The word Joy is also an acrostic that contains the recipe for that commodity. J. esus first. O.thers second Y.ourself last.
As we have learned and practice in the evergreen sermon series, all Israel wanted was a Messiah, for Christmas. When their expectations did not match what God the Father sent; Jesus, they fell into despair. But listen to the reaction of unborn John and his mother Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41 Even the unborn dance with joy in the presence of the Messiah.
O. stands for others. One of my favorite Christmas carols is; Hark the Herald written by Charles Wesley. The opening goes like this; Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
This hymn reminds me if I have Jesus, I have the joy all nations desire. It reminds me of the great joy we experience when we share Jesus with others in words and deeds. Having, a tough holiday? The miracle cure is to simply be Jesus to someone else.
Y. stands for yourself. Rich with detail, the record of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-16) reveals to us a central truth: we’re called to worship Jesus—the Messiah who came to save us. Granted, we can’t always slow down the events of life, but our worship shouldn’t be based on our external circumstances. It should be based on what God has done and the glory of His Son. May we follow the shepherds’ example and glorify and praise God this Christmas: “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).
We are all doughnuts, we all have a God-shaped hole, that only Jesus can fill. Christmas joy is impossible without the Christ!
As we have learned and practice in the evergreen sermon series, all Israel wanted was a Messiah, for Christmas. When their expectations did not match what God the Father sent; Jesus, they fell into despair. But listen to the reaction of unborn John and his mother Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41 Even the unborn dance with joy in the presence of the Messiah.
O. stands for others. One of my favorite Christmas carols is; Hark the Herald written by Charles Wesley. The opening goes like this; Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
This hymn reminds me if I have Jesus, I have the joy all nations desire. It reminds me of the great joy we experience when we share Jesus with others in words and deeds. Having, a tough holiday? The miracle cure is to simply be Jesus to someone else.
Y. stands for yourself. Rich with detail, the record of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-16) reveals to us a central truth: we’re called to worship Jesus—the Messiah who came to save us. Granted, we can’t always slow down the events of life, but our worship shouldn’t be based on our external circumstances. It should be based on what God has done and the glory of His Son. May we follow the shepherds’ example and glorify and praise God this Christmas: “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).
We are all doughnuts, we all have a God-shaped hole, that only Jesus can fill. Christmas joy is impossible without the Christ!
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