End the Year with JOYful Thanksgiving

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   It will be such a blessing if you’ll learn to drink it faithfully!

            As we near the end of 2011, I’d like to thank each of you who have listened to my radio programs or read this blog throughout the past year and sipped your JOY JUICE along with me each day. As we reflect back over the year, each of us had some unexpected things to happen…some good, some bad.  There were times of joyful celebration…and there were tough times like deaths of loved ones, health issues, marriages that fell apart. Where is the joy in those kinds of things?

            Keep in mind that God never promised us that we’d always be HAPPY! Instead, through people like Paul and James, He reminded us often that we will have trials and tribulations throughout our life!  But even then, we can have JOY.  It’s in the truth that GOD will be there to walk with us through those tough times…and we’ll be better for having gone through them.

            James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

• Thank you God for being with us through the times of heartache.
• Thank you, Father, for giving us your strength when we didn’t think we could make it!
• Thank you, Lord, for friends and family who come along beside us when we need help or to celebrate with us in times of happiness.

 I’d also like to thank God today for the blessing of YOU and the opportunity to share our love and joy of the Lord!  May the New Year be FILLED TO OVERFLOWING with HIS JOY!

Listen for God's Amazing Gift of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll fill you with amazing JOY!

            This week after Christmas we’ve been following Mary and Joseph as they took Jesus to the temple to be consecrated.  There they met Simeon and were amazed at the words that came from his heart and mouth. My Bible footnote explains that they were amazed for three reasons:

1. Simeon said that Jesus was a gift from God.
2. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Simeon said Jesus would be a light to the entire world.

How did he know these things?  By the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

This was the second time that Mary had been greeted with a prophecy about her son. You remember the first time---when Elizabeth welcomed her as the mother of her Lord. Can you imagine what must have been going through Mary’s mind?  All kinds of questions, I’m sure.  But her faith remained strong and she was willing to be God’s loyal servant.

            God speaks to us today, if we will only listen.  Many times He speaks and leads, yet we don’t understand all the details.  My prayer is that we will be like Mary and have a faith so strong that we will remain faithful and loyal…even when it seems things don’t make sense.  We can trust that God knows the plan and our part is to follow obediently one step at a time.

            Never give up on God…remain faithful and He will continue to amaze you and fill you with His JOY.

AMAZING JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s an amazing drink that makes you feel warm and JOYful from the inside out!  You may even want to sing!

            Christmas Day has come and gone, but let’s remember that the JOY of Christmas can last the whole year through!  We should “marvel” at the goodness of God for sending His Son to the earth for us.  We should see the “amazing” truth that without Him, we are lost.

            Let’s revisit the passage in Luke that tells about Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple and meeting Simeon.  Verses 29-32 tell us that Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit and knew that he was meeting the Messiah, Christ.  He was overjoyed…and broke out in a “song” of sorts.  Here are his words again:

 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
   you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
 and the glory of your people Israel.” 

And verse 33 tells us about how Joseph and Mary reacted to Simeon’s words:
"The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him."


            Do you see all the joy in this short passage?  Simeon….overflowing with joy for living long enough to see the Messiah…singing praises to God.  And then Mary and Joseph quietly marveling over the continued revelation of God and that they had been chosen to be Jesus’ earthly parents.

            It doesn’t matter whether we loudly rejoice or quietly marvel over God’s goodness.  The important thing is to praise Him…joyfully….for His love.

Sing a Song of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t stop singing the songs of joy simply because Christmas Day is over!

            This month we’ve made it our mission to be on the lookout for examples of JOY throughout the Biblical account of the birth of Christ.  We talked about many of the familiar parts of the story….like the angels singing to the shepherds and the presentation of the gifts to Jesus by the wise men.  But so often we stop there…

            Well, as Paul Harvey used to say, “Here’s the ‘rest of the story!’”  In Luke 2: 25 – 31 we read,  “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
   you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations"


            Joseph and Mary had taken Jesus to the temple to be consecrated to God according to the Law. There they met old Simeon who knew by the Holy Spirit’s revelation that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah! JOY flooded his heart….so much so that he felt his life was now complete.  He praised God for allowing him to live long enough to see Christ.
             Let’s praise God, as Simeon did, for the birth of Jesus and for sending us a Savior!

