Celebrate with Joy

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

  We don’t want to miss one single drop of joy that can be squeezed from the truth of scripture.  If we’re genuinely craving it, we’ll taste joy in a fresh, new way! 

            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! 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 is sovereign! He had every 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.

Open Your Hands and Your Heart for Joy!

            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!

Abundant Christmas Joy

            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 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 frightened!  Wouldn’t you be if an angel appeared before you and began to talk?!  Here’s the passage…in 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 seemed too good to be true, Zechariah thought! Isn’t that just like us? God sends an OBVIOUS message….and we doubt how it could be! We must remember that our God is a limitless, all-powerful God.  And if He says it, we can believe it!  So, this Christmas season, let’s trust that OUR GOD is able to fill our hearts with ABUNDANT CHRISTMAS JOY! 

            Let's make room in our hearts for Christmas joy!