Have you sung the song “Joy to the world the Lord is come” this season? What about the children’s classic, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart”? In Luke 2:10 we read “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”
This week our Advent focus is Joy. It is a word that we hear and use a lot during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Stop and think for a moment. What is joy? How do you define this word to your congregation, your family, and your neighbors? Where, in your own life, do you derive your joy? Does your joy come from a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, a Christmas bonus check that arrives unexpectedly, or a gift that sits underneath the tree with your name on it?
Or, does your joy come from somewhere deep in your heart and soul? The eternal joy of the Lord is the gift of faith that we experience each and every moment of our lives when we claim for ourselves Jesus Christ as our Savior. The joy of our Lord is not external and temporal. It cannot be measured by our bank accounts, the size of our homes, or even the number of gifts we receive and share this year. The joy of the Lord is internal and eternal!
The 2008 Family Advent Calendar leads us through the last days of Advent with some creative devotions and activities around the word “joy”. I would recommend these to you and to your family. This week as you prepare for the final days in Advent, Christmas Eve Services, and Christmas day celebrations how will you proclaim the true joy of the Lord that the angel first shared with the shepherds long ago?
Enjoy these days of anticipation, excitement, and waiting!
For the joy of the Lord is ours!
Merry Christmas!
Rev. Michelle Foster
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