The JOY of JESUS

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s just the thing we need to keep the Christmas JOY in our hearts.

            We've just celebrated Christmas Day…the day set aside for celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Often we get so wrapped up in the activities and gift swapping that we don’t allow ourselves the time to bask in the wonder of this awesome event.  Let’s take just a moment to reflect on what the birth of this tiny baby truly means to each of us personally.

• First….God loves us!
• He proved that love by sending His Son to earth.
• From the beginning His plan was that Jesus would be born and live as a man among us.   In Isaiah 7:14 we read: “ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

• Through this miraculous birth came hope.  No one would argue that our world is sinful and in so many ways, HOPELESS!  Yet, Jesus Christ was born into the world as our Savior. And our source of HOPE.
• He willing gave His life to pay the penalty for my sins and yours. That means that when we accept him into our hearts and lives, we are guaranteed to spend eternity with Him.  Now…..THAT should bring us Christmas JOY all year round!

Let's take a few minutes today to ponder, meditate and praise God for His “unspeakable gift”…the gift of JOY in the form of a baby named Jesus.

Note of JOY from JOYce

Just in case you've noticed, I've not blogged for the past few days....I've been JOYfully celebrating Christmas with our family.  We were blessed to have them ALLLLLL here with us for a few days.  Oh, my!  What a blessing.  I'll try to catch up on the "JOY JUICE" devotionals that I missed posting.  Thanks for reading the blog and for being such a JOYful encouragement to me.  

PLEASE feel free to make comments on this page from time to time.  I love hearing from you!

JOYfully His......JOYce

Glorify and Praise God with JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll fill your heart with glory and praise as we celebrate the birth of Christ!!

            Tomorrow is Christmas Eve…and most of us still have a few (or more than a few) errands to run and things to do to be ready for the big day: but don’t panic! Instead, remember that this whole month we’ve been seeking Christmas JOY.  We’ve found some unexpected examples of JOY tucked into the scriptures. Christmas Day is too close to give up and lose that JOY now…..so let’s hang in there together!

             Let’s look back again at the joyful shepherds after they had seen the baby Jesus lying in the manger. Verse 20 of Luke 2 says: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

            They were glorifying and praising God…WITH JOY, people!  That’s what we should be doing every day, not just at Christmas! Why are we so bold about some things, yet so timid about sharing our faith?  We don’t want to offend; we don’t want to be politically incorrect; we don’t want to infringe upon someone’s rights? We can come up with a multitude of excuses.

            The shepherds didn’t seem to be shy about sharing what they had seen and heard!  Their faith was strong and they were excited to be a part of this great world-changing event. They were filled with exceeding, abundant JOY!  And we can be, too!  By accepting the truth found in scripture and sharing it with those around us!

           My Christmas prayer for YOU is that you will have the merriest, most JOYful Christmas ever!  Be sure to invite Jesus to be your special guest as you glorify and praise Him above all.

Share the JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Make sure you are sharing some with others…especially those in need!

            During the Christmas season…as well as at other times during the year…it’s the natural tendency for people to think about what WE WANT!  We talk about making our Christmas wish list and we drop hints about what WE would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning.

            This year…..rather than fixating on what WE WANT or what we THINK we NEED, let’s make a conscious effort to take our eyes off of ourselves and, instead, look at others around us.  There are many who have all kinds of needs:

• Physical
• Financial
• Emotional
• Spiritual

Ask God to reveal to you someone who needs an extra expression of His love

during this holiday season….and then volunteer to be His “mouthpiece” and the deliverer of true Christmas JOY. Tell them about Jesus! That’s what the shepherds did…remember?  In Luke 2, we read that “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

            If we would go about our days with the same exuberance and boldness as the shepherds did, after learning of the birth of Jesus Christ, then we’d find limitless opportunities to share with others.  What a joy it would be to witness the “amazement” of others….as the shepherds did! 

