I lost my Christmas JOY. Let me show you where I found it.

Every year I make a vow that this Christmas will be different. As I intentionally slow down to embrace the true meaning, I scale back on gift giving and activities. Trying not to overload myself or my calendar, I reflect on the things that bring me joy, scrapping those things that do not. And every year, about this time, I completely lose it! Do you know what I mean?

Overwhelmed with last minute gifts to buy, goodies to make and parties to attend, the joy of Christmas gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Yet, as I look around, joy is everywhere, if I will only stop and notice.

My first reminder came as I poured my morning coffee, not noticing the words on the mug, “Scatter Joy”. I plopped down on the couch, flipping my Living Bible open to Romans 5:1-5, my devotion for the day. The heading read, “Peace and Joy”. Hear these words;

“we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 

For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand,

and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be. 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. 

And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 

Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well,

for we know how dearly God loves us,

and we feel this warm love everywhere within us

because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

These words literally warm me, filling me with peace and  joy. Could it be “knowing all is well because God loves me” actually leads me to joy? I look up, noticing my Christmas picture hanging on the wall with the word “JOY’ on it. Another reminder, joy is everywhere.

Sitting in church later that day, the pastor lights the third advent candle explaining it represents joy. He reminds us of the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s coming. I smile, thanking God for His gentle reminders. I want to live in a state of joyful anticipation of our Lord’s coming. This season reminds us as we prepare for our savior’s birth, we not only prepare our homes, we prepare our hearts. 

Christmas is a reminder of Jesus being birthed for each of us. We can be joyful knowing that in Christ’s coming into this world and into our hearts, “we can joyfully look forward to becoming all that God has in mind for us to be. We can trust God, holding our heads high knowing all is well,  for we are dearly loved by God!”

So this Christmas season, let me encourage you to slow down and maybe even stop. Take time to read the story from Luke, Chapter 2. “Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

On Christmas day, so long ago, Christ was born for you! When we grasp this realization,we will join those heavenly host of long ago, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” We are those men and women on whom his favor rests. So go forth today, noticing the joy that is all around you and within you. Scatter joy to those who may not have any and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. Not the gifts or the goodies, but the birth of Jesus Christ in each of our hearts, a birth which leads to life everlasting and joy unexplainable!

Let us pray;

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, thank you that you love us so much, you gave us your son. Today, we welcome the birth of Jesus into our homes and into our hearts forever. Let us be overwhelmed with your joy. You are our Emmanuel. You are God with us. In Jesus Name, Amen. -M