The Big Joyous Picture

                 Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Make sure you have plenty. If not, you may lose your Christmas spirit! 

                Life is so busy…especially during this time of year.  Let’s not get so preoccupied with the “small stuff” that we miss the “big picture”.  

            What is the “big picture” of Christmas?  Simply put: Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, our Lord of Lords.  Do you recall the Christmas story in the book of Luke when the angel appeared to the shepherds?  At first they were terrified!  But then…they began to see the “big picture”.  Listen to verses 13 & 14 of the 2^nd chapter of Luke: “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 shepherds knew that they were a part of something awesomely wonderful!  The greatest event in history had just happened!  The Messiah had been born.  For ages the Jews had waited for this and when it finally occurred, the announcement came to humble shepherds!    And what did they do? Verse 15 says: “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.’”   They believed…and wanted to see for themselves.

            Do you believe?  Come see for yourself.  Draw close to Jesus so that you can experience that “inexpressible JOY” of knowing Him as your personal Savior.  

            When Jesus is in your heart, you will have a Christmas spirit that will be JOYfully contagious!