            When people learn of God’s amazing goodness and GRACE, then they will experience His amazing Christmas JOY!

Savor the CHRISTmas JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Just a few more days ‘til Christmas…so let’s savor the moments of JOY!

            Soon after baby Jesus was born, the scriptures tell us that the shepherds came to see him.  They were thrilled over what the Lord had revealed to them.  Luke 2:18 tell us that “all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

            As we focus on those words describing Mary’s reaction to this miracle of God, we will find another serving of JOY!   Mary “treasured up all these things”…..To me that means that she savored every moment of what had happened and went over it in her heart and mind time and time again.  She didn’t understand every detail of God’s plan, but she knew she was His instrument and was willing to do whatever she was called to do.  The fact that she was chosen by God was certainly something for her to “treasure”.

            What does it mean when the scripture says she “pondered (these things) in her heart” ?  Do you ever ponder?  That means to “reflect deeply on a subject”.  We ponder things that are important to us and close to our heart, don’t we?

Imagine Mary gazing with love at the baby Jesus, reflecting on what His life would bring…pondering how she could nurture and care for this Christ-child the way God would have her to.  Her thoughts must have been overflowing with thanksgiving and love…and JOY.

As we prepare our hearts for the upcoming Christmas day, let’s ponder the awesome love of God! JESUS is the reason for Christmas JOY!

The GIFT of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Slowly drink in the JOY of the Lord this morning instead of panicking about all you still have to do before Christmas Day!

            Many of us still have gifts to buy, parties to attend and Christmas baking to do…If we’re not careful, we’ll lose our joy.  The important thing is that we stay focused on WHY we’re celebrating the season….and we know that JESUS is that reason!  So today, instead of stressing over the gifts we’ve not yet bought or wrapped, let’s talk about the gifts the Magi gave to Jesus.

            Matthew 2:11 says: "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

My Bible footnote explains: The Magi gave these expensive gifts because they were worthy presents for a future king.  These gifts are symbolic of Christ’s identity and what he would accomplish.  Gold was a gift for a king; frankincense, a gift for deity; myrrh, a spice for a person who was going to die.

The Magi brought gifts and worshipped Jesus for who he was.  This is the essence of true worship---honoring Christ for who he is and being willing to give him what is valuable to you.

            As Christmas approaches, why don’t we find our special way of giving to Christ?  It doesn’t have to be gold or frankincense or myrrh…..  It could be your time, your service, your love.  I believe that the best Christmas gift you could give to Jesus would be to JOYfully give Him “YOURSELF”. 

            Wrap yourself with  His love and give your heart to Christ!

Christmas Flavored JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  In less than a week, Christmas will be here, so drink up your special recipe of holiday flavored JOY JUICE.

            The whole month of December we’ve been on a quest to find as much JOY as possible in the real Christmas story.  There are limitless servings of JOY throughout the verses which tell of this awesome event. From the angels to the shepherds, from the forerunner of Jesus, John and his parents, to the modest stable in which Jesus was born….we can find JOY.

            Today, let’s look for the JOY found in the star which was placed in the sky to signal the arrival of the long awaited Messiah, Jesus!  Matthew 2: 1-2 gives this account:

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’”

Then verse 9 tells us: After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.”

            These wise men traveled thousands of miles searching for a king, and they found him! No wonder they were overjoyed!  Are you searching for the King?  He’s already found YOU….and is willing to come into your heart and bring you much JOY. 

            Shine like the Christmas star by radiating Jesus and His love!!!

Share the JOYful News!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  The shepherds drank it when they learned of the birth of Jesus Christ.

            The book of Luke gives an exciting account of the Christmas story.  When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were “on the job”…out in the fields watching their flocks.  These may have been shepherds who supplied the lambs for the temple sacrifices that were performed for the forgiveness of sin.  But when the angel came to them, they were invited to greet the long awaited LAMB OF GOD, who would take away the sins of the world forever! (Life Application Bible footnote) What a supreme example of love and the best reason for JOY that anyone could have!

