home
I lost ‘em in the rain, to the police I’m a pain
So I’m takin’ the train back home

Gonna slip in through the back door
Gonna slip in through the back door
Gonna kiss my sweet Marie and ask her to run with me
Then we’ll slip out back through the back door

Gonna head down south to Mexico
Gonna head down south to Mexico
Swim across the Rio Grande where we’ll make our weddin’ plan
Get married way down south in Mexico

We’ll build us a shack on the coast
We’ll build us a shack on the coast
Gonna build us a shack ‘cause we won’t be goin’ back
We’ll just stay in that shack on the coast

We’ll raise ourselves a family
We’ll raise ourselves a family
They’ll grow up like their pa and start runnin’ from the law
Turn their back on their only family

On second thought I won’t take that train
On second thought I won’t take that train
If I did my heart would break so I won’t make that mistake
No I won’t lose my children in vain

I realize I can’t escape my fate
I realize I can’t escape my fate
But I wonder what will be of my darlin’ sweet Marie
Will she end up with another lawless mate

So I’m takin’ that train back home
You know I’m takin’ that train back home
It may already to late but I’ll try to tempt my fate
I am takin’ that train back home

By Royce Waxenfelter
1/22/21
To the tune of ‘Last Fair Deal Gone Down’ by Robert Johnson

Entrenched

I have but a moment to write today midst the chaos of war and suffrin’

I beg take the time to read my say where I include my heart and lovin’

Will our banners hold up another day

Will our guns refrain from jammin’

Should we rest through the night on this bed of hay

Or will the bombs in our ears keep slammin’

Listen my dear how I miss you so, n’er again will I slander your cookin’

Your soft lovely skin and your flowing hair, oh darling you are so good lookin’

But much more than those I will n’er forget

For it does bring me the greatest pleasure

And I mention it here so you don’t regret

Your love for God is your greatest treasure

Ba, da dee, la da, da da-da de-da, la ba de di diddle dee-di dum (x2)

Say - a prayer - for me my dear  - and the men among my comp’ny

Place God’s hedge of protection ‘round us all and implore Him to give us mercy

I long for your smile and your kind, kind heart

Like a fire I cannot seem to quench it

And I dream of the day when we’re not apart

Far from death and the smell of these trenches

Please  - ask God - to forgive me now, I have caused much inj’ry and murder

I’m afraid of what might be the destiny of the soul of a humble soldier

If I survive will you marry me

For it would be my greatest honor

To raise with you a family

Gracious mother and proud father

Ba, da dee, la da, da da-da de-da, la ba de di diddle dee-di dum (x2)

I must say farewell to you now my love, I have a good reason to hurry 

An alarm tells of in-bound artill’ry shells so I close in a moment of worry

No matter what happens on this foreign shore

If I’m caught in the grip of the wrenches

My heart is yours forevermore

It cries out from these tombs and trenches

Ba, da dee, la da, da da-da de-da, la ba de di diddle dee-di dum (x2)

By Royce Waxenfelter

1/11/21

Note: to the tune of Mary and the Soldier by Paul Brady

The Grave

 I was walking outside of this bustling town

When color from a flower stole my glance from the ground

A harbinger of hope in this spring of our life

In awe, a reminder, there’s an end to the strife

I raised my eyes up beyond the flower of hope

A guard by a tomb in a stupor did grope

I asked, “Tell me sir, what are you trying to find?

What caused you to stumble, what made you go blind?”

Frightened he said, “A great warrior was he,

With an aura of light he did shine upon me.

He showed me I’m blind and it grieves me to say,

the stone of the tomb he rolled gravely away.”

So I entered the tomb where the body had laid

A shawl stained with blood, a great price had been paid

Overcomer of death, could it be the Messiah?

Did he conquer the grave? Did he walk through the fire?

Did he face down the soul snatching cauldrons of hell?

Retrieve the believers like water drawn from a well?

He said he is the way, the savior of all

But I denied his offer, I eschewed his kind call

I see now I judged Jesus, yet he’s the just judge

When he offers again, will I break, will I budge?

