Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tuesday’s Devotion: Christmas Joy

Modified and used 12/12/22
Job 8:21        He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.
Psalm 16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in       your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
John 16:20    Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.

I love Christmas; I really do but not so much the accompanying stresses.  For those of us who have already full schedules we often wonder how we will get the decorating, shopping, partying, and card addressing done. Of course for the ones who lead or are active in church we add to that more services, sermons, music to learn, and a host of other church activities. I caught a bad cold before Thanksgiving that will not go away adding another layer of challenges to my Christmas season.  Still the spirit and joy of Christmas is resilient. 

My sermon series for this Advent is Christmas Coffeehouse.  Each Sunday we enjoy a different special brew.  This Sunday I’m offering folks a cup of Christmas Joy.  Just when I was thinking JOY could stand for Just Overwhelmed, Y’all, my son sent me the link to a video of a flash mob in a crowded mall. It started with one Christmas shopper singing Joyful, Joyful we adore Thee, with other carefully placed singers joining in.  They followed that with a number of other Christmas songs.  During the last song a couple dressed as Mary and Joseph and carrying a young dark haired baby stepped into the middle of the mall crowd.  My heart, already lifted was filled with joy.  Our scriptures this morning shows that Joy comes from our Lord.  No matter how busy we get, let’s remember to turn to Him for strength and revitalization.

Holy God, You have always brought joy to your people even in the midst of weeping. Help us to seek and find your joy each day.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a joy-filled day!
Paige

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