Joy

I love the bible study I attend.  I could go on and on, but I won't.  Our teaching leader challenged us each week before Christmas Break to think about what was going to bring us joy this Christmas.

Were we going to find joy in...

buying the perfect gift for everyone on our list?

having a perfectly decorated house for Christmas?

baking the most delicious recipe anyone else has ever eaten?

sending out the ideal Christmas card?

attending as many Christmas parties as possible?

filling every second possible with Christmas music and Christmas activity?

or were we going to find joy in our Savior?

The problem was that in many ways I could see myself finding joy in what she named.  I love gift buying.  Love finding the perfect gift for someone.  Love decoratring for Christmas.  Love baking.  LOVE creating our Christmas card each year.  Love celebrating with friends.  Love Christmas music.  I even love Christmas chaos to a certain degree.  But I didn't want to find joy in those things this year.  I didn't want to reflect that these were the things that were important to those around me... especially the little eyes of my sweet daughter.

(I know that these things in and of themselves are not wrong, but it was just realizing this wasn't where my true joy should be coming from and after questioning my heart, I knew that I was getting more joy from them than I cared to admit!)

So every day I have tried to find joy in the simple yet incredible truth... Jesus has come!  He was born!  For us.  As sinners.  To accept the payment of OUR sin.  So that we can live.  Free of sin.  Free of condemnation.  With HIM.  In Heaven!  Eternally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not because we deserve it.  Not because we are good people (ha!  We aren't even close to being good enough!).  Not because we go to church.  Not because we give to the poor.  But because God LOVES us.  Because of His grace.  And this is why we celebrate!

And that's worth all the JOY in the world.  That's what this season is about.  And I admit it is rocking my world a little bit.  I so want every aspect of Christmas to be about Him.  I'm working on how to do that.  I'm processing.  Praying.  Meditating.  Researching.  And doing some major soul-searching.

It's time for a change.  A change spurred by one that occurred so many years ago in a manger.  Just as the world so needed that change, my heart and our family is need of one as well.  One in the very image of the change that we are celebrating.

A change founded in Him.

A change motivated by Him.

A change celebrated by Him.

A change in His strength.

In His wisdom.

And in His JOY!