Will I accept his free gift of eternity with him?

Become free from this struggle and this burden of sin?

The hope of the flower it is now clear to me

A new life of hope, no more captivity

Restored to glory I gave up long ago

When I stopped seeking him I was failing to grow

His plan for me stretches past the end of my rope

He promises love, promises future and hope

Lord, why do you love when I doubted your divinity?

Why did you sacrifice your life for me?

From a view from the throne you sure took a great fall 

Suffering and shame you took once and for all

In vein it was not, deliberate and strong

What you did on the cross you had planned all along!

Now we’re free from the grave, it’s so easy you see

A good hearted-father to you and to me

Has extended a hand to loosen our binds 

He has healed broken-hearted, liberated our minds

Let the grave call you not to a suffering hell

Let Christ the Messiah draw you up from the well

To Heav’n everlasting in peace and his smile

His plan for all, he meant all of the while.

From a view from the throne Jesus took a great fall 

Suffering and shame He took once and for all

In vein it was not, deliberate and strong

What He did on the cross He had planned all along! 

By Royce Waxenfelter 

1/5/21

Note: to the tune of ‘The Green Fields of France’

33 Stranded

 <Chorus>

Shantyman: Our ship broke apart near the Chatum bar

Crew: Here we are on the Pendleton

Shantyman: 33 stranded in this nor’easter

Crew: She split in half, we’re stranded

Shantyman: Will this storm be the one that finally sank her?

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: Will we perish ‘neath the weight of this oil tanker?

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

Shantyman: We hear another tanker is also split asunder

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: Will we all be saved or will our souls be left to wander?

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

<Chorus>

Shantyman: The pumps are working to keep us all alive

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: But will the waters rising lead to our demise?

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

Shantyman: Let’s fix the rudder our spirits to renew

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: To live past February in the year 52

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

<Chorus>

Shantyman: The waves throw us ‘round like a cauldron in boil

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: Let’s make for the bar, we’ve spilled our oil

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

Shantyman: Hallelujah, we’ve run aground

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: But on this stormy night will we e’er be found?

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

<Chorus>

Shantyman: By the grace of God I see a searchlight shine

Crew: Hey! Ho! Will we die below?

Shantyman: It’s a tiny lifeboat, but it’s just in time

Crew: Dear God don’t leave us stranded!

Shantyman: Tell me who do we owe our great debt to?

Crew: Hey! Ho! We didn’t die below!

Shantyman: Saved by a four-man Coast Guard crew

Crew: God didn’t leave us stranded!

Crew: Hey! Ho! We didn’t die below!

Shantyman: Saved by a four-man Coast Guard crew

Crew: God didn’t leave us stranded!

All: God didn’t leave us stranded!

All: God didn’t leave us stranded!

All: Hooray!

By Royce Waxenfelter

12/7/20

Note: Based on the true story of the SS Pendleton off the coast of Cape Cod on February 18, 1952. The tanker split apart and on the half that didn’t abruptly sink, 33 men remained. The perilous trek to save those 33 men is commonly known as the most dangerous rescue in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard. 32 of 33 were saved. Watch the Disney Movie ‘The Finest Hours’ for reference.

The poem is written as a traditional sea shanty, with the Shantyman calling out a verse and the crew responding. Shanty's helped the sailing crews stay in time together as they pulled ropes, hoisted sails, and loaded cargo.

Songs of my youth

There will come a day

When my memory wanders

Will I still remember the songs

I sang with my brothers when we were still young?

When I’m old and gray

And my days are numbered

I will still remember the songs

I sang with my brothers when were so young

The sounds, a bridge

The voices, a path

Each note, a crystalline vision

Opening my memory to the time I first heard

The songs of my youth

When I am in dismay

When life’s torn asunder

The memories deliver those songs

I sang with my brothers when we were so young

When I feel the world’s weight

And I feel outnumbered

I push through until dawn

By singing like I’m with my brothers when we were still young

The sounds, a bridge

The voices, a path

Each note, a crystalline vision

Opening my memory to the time I first heard

The songs of my youth

Let’s sing the anthems of that day

Bring songs back like plunder

Become the giver of songs

You sang with others when you were still young

Let’s share while we may

This amazing wonder

Let’s all remember the songs

We sang with friends when were so young

The sounds, a bridge

The voices, a path

Each note, a crystalline vision

Opening my memory to the time I first heard

The songs of my youth

By Royce Waxenfelter

12/23/20

Spoiler at Noonday

There I was a-worshipping my gods

When Jeremiah’s word came through the door

Who is he to throw God’s word around like clods?

