Week of Joy!

 

Welcome to Advent week 3 JOY!

I can’t believe next week will be Christmas. We are getting ready to spend our time with family. We will join them for a Christmas Eve service, food and fellowship here in East Tennessee. I just love this time of year!! The weather is mildly cool, and still has some feelings of fall with the leaves, and icy mornings when God just shows off those spectacular whites, and blues with the sunshine on the tree branches.

This week in advent is all about JOY!!

So, I am looking forward to sharing with you what the third week means and look a little deeper at what Joy, Jesus has for us!

 

If you are using an Advent Wreath, this week we light the 3rd candle. The Pink Candle. The Candle of Joy!

How do we describe Joy? Some confuse Joy with Happiness. They are not one in the same. Happiness is a human emotion, a feeling usually created by the things that happen to us or around us.  Joy is the assurance that God is working everything out for our good and His glory. God is in control.

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Psalms 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

1 Peter 4:13 – The Joy that God gives us is a deeper feeling created by knowing that God cares for us. Joy is remembering that God sent Jesus so we would always know of God’s care. Since Joy comes from within we can find it in good and troublesome situations.

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Jesus is God’s gift to us which, not only gave God joy but gives us joy as well.

What a gift! Jesus loves us no matter what we have done, said or thought. He is the only one we can go to in times of sadness, times of joy, (yes, He shares our joy and happiness), times of celebration. We just have to talk to Him. In this time of year we can get overwhelmed, sad, and anxious of ALL THE THINGS that are going on with our schedules and to-do lists.

If we are walking deep with Him, we should really go to God first BEFORE we get all stressed out.

I know, I freak out, get upset easily, eat, and think about the things still on that list. Christmas was not meant to be about gifts and trees, and parties and food and …and…and!! Joy comes in the knowing and leaning in to Christ, let him take care of all that worries you. Take it one day at a time, because I know that next week when the kids are home and we are enjoying our time together…they won’t care that I forgot to bring chips to their Holiday party.

Starting my day with God, in devotion, reading my Bible has helped me tremendously this year. I encourage you to try the same.

There are some great reading plans on YouVersion Bible app, if you search for JOY,  there will be a plan to suit your needs!!

[box] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10 ESV[/box]

 

Final Thoughts

As we come to the final week, let’s prepare our hearts for Jesus. The anticipation of knowing what is coming, can you imagine what Mary and Joseph were thinking in that final week before Jesus was born. The birth of a baby is always a joyous occasion, but this baby, Immanuel, God with us, God’s love in the form of flesh to save us all from our sins, the Greatest Gift of All.

I hope you all have a blessed week. Be sure to Like, Comment, Share, and Pin.