GREAT JOY

It's wierd... I have been looking back over my blog and I see a pattern... I guess I am more of a winter time blogger. I really enjoy it when I do it, but I guess I just get seriously sidetracked when its nice and sunny outside. Not to mention that fact that I have two very 'active' boys. I can't make it if I don't let them run loose outside some during the day. But I am glad to be back blogging for now. Its been neat to check back in on blogs I haven't read in a long time.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and that we are on the countdown til Christmas. Every year we scale back more and more on the commercial side of Christmas and focus more and more on the true meaning... and I enjoy Christmas more and more each year that we do.

Here is a Christmas thought for you.....

Luke 2:10.... Then the angel said to them, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

The good tidings or good news was that the Savior was born. In Matthew 1:21, it says about Mary that she 'will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' We all have sin. We are born with a sinful nature and none of us can do anything about it own our own. Ephesians 2:8 says For by grace we have been saved through faith not of works lest any man should boast.. But that is the beauty of it all.

We are a sinful people in need of a Savior and that is exactly what God gave us thru this tiny baby born to Mary.
He grew into a sinless man that died on the cross so that we might be reconciled with God.. 2 Cor 5:21... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The greek root of the phrase "great joy" means a calm delight or a sense of satisfaction. In the world in which we live people have more and accomplish more and are exposed to more than people ever have been in history...yet we are not satisfied. We are looking for "great joy" in all the wrong places.... in relationships, material possessions, jobs, hobbies, our kids, etc...

Some of us seek satisfaction through our own efforts of trying to be "good" and do "good". But in Isaiah 64:6 it says that our righteousness is like filthy rags . So nothing we can do in our own strength and ability will stand when exposed to the holiness of God.

In Luke 2:14, it says 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men'. Christ brings us peace. He brings us the only peace that lasts. God wants us to be at peace with Him by accepting Christ and His work on the cross. And when we are at peace or reconciled with God then He can give us His peace which surpasses all understanding.

When God gives us His peace we can go thru anything, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem with satisfaction and contentment in our lives. He can give us a peace that doesn't depend on our situation or circumstances here.

GOD TAKES BROKEN PIECES AND GIVES US AN UNBROKEN PEACE.

And if you will notice in verse 10 it says that these good tidings of great joy will be to ALL PEOPLE.... not just a few or some, but ALL.. Salvation through Christ Jesus is for everyone. He died for every single one of us not just the best of us or the ones of us who seem to have it fairly "all together". But also for those who can't seem to ever get it together... those that struggle with addictions and habits that hold us in bondage. Salvation is for anyone who would believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins.

And if you will notice in Luke 2:15, what did they do next after hearing this great news? They began to look for Jesus. My prayer for all is that we will be looking for "great joy" in all the right places not only this holiday season but throughout the year. ------Seek and you will find.....( Matthew 7:7)