Are You Ready for Joy?

Oh, the Christmas Season is upon us, and I love it!

I love the preparation, the carols, the delight on the children’s faces. It brings me such joy.

We have started going to the end of the year Christmas concerts, where our grandchildren are participating in the singing or dancing components. One of my granddaughter’s was practicing her singing around the house one afternoon. Her Mum asked her what she was doing. She stopped and explained that she was practising the songs for the Christmas Concert. After listening a bit longer her Mum interrupted her and asked, “oh whose Xavier?”

Her daughter replied, “that’s Jesus’ other name.”

Her Mum, holding back a chuckle, replied, “You mean the Saviour.”

The greatest joy I ever saw on someone’s face due to the joy of Christmas was at a concert our granddaughter Hannah was in. She goes to a special needs school and each year presents an item at the Christmas Concert. Some of the year groups combine to present the item. There was one class where they were singing to a rap song and three of the boys were jumping up and down the whole song, full of energy, joy and enthusiasm. I could not stop laughing and smiling at the joy that was literally exploding from their bodies. They loved just participating. But I think the audience watching them had just as much fun. At least I did.

What Joy are you ready for? What Joy are you giving to others this Christmas?

The angels told us to expect “Joy to the World!”

But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 NRSV

Good news of Great JOY!

When the Three wise Kings – the Maggi – went looking for the Messiah that was prophesied and they followed the Star Of Bethlehem they were “overwhelmed with joy.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 

Matthew 2:9-10 NRSV

This JOY sensation is part of Christmas and spills over us onto others. So again, I ask, what Joy are you going to decide to bring to others at this time?

Start now. Do things of joy for the whole month.

“Joy made me do it!” should be our slogan.

For it is all because of The Saviour!

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Are you expecting Joy this Christmas? Why or why not?

How could you spread joy to other people in your life?