            Let's read verses 15-18 of Luke 2: 

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

      So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what they shepherds said to them.

            Do you sense the JOYful excitement in that passage?  The shepherds never doubted for a second that what the angels had said was truth….And they put action to their faith!  They HURRIED OFF, the Bible says.  They didn’t sit around in a shepherd committee meeting trying to decide what they should do next!  They were of one accord and they hurried to see the baby. And don’t miss what they did next…..they SPREAD THE WORD!  Shouldn’t we do the same? 

           At every opportunity, let’s tell others the JOYful news that Jesus Christ is born!

Meekness and JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Trust me! It’s the right thing to do!

            Do you ever wonder why Jesus’ birth was announced first to the shepherds?  Max Lucado writes in his book One Incredible Moment  that it was because of their meekness and willingness to accept that God knew what He was doing.  He goes on to write that “had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries.  Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching.  Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.

            So he went to the shepherds.  Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb.  Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough…"

            In other words, the shepherds were meek men who accepted the truth without question.  So where’s the JOY in this part of the Christmas story?  It’s found in the meekness of the shepherds…their tender hearts toward God.  Keep in mind that meekness is not weakness.  It’s quite the opposite.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our thoughts, words, actions, desires; when we’re completely surrendered to God in all areas of our lives, we’ll be developing the fruit of meekness….and that leads to MUCH JOY in the Lord.

            Let’s follow the shepherds to the place of meekness and drink in the Christmas joy that can be freely ours.

ANNOUNCING-------CHRISTMAS JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I have a great announcement just for you! Christmas flavored JOY JUICE is now available … free of charge!

            When new parents announce their precious little one’s arrival, they may do so in a variety of ways.  They may:

• Send out cards
• Pick up the telephone and call
• Send a message via text, email, twitter or facebook.

No matter how they share their good news, their excitement and JOY are evident! 

            Do you remember the birth announcement of ALL birth announcements?  It’s found in Luke 2:10-14:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord .And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

            The greatest event in history had just happened!   And the announcement came to humble shepherds.  The JOY found in this part of the Christmas story is that Jesus came for ALL…including the plain and the ordinary.  He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him.   Don’t think you need extraordinary qualifications---he accepts you just as you are! (Life App. Bible footnote) 

           Announcing the joyful reason we can celebrate the season: JESUS CHRIST IS BORN!

Never Fear!!! Christmas JOY is here!!!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Never fear! Drink it with cheer!

            Ever gotten a phone call in the middle of the night awakening you from a deep sleep…your heart’s pounding, expecting bad news, but instead you hear something like “our baby was born a few minutes ago and we couldn’t wait til morning to share the good news!”.  You go from fright to relief and joy in the matter of seconds.

            Let’s just imagine how the shepherds felt when they were visited by the angels in the middle of the night….proclaiming the birth of the Messiah, Jesus!  I’m sure they were scared out of their sandals at first, but then they experienced joy beyond description.  Luke 2: 8-11 tells us happened:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

            This Christmas won’t you be prepared for the abundant joy that can be yours by trusting in God’s providence?  What you might see as something to fear, may be His way of bringing you great joy in the days to come!

            Remember: there's not need to fear.... for through Jesus, Christmas JOY is here!

Squeeze the JOY from the Christmas Story!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Join me as we look for joy throughout the Christmas story.

  We don’t want to miss out on one single drop of joy juice that can be squeezed from the truth of scripture.  If we’re genuinely craving it , we’ll taste joy like never before…..so let’s look for generous servings of the good stuff!

            The passage in Luke 2 overflows with reasons we celebrate this season.  Verses 4-7 tell us….. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

            The obvious JOY in these verses is the birth of Jesus! But let’s not miss the magnitude and importance of this event.  By the decree of Emperor Augustus, Jesus was born in the very town prophesied many years prior in Micah 5:2….even though Mary and Joseph didn’t live there.