And why is he so sullen and demure?

 

How can a man from Judah be pinned down to just one god?

A mind is meant to wander, to spiritually poke and prod

The king himself encourages us to worship Baal

If I follow each and every god, however can I fail?

 

Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la

We’re perfectly fine with idolatryism

 

I take advice from any foriegn man

Send negativity from whence it came

I worship any god or other deity at hand

A god’s a god by any other name

 

I’ve a god for happiness, I’ve got a god for health

And look here in my pocket, a shiny god for wealth

Some are made of iron, some are made of wood

Here’s one made by the blacksmith right here in my neighborhood

 

Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la

We’re perfectly fine with idolatryism

Yet perhaps idolatry has gotten out of hand

Do I require an object to give me purpose?

What’s to stop me from just being my own man?

And who's to say I do or don’t deserve this?

 

But look at King Manasseh, the envy of us all 

He sacrifices children, in case you don’t recall

And uses divination to reap harvests in the fall

Yet Jeremiah warns it will be sorrowful for all

 

Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la

We’re perfectly fine with idolatryism

 

Jeremiah’s says his God will send a spoiler at noonday

To those of us who reject his one true God

We’ll all be held as captives unless we all obey

In this time of peace it all sounds rather odd

 

If he’d look around he’d see all our enemies are gone

Be he is just a prophet whose predictions have been wrong

I for one am sleeping in, I won’t be up at dawn

It will take a while for captors to come all the way from Babylon

 

Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la

We’re perfectly fine with idolatryism

 

I hope you know this song is written tongue in cheek

A leaky faucet dripping thick with irony

Eternal truth isn’t just made up by you or me

History proves Jeremiah made the correct choice of deity.

 

Like Jeremiah we can all trust in the God of Israel

Instead of trusting man-made gods that we can buy or sell

He speaks to us loud and clear like the ringing of a bell

In the Bible you can learn the way, I urge you and compel

To discard the ways of defiance of God, your tendency to rebel

He is a good God and wants nothing more than to save your soul from Hell

 

Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la

It’s time to let go of idolatryism

 

By Royce Waxenfelter

12/4/20

 

Note: Inspired by the “spoiler at noonday” warning in Jeremiah 15:8. Sing this to the tune of Johnny Comes Marching Home or Billy Bragg’s The Marching Song of the Covert Battalion

Shanty of the Dry, Dry Land

I went to sea one misty morn

And puked my guts out overboard

Seafarin’ life just ain’t for me,

Get me off’a this gol’ darn sea!

 

Now the only songs I sing 

Are ones about farmin’ and sowin’ seed

You can take the rollin’ deep sea life

I’ll take the arms of my dear, sweet wife

 

For I ain’t been sailin’ since that fateful day

And I ain’t goin’ again, no matter the pay

Tease me all you like ‘bout being a man

I’ll sing this shanty on the dry, dry land

 

Hey! Ho! To the market I go

To buy my fish and purchase my roe

Dry! Land! Is the life for me

When I die you can throw me in the deep blue sea

 

We both have regrets for what we’ve said

We both love our dear ol’ mum and dad

Barnacles, tentacles, beasts of the sea

Here is the difference ‘tween you and me

 

You were born with the wind in your hair

A bucket for swabbin’ in the salty air

But I was born on the dry, dry land

Seeds in my pocket and a plow in me hand

 

You run the danger of the pirate hoard

Or you may get swept overboard

Politicians and lawyers are the sharks I fear

And I sell my corn for a buck an ear

 

