Advent: Comfort and Joy

The closer I get to Christmas, the harder it is to hang onto any comfort and joy. I feel like I am in a full on sprint to get all the gifts bought, wrapped and under the tree. Not to mention the baked goods made and shared at holiday parties. This is not the meaning of Christmas.

I know Christmas has meaning and I might even know what that meaning is. But without comfort and joy, Christmas is just another over-stuffed day. Today, we are going to find our comfort as we remember. We are going to prepare to make room for our Joy.

Two weeks ago, in my blog, Advent: Prepare to make room, we discovered how important it is to carve out time for Jesus. In the preparation of receiving Him, we might have to move some stuff around in our lives.

Last week, in Advent: Joy to the World, we discovered that Jesus is our joy.

Here is the thing, if you want Christmas to have meaning, you have to make it have meaning. Protect it, honor it, rejoice in it. Otherwise, it will slip by like any other day with too much to do and not enough time to do it. So how can we bring comfort and joy to the most celebrated day of the year?

Find your comfort. Find your joy. 

Here are some suggestions;

Pay attention to what brings you comfort and what brings you joy? In our haste, joy is often overlooked. But comfort and joy are the things that bring meaning to any situation.

Comfort can be found in a time of prayer with a close friend who is struggling. Take the time to pray with others and see if it you find comfort.

Joy can be found in a small church Christmas cantata with little angels and shepherds sung by a choir, as I sit on a pew filled with my loved ones.

Comfort is discovered while visiting with my old neighbor up the street, as I listen to them share their favorite Christmas memories.

Joy abounds as my family and I stand on the sidewalk watching a Christmas parade with bands and floats and lights and children marching!

Comfort and joy can be found in many places if we will slow down and pay attention. I find both comfort and joy in scripture. Take time to read the Christmas story out loud with your friends and family. Make it a sacred moment, as you reflect on the Word of God.

Here are some scriptures you can use;

Matthew 1:18-25; “This is how the birth of Jesus came about…”

Isaiah 7:14; The Sign of Immanuel

Luke 2:1-20; “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree…”

Jesus is our Joy!

Sing Christmas carols out loud, alone or together. Watch how much joy is created through song.

Here are a few of my favorites;

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• O Holy Night
• Silent Night
• Joy to the World

This Christmas, I wish you tidings of comfort and joy. More comfort and joy than you could ever imagine. Because when Jesus arrives in just a few short days, we want to be ready to receive Him. We want the day to have significant meaning in our lives. God is the God of both comfort and joy. Prepare to receive everything God has for you!

Let us pray;

Thank you God that you gave us Jesus and He is our Joy! Help us to slow down and prepare to receive Him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. – Christmas isn’t over. Come back next week as we uncover the beauty of the birth and the Glory of God. Leave me a comment below, forward to a friend, and/or share on Facebook. Wishing you tidings of comfort and joy. -M