ADVENT 2023 – Blog #15: December 17 JOY & WONDER

Today marks the third Sunday of Advent, and it is the Sunday that focuses on JOY! Joy is a choice! It is not to be confused with happiness. God really isn't nearly as concerned about our happiness as he is about our salvation, our character, our obedience, our Christian attributes. True JOY is found only in knowing Jesus as our Savior - and thereby knowing our ultimate destination when we leave this world. The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is salvation that brings us joy! 

I first accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 8 3/4 years old. My birth mother died when I was 7 1/2 - and my dad remarried 14 months later. My stepmother was the one who got us into church - and that was where I learned about God, and that Jesus loved me sooooo much that he died for my sins so I could be saved and go live with him FOREVER. It was great Good News, and I accepted Jesus very soon after my folks were married. It was in a little wooden white Assembly of God church in Wilder, Idaho. It was the "new" beginning to my story!

One of the choruses we sang as children was named JOY:

Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy

Jesus and others and you. It's good for each girl and each boy

J is for Jesus. He takes first place. O is for Others you meet face to face 

Y is for You, and whatever you do, just remember: be glad and spell JOY!

That song was a model for our choices, our attitudes, and our behavior. Others were always to be put before ourselves. It is still great modeling of how we are to be as Christians.

Choose JOY!

The other thing that is really on my mind today is WONDER. There is sooooo much to wonder about in the nativity story. I realized for the first time this year, for instance, that the Bible doesn't actually tell us Mary was a young teen when she gave birth to Jesus. We just know she was a virgin. But somewhere in history it was assumed and credited to be a credible part of the story. I alluded to that formerly. It is okay to speculate - but absolutely essential to pose our ideas as ours, not pass them off as 'what the Bible says', and that leaves us with wondering....

How old was Mary?

How old was Joseph?

What ages were they when their parents arranged for them to one day be betrothed and married?

How old was Joseph when Jesus was born?

When was Jesus actually born? (not likely to have been December because the shepherds were out with their flocks)

Where exactly were the Wise Men from?

And how many were there? (Three men certainly wouldn't have been traveling alone. How big was their entourage?)

Where were Mary, Joseph & Jesus living in Bethlehem when the astrologers from 'the East' finally arrived? 

Did it take 2 years to get there - or did Herod just choose baby boys 2 years and younger to slaughter so he could make sure he included a wide enough span of time?

And on and on. Wondering is fine. Defining the results of wonder as fact is not!

I wonder as I wander.....

DAY 21 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

Our first song for Softer Sunday Service tomorrow is "In My Heart There Rings a Melody." Because of something painful that happened in my world this week I wondered how I could stand in front of our congregation and lead this song, and the Holy Spirit reminded me through something I wrote several years ago. After reading it I decided to post part of it as encouragement to others who may be feeling over-challenged by the circumstances of life.  

When Jesus came to earth He came into a world that was hurting and broken – and He comes into our personal worlds, into our hurt and brokenness – and offers us comfort and joy….

Happiness is elusive, but JOY is because of what Jesus did on our behalf.  Joy is not determined by our emotions, but by our attitude. 

Your enemy, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour.   He wants to destroy every one of us.  And he wants to destroy relationships.

If you are a Christian you are a threat to Satan’s temporary kingdom on earth, so expect trouble.  His attacks are tailor-made just for you, and he seeks to destroy you through the things that mean the most to you.  However, we get to choose whether or not to let him succeed.  We have a choice of whether or not to let him win the battle.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but I have overcome the world.”   

He also said, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” 

So if you’re feeling battered, learn what you can from your situation, then dust off your armor from Ephesians 6:10-18, put it on, and stand firm, knowing He who is in you is much greater than he who is in the world. 

Jesus had a servant's heart.  I need to emulate that.  And, when necessary, like this week, I need an attitude adjustment for that to happen.  

Forgive, forget and forge ahead.