Happy Birthday, Jesus!

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Merry Christmas! Christmas Day, the perfect time for celebrating with joy!

            Our hearts should be overflowing!  “JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME! LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!”

            This is the day we have set aside to honor the birth of Jesus.  Let’s not lose that truth amidst all the packages, people, food and fun!  Sure, it’s a wonderful blessing to be able to share this day with our loved ones. But may we never forget to give God  thanks for His “indescribable gift” of Jesus.

            Let’s celebrate His birth throughout this Christmas day.  It’s very appropriate that we sing  “Happy Birthday, dear Jesus”.  Singing is a wonderful way to praise and worship our Savior…for all of us, young and old.

            Listen to how the angels sang in Luke 2: 13-14:  “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!’ "

            Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas Day. Hope you’ve invited Jesus to be your guest of honor.  May your day be filled with  JOY beyond description!

Happy Birthday, dear Jesus! And Merry Christmas, dear friends!  

A Joy-filled Christmas Eve

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Perk a big pot full, because it’s Christmas Eve! 

            As a child, I remember bubbling over with excitement every Christmas Eve!  My siblings and I could hardly go to sleep because of the joyful anticipation of what Christmas morning would bring.

            In the Christmas story in Luke 2, we read about the excitement of an unlikely group, the shepherds.  They usually didn’t have a lot to be excited about…but on that special night, they were in store for much joy and excitement!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified!  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” 

            Talk about a birth announcement!!  At first the shepherds were afraid, but their fear was transformed into great JOY when they heard the good news.  Their Savior had been born…our Savior!

            On this Christmas Eve, let’s ask God to fill our hearts with the wonder of this blessed event, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Ask Him for child-like excitement and anticipation---not about the gifts we’ll receive tonight or tomorrow, but about THE GIFT we have already received!  Accept Him with great JOY!!!!!

Get excited! It’s time to celebrate the birth of the King! JOY TO THE WORLD!  

Gifts of Gratitude, Love & Joy

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s sure to bring you lots of Christmas cheer!

We’ve talked this week about some of the traditions of Christmas.  We’ve hung the wreath in honor of God’s unending love; we’ve put up our Christmas tree and decorated our surroundings with beautiful poinsettias. We’ve even used candy canes as a reminder of Jesus, our Shepherd. I think we may be ready to place those gifts under the tree.

Why do we give gifts at Christmas time?  Do we do it out of obligation?  Are we just trying to “keep score” because someone has given us a gift? If we give with this attitude, then gift-giving will be a chore rather than a JOY.  Let’s take a lesson from the Magi…

Listen as I read Matthew 2:10 & 11. “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.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”  Their act of giving was an expression of love and honor.

            This Christmas as we give our Christmas gifts to one another, may we first stop to worship our Savior, as did the Magi.  If we will put Him first, then our giving to others will be a reflection of the JOY of JESUS in our hearts.

Give the gifts of gratitude, love and joy by giving honor to Jesus, the One who deserves our heartfelt gifts.  Merry Christmas!