            Do you see the abundant joy in that part of the story?  God had every single detail planned before the beginning of time.  And He did it because of His love for you and me!  Oh, what a delicious serving of Christmas joy that should be to each of us!

           Drink in the joy of the season and look for ways to share it with others.

Too Old for JOY? NEVER!!!!!!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t think you’re too old to drink it!  It’s for people of ALL ages….and it makes a great Christmas gift!

            We don’t know exactly how old Zechariah and Elizabeth were when they found out that they were going to be parents, but the Bible is clear that they were in their older years.  Humanly thinking, they were past the age of child bearing.  But….God’s ways are not our ways; He proves that over and over again, doesn’t He?!

            When told he would have a son, Zechariah doubted the angel’s message.  From Zechariah’s human perspective, his doubts were understandable—but with God, anything is possible! Even in their old age, God gave them a child.  It is often easy to doubt or misunderstand what God wants to do in our lives.  Even God’s people sometimes make the mistake of trusting their intellect or experience rather than God. We must remember that His power is not confined by narrow perspective or bound by human limitations.  We can trust Him completely! (NIV Life Application Bible footnote 1:18)

            As the Christmas countdown is on and we’re planning parties, buying gifts and practicing for musical programs celebrating the season, let’s pause long enough to look for the unexpected joy that God wants to richly “gift” us with.  Don’t limit what He wants to give you.  No matter what our age, there is still much more joy in our relationship with Christ!

             Open your hands & your heart; and get ready to receive that extra sweet gift of

                                        Christmas JOY!

Christmas JOY....Abundantly Deeeelicious!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s ABUNDANTLY delicious!

            We’re on a journey this month….unwrapping gifts of joy found in and around the Christmas story.  Yesterday we looked at Zechariah and Elizabeth, John’s parents.  This family played such an important role in preparing the way for Jesus, our Savoir.

            When the angel came to Zechariah in the Holy Place as he was doing his “priestly duties”, he was VERY human!  He was frightened!  Wouldn’t you be if an angel appeared before you and began to talk?!  Here’s the passage, Luke 1:

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.... ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord……—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

            The angel’s message was just too good to be true, Zechariah thought! Isn’t that just like us humans?  God sends an OBVIOUS message….and we doubt how it could be!  Our God is a limitless, powerful God.  And if He says it, we can bank on it!  So, this Christmas season, let’s believe that OUR GOD is able to fill our hearts with ABUNDANT CHRISTMAS JOY! 

            I'm clearing out a space for all the Christmas joy!  Won’t you do the same?

           

Unexpected JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink up and get your heart prepared for a joyful Christmas season!

            The entire month of December we’re going to be looking for examples of joy found in the Christmas story….some are obvious, some are not. 

            Today let’s look John’s parents….Zechariah and Elizabeth…for an example of unexpected joy.  These two weren’t just outwardly compliant to God’s laws; they were inwardly obedient.  The scripture describes them in Luke as being upright in the sight of God.

            My Bible commentary explains:

Zechariah was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were known for their personal holiness.  They were well suited to doing a special work for God.  But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered not having God’s blessing. They were both old and had almost given up hope.

            One day, when Zechariah was on duty as priest at the temple, he was chosen to enter the “Holy Place” and burn incense.  Incense was burned in the temple so that when the people saw the smoke, they were reminded to pray.  The smoke drifting toward heaven symbolized their prayers ascending to God’s throne. 

            While in the Holy Place, an angel appeared to Zechariah and told him the UNEXPECTED but JOYful news! He and Elizabeth would have a son.    “He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth…” said the angel in Luke 1:14.

            Find the unexpected joy in every aspect of this Christmas. 

God's Perfect Plan of JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking your Christmas Joy Juice will put a song in your heart!

            You recall in the book of Luke, when Mary went to visit Elizabeth and they exchanged greetings, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb—JOHN—leaped with joy.  Elizabeth knew through the Holy Spirit’s revelation that the baby Mary was carrying was, indeed, the Messiah!  Let’s not miss the significance of these two women and these two babies, their relationship and how God chose to use them.