Hey! Ho! To the market I go

To buy my fish and purchase my roe

Dry! Land! Is the life for me

When I die you can throw me in the deep blue sea

 

Thar she blows! I’ll never cry out

Never search the horizon for a blowhole spout

I won’t batten down hatches or swab the poop deck

Go deep sea divin’ in an old shipwreck

I won’t be navigatin’ by the stars alone

‘Nor piercin’ my nose with a wet whale bone

I won’t climb the crows nest to spot the shore

Or get stung by a Portuguese man o’ war

 

Won’t tell no stories of the great blue whale

Never buried any treasure, or hoisted a sail

Haven’t met a mermaid, smuggled contraband

‘Cause I live my life on the dry, dry land

 

Hey! Ho! To the market I go

To buy my fish and purchase my roe

Dry! Land! Is the life for me

When I die you can throw me in the deep blue sea

 

Oy!

 

By Royce Waxenfelter

12/2/20

 

Baptized and Sanctified

Soaring and chasing
Sifting sand
Time is wasting

Revolve around
Touching sound

Degenerate drowned

Singular senses surround
Slipping dimensions
Clocks unwound

Experience a moment
Take it all in
Feel with your soul
Let it begin

Remove human ceiling
Relinquish demands
Relax and breath easy

Bare feet in clover
Pressure released
Waves washing over

Revival, refreshing
Benefits bring
Basking in blessing

Experience a moment
Take it all in
Feel with your soul
Let yourself win

Forever forgiven
Endless endeavor
Life ever living

Grow, heal, mend
Released from the hound
Unbound unburdened

Rest where you drifted
Fear behind you
Soul uplifted

Experience a moment
Take it all in
Feel with your soul
Let go of sin

By Royce Waxenfelter
10/27/20

Note: This is about the relief and hope I had when I was baptized and set apart for God. Having my old sin nature behind me, drowned in the river, gave me new life and a peace I will never forget. Being forgiven is amazing; being free to NOT sin is liberating.

Silent truth is never heard

I woke up this morning and rubbed my eyes
Put up my hoodie as my disguise
Went outside and looked up at the skies
Why does the sun shine down on so many lies?

So I ducked down an alley, went to the store

Have everything I need but I need some more

Never ending cycle of consumer flow

River to the ocean, ocean to the shore

Why can’t we stop the nonsense?

It always ends in violence

Is it programmed compliance

Which leads me to my silence?

Went downtown, so curious

Got caught in the middle of protests

Lined up with all the suspects

Kicked out with all the rejects

Maybe I should’ve been vocal

Been more direct, more focal

Now I’m headed home like some yokel

I missed my chance at folk lore

Why do I let some treat others

Different than I treat my own mother?

Those who don't have a voice get smothered

I don’t stand up for them, I take cover

Sat up at night and watched TV

Newscaster’s trying to teach me

Wants me to believe what he tells me

Asks me to buy what he sells me

It’s part of what disquiets me

We let truth twist around like a tire swing

I think I’ll do what God tells me

Risk being banished from so-called society

Murder in the womb is not OK

But why should you listen to what I say

Where does truth live? What does God say?

We know, but ignore, so we fall prey

We call up when it’s down but we’re unsure

Take this test if you want to be sure

If it were your daughter would you hurt her?

By my silence I am guilty of murder

I’ll wake up tomorrow and rub my eyes

Will I hide behind some old disguise

Will I look at the sun and wonder why

I let my friends believe all of the lies?

Morality is more elusive

Than the fastest hummingbird 

Yet I must stand for justice 

Silent truth is never heard

By Royce Waxenfelter 

10/20/20

Note: This is about my longing for justice for unborn babies being killed in the womb by the millions every year and my tendency to not talk about it for fear of offending someone. I try to justify it by thinking the mas slaughter itself should be offensive enough. Sometimes I feel that abortion is to me what Nineveh was to Jonah. Why do I try to hide from an omniscient God? Why don't I stand for truth?