            John was the God-appointed messenger to announce the arrival of Jesus.  Though he grew up to be a very unique fellow, he didn’t aim toward that kind of reputation!  His goal was obedience to God.  He knew he had been created for a special role---to tell about Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah!

            As Christmas approaches, this would be such a perfect time to seek the Lord’s purpose for each of our lives.  We’re not all meant to be a John…or a Mary or Elizabeth.  But we ARE all called to His purpose. God can use you in a way that you may not even be aware of….if you are willing.  Do you remember Mary’s response when the angel revealed to her that she would be the mother of Jesus?

“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

            Each of us should make that our heart’s cry. When we offer ourselves as a willing vessel through which God can work, then we will be overflowing with the JOY of the Lord!

            If you’re not sure of your purpose, just keep drinking the Joy Juice of Jesus and ask the Lord to reveal His perfect plan in his perfect time.

Sing a Song of Christmas JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s extra sweet this time of year!

            With Christmas being only a few short weeks away, many of us have already begun to purchase gifts for those we love.  Gifts that will be placed under the Christmas tree or given at parties or family get-togethers.  And while it is such a pleasure to see the smiles of delight on our loved ones’ faces as they open their presents, let’s not forget that Jesus is what Christmas is all about.

            It brings joy to my heart to read and re-read the passage known as Mary’s song in Luke 1:46 – 55.  May I share just a portion of it with you today?   

            And Mary said:

                  “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Might One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

            If we were to write our own song regarding how we profess our love for the Lord, would it be filled with joy…as Mary’s was?  Does your soul glorify the Lord?  Does your spirit rejoice in God our Savior? Mary’s joy stemmed from a heart of servitude and humility. She was willing to accept her role with graciousness, trusting that God’s plan was best.  THAT is why she was chosen to be the joyful mother of Jesus.

          Let’s follow Mary’s example and sing a song of Christmas joy as we accept God’s plan for our lives.   

Mary's JOYful News

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Share some Christmas JOY JUICE with your friends and relatives!

            When Mary found out that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, the angel also informed her that her relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby.  Mary could hardly wait to visit Elizabeth, so they could share their “secrets” which had been revealed to them.

            Remember, they didn’t have telephones or email.  They couldn’t text one another back and forth or have a Skype video chat.  They had to actually travel by foot or donkey to visit one another.  Listen to the account of the first visit after the angel had brought the good news.

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!  Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

            Did you hear all the JOY JUICE that was flowing from that passage?  CHRISTMAS JOY JUICE….  The Holy Spirit had spoken truth into Elizabeth’s heart and she knew that the baby Mary was carrying was the Messiah.  Just hearing those words spoken through Elizabeth must have been such a source of encouragement, faith and joy for Mary. 

            May God reveal Himself so vividly during this Christmas season that you find your own heart leaping with JOY!

Signs of Christmas JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Are you being obedient and drinking it faithfully?

            As we reflect on the Christmas story, let each of us be reminded of the many reasons for joy found in the birth of Christ.  Some of the signs of joy are like flashing neon lights which immediately grab our attention. But others are somewhat obscure---and if we don’t have on our “Jesus glasses”, we might miss them.

            For example, let’s go again to the book of Luke.  In chapter 1, verse 38, Mary makes a simple, yet profound declaration of her faith.  Her words were:

“I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said.”

            Through an angel, God had revealed to her that she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah!  And though she really could not understand the magnitude of this truth, nor how it could be…she relinquished control and gave herself totally to the plan of God.  She was willing….and she knew that GOD was able.

            Mary sets a powerful example for us all!  God’s will was most important to her.   She gave herself freely and completely to His service.  “I am the Lord’s servant. (were her words)  May it be to me as you have said.”   Is this our heart’s desire?  To serve Him regardless of how the world may perceive us?  It is only when we have a heart like Mary’s that we will truly understand the JOY of Christmas.

            Let’s serve Him with JOY as we celebrate the season.