A Wind-Told Tale

    All along the wind told the tale

    From merely a whisper to full force gale

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

Regal Valor went near and went far

Roaming the ruins after the war

Rifling through ashes, sifting through dirt

Filling his sashes with another man’s worth

Occasionally into the city he’d stroll

When his wagon has heavy and packs grew full

He’d set up a booth in the center of town

Polishing treasures and spreading them ‘round

On display, for seekers to find

Trinkets of ghosts, wealth left behind

Someone else's belongings they worked hard to own

Now a barterers ill-gotten pockets weighed low

    The wind grew weary of this traveling show

    In frustrated anger it started to blow

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

Regal Valor plundered an old house in the vale

He found treasures astounding he hoped to regale

A locket of silver refined and ornate

Held meaning to some poor dead lover’s fate

He tore the locket from its skeleton home

Greed ripping through the calcified bone

Held aloft the silver glistened and shone

Reflecting light on the shattered neck where once it was worn

What could be gained from such beauty arrayed

How much coin could one possibly garner in trade

“I’ll be rich!’ the finder shouted aloud

Not noticing the foreboding darkening cloud

    The wind marshaled armies of formidable strength

    Thunder and lightning bolts, considerable length

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

Regal Valor took pride as he set the high price

No meager offer or trade would suffice

He made plans for the all of the money he’d make

He’d purchase honor, buy his namesake

The locket was coveted by many an eye

But no one could buy it, the price was too high

By chance an ex-soldier decided to shop

On seeing the locket his jaw did drop

“Where did you find this?” veteran asked vendor

“A locket so glorious, shining with splendor?

One could search far and wide and not find its match

And the lover it lures would be quite a catch!”

    The wind and his armies crouched just over the hill

    And listened intently, steady and still

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

The merchant replied to the veteran inquirer

“Indeed it would make you a man of desire

But treasures like this aren’t given away

Come tell me, fine sir, what price would you pay?”

“I’d travel away from my family and friends

I’d fight for their honor, their lands I’d defend

With my savings of youth and all in my pocket

I once purchased a twin to this silver locket

On my lover’s neck I laid it upon my leaving

Never thinking I would be the one grieving”

He reached out and clutched the neck of the vendor

“Now tell me again where you found such splendor!”

    The wind paced back and forth

    It blew south, it blew north

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

Regal Valor the wanderer locked in the grip

Like a captain going down alone with the ship

“Finders keepers, isn’t that the saying?”

He choked out his answer before he began praying

But just before the soldier acted on his will

The wind and his armies rushed over the hill

The wind plucked Regal Valor away from the anger

And carried him aloft to much greater danger

The soldier was brushed aside, locket in hand

Thunder unleashed fury, lightning a reprimand

From the locket a voice cried, “Don’t judge him amiss”

So the wind brought Regal to wander the abyss

    The wind tells the tale of true valor indeed

    And tells of the plunderer’s black hole of greed

    The tale of the wanderer

    The fate of the plunderer

By Royce Waxenfelter 9/21/20

The Bonn Scott Overture

When you consider everything right and pure

It has a certain unattainable lure

One you can never really know for sure

Or attain through mystic tincture

 

So you scuttle sullen and demure

Justify proudly who you were

Like a comfy piece of furniture

You sink into your numbing blur

 

In the end you gasp for air, grasp for cure

You play your final overture

And the coroner without a slur

Pronounced you “dead by misadventure”

 

By Royce Waxenfelter 9/10/20

 

Personal Commentary

Bonn Scott, the lead singer of AC/DC during their 1st four albums, died in the back seat of a friend's car after drinking too much booze one night. The coroner pronounced his demise as “Death by misadventure”. Learning this made me wonder, what leads to misadventure, as opposed to adventure? I believe it boils down to this:

 

As humans, we aren’t perfect, but we often either put that expectation on ourselves, or have other’s place it upon us. Ultimately, it is what God requires for entry to eternity, yet no one on their own can ever, ever attain perfection. Without the answer, we, as failures of perfection, do one of two things. 

One: we pretend, erroneously, we are perfect (righteous) apart from God, or are at least doing better than others therefore we get a pass, and thereby set ourselves up as a god in place of the God, or...

Two: we eschew perfection and swing the pendulum toward the prolific, open practice of sin. We intentionally miss the mark.

 

At some point, in spite of fame and fortune, Bonn Scott understood, or became subconsciously aware of, his lack of righteousness and gave up striving toward it. He became comfortable only when he was too numbed by alcohol to consider his failures, because doing so would mean admitting he was a sinner, or admitting he wasn’t God. His goal then, became death. Death over facing truth. He chose to live fast and hard, not caring about negative consequences, because those consequences would serve his goal.

 

Bonn Scott’s death by misadventure can serve as a lesson to us all, if we are paying attention. Do you want to die amiss? Without purpose? Are you striving to miss the mark? To accept life as a misadventure? What is the cost of doing so?

 

There is an alternate, and the alternate is true adventure.

What is true adventure? Is it something you decide is fun? Is it something someone decides to tell you is their idea of fun? Is adventure an escape from reality? Is it temporary relief from pain? Is it just not being bored?

The key is to ask: what does adventure, in its purest form, lead to? The answer is joy. Humans experience joy through exhilaration, sensation, unification, justification, even domination, among others. But what type of joy lasts? Where does joy come from? Which joy is the most enduring and meaningful? Which joy can we harbor in our very soul and count on foundationally to lean on day in and day out, regardless of the curveballs life throws our way?

 

Essentially, a joy that gets renewed every day, is the only joy with enough sustainability to endure life’s trials. What could possibly renew joy every day? Hope.

 

Isn’t hope hollow? Like the promises of a politician? It certainly can be, if the hope is placed in anything temporary. But what happens when hope is placed in eternity? If eternity never goes away, does the hope of eternity go away? Not if it’s grounded in something concrete and equally eternal.

 

The Bible tells of us such a grounded, concrete, eternal hope, hope that leads to joy, a joy which leads us on a true, meaningful, soul satisfying adventure. 

(See the verses posted below for just some of the joy God provides for us.)

 

Lasting joy comes by way of being right, or not failing. You, nor I, can ever achieve that ideal, but we can accept it as a gift from the God of Heaven by way of his humble act of giving Himself in our place as atonement for the failures we commit.

 

The answer to attaining the righteousness required for eternal joy is Jesus’s sacrificial act on the cross, and act which overcame sin and was indeed the satisfaction and overcomer of the ineptness of mankind’s sins. Christ bridged the gap between the sins of man and the perfection of God.

 

To summarize:

Until the time eternity begins we can rest in the assurity of eternal hope and walk daily on a true, meaningful adventure, knowing the adventure leads to a joy-filled destination.

In other words, we can reach Heaven by accepting that Jesus is God and He died in place of our sins so that we might find hope now and joy eternal.

 

Bible verses about joy:

 

John 17:13

But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves

 

Psalm 16:11

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

 

1 Peter 1:8-9

…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 

Acts 16:29-34

And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

 

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Isaiah 35:10

And the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

 

Isaiah 55:12

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

 

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

 

Psalm 4:7

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

 

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

 

Psalm 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure

 

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

 

Psalm 19:8

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

 

Psalm 20:5

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

 

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

 

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 

Psalm 30:11

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

 

Psalm 71:23

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you–I, whom you have redeemed.

 

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.

 

Isaiah 12:2-3

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

 

Matthew 13:44

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

 

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

 

Acts 2:28

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

 

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

 

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

 

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

 

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

 

Psalm 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure

 

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

 

Psalm 19:8

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

 

Psalm 20:5

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

 

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

 

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 

Psalm 30:11

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

 

Psalm 71:23

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you–I, whom you have redeemed.

 

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.

 

Isaiah 12:2-3

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

 

Matthew 13:44

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

 

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

 

Acts 2:28

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

 

Philippians 4:4

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

 

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

 

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

 

Psalm 32:11

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

 

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Sources: 

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Fulness-Of-Joy

https://www.marydemuth.com/25-verses-about-abundance-joy-just-for-you/

https://unlockingthebible.org/2017/05/21-bible-verses-about-joy/