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Two-minute read.

Merry Christmas!

The phrase “Merry Christmas” originated in a letter written by Bishop Charles Booth in 1520. He wrote,  “I praye God ye may be all in good charite and mery this Crystmas.”[1] Before 2022, historians thought that Catholic Bishop John Fisher, imprisoned for denying King Henry VIII as the “Supreme Head of the Church and Clergy of England,” wrote the phrase in a letter to Thomas Cromwell asking for clothing and food, closing his letter with the sentence, “And this our Lord God send you a merry Christmas.”[2]

Christmas comes from an abbreviated version of “Christ’s Mass.”[3] Charles Dickens popularized the saying, “Merry Christmas,” in his infamous classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, used the phrase, “A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” which popularized the words.[4] Used to decree good tidings upon the receiver, merry describes a behavior, deliberately having fun.[5]

Now that you know where the phrase originated and its intention, when you wish someone a Merry Christmas, it refers to finding enjoyment in the Lord. Actively seeking Jesus will bring you divine joy, something I pray you carry throughout the entire year. Capture the emotions of Christmas by focusing on Jesus. Let His works fill your heart as you receive the grace and mercy He gives you. No greater present can we find than salvation through Christ and eternal life with Him.

Spend this day celebrating the birth of Christ. Sing “Happy Birthday” to the Savior as a beloved family member. Give Jesus your heart, the gift He desires from you. Live in the fullness of God’s Son, today and always. Let the Lord’s divine peace and joy reign in your hearts as you pursue Him. In the season of gift giving, receive the best gift of all, Jesus!

Journal Questions:

What about the Christmas story brings you the most joy?

In what ways do you celebrate Jesus’s birth?

How can you carry the Christmas season with you all year long?

Joyful Application:

Celebrate with joy the birth of the Savior.

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[1] https://medium.com/english-language-faq/when-did-we-start-saying-merry-christmas-e225ebd7c9f5

[2] https://northernwilds.com/the-story-of-merry-christmas/

[3] https://northernwilds.com/the-story-of-merry-christmas/

[4] https://time.com/6240140/why-we-say-merry-christmas-traditions/

[5] https://www.countryliving.com/life/a37128/origin-of-merry-christmas/

Two-minute read.

Christmas Eve, the day before Christ’s birthday, comes with anticipation like no other day. Families gather, churches hold special services, and life has a crispness not found on different days. Attending candlelight service remains my favorite one of the year, standing shoulder to shoulder with God’s family, singing Silent Night, always encourages my soul. Believing that God created the day and rejoicing over it doesn’t take much effort.

However, a month later, on January 24th, when the cold of winter has set in, the daylight coming earlier as the jubilant emotions of the holidays fade doesn’t quite seem as joyful. The Lord makes every day, the good and the bad. Rejoicing in our daily lives takes more effort and requires us to keep the Son in our eyes.

Back in the 2000s, the landline phone system had an alarm feature. Similar to cell phones today, you could program the system to wake you up with whatever message you wanted. For years, when I answered the phone, I would hear this verse, and it would instantly remind me of the Lord’s presence in the day ahead. No matter what came my way, I knew God traveled with me; He made the day and all that came with it.

Start your day with Jesus, however that works for you. Find a way to remind yourself of His presence in the day ahead. Live boldly knowing God made the day, and He will help you through it. Nothing surprises the Savior, even in our darkest moments; He lights the way. In Christ, we have all we need to persevere through challenges and rejoice in victories. The Lord made today, and every day, live in His presence and carry the wonders of Christmas with you all through the year.

Journal Questions:

How does Christmas Eve bring joy to your heart?

In what way does knowing God made the day comfort you?

How can you rejoice in the Lord daily, 365 days a year?

Joyful Application:

Meditate on the joy of Christ’s birth and let it invigorate your soul.

Two-minute read.

In high school, I had a crush on a boy who didn’t even know my name. A baseball player, I kept score for the team so I could spend time with him. Of course, a shy, introverted girl, I never spoke to him. But one time, during the season, he asked me a question.

“What time is it?”

Oh, how my heart soared when he spoke to me. Four words spurred me and my vivid imagination on for months. I can still remember the feeling of elation at his nonchalant attention. Falling in love with Jesus doesn’t even begin to compare to the heartbeat of a schoolgirl’s crush. Realizing the depth of the Savior’s love for us, confessing our sins, and receiving His grace fills us with an unspeakable joy. But over time, we may forget the elation of salvation as life happens.

Over time, I got to know the object of my crush and realized he didn’t live up to the image I had concocted in my head. Becoming friends, I realized we had nothing in common, and the narrative I had created fell short of reality. However, the more I get to know Jesus, the deeper I fall in love with Him. The Savior doesn’t disappoint, perfect in every way; He lives up to His promises.

Loving the Savior grows daily when you pursue a relationship with Him. When we turn to the Lord, He receives us with open arms. Ready to rejoice with us when we rejoice and weep with us when we weep. Even though we can’t understand everything God does, we can trust that He has our best interests at heart. Take time to remember what the Almighty has done for you. Make a list of His works in your life and fall in love with Him all over again.

Journal Questions:

How did you feel when you first gave your life to Christ?

How does pursuing the Lord daily deepen your relationship with Him?

In what ways have you fallen deeper in love with Jesus?

Joyful Application:

Recall the joyful feelings you had for Jesus when you first trusted Him.

Two-minute read.

Rejoicing with people often seems harder than weeping with them. Envy over another’s good fortune can make celebrating their blessing difficult. However, when someone suffers a loss or deep heartache, sitting with them in their sadness to alleviate the loneliness that comes with pain doesn’t take as much effort. Suffering people tug at our heartstrings, evoking empathy and a desire to lessen their pain.

During my single years, I hated going to weddings. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, the ceremony emphasized my loneliness and made rejoicing difficult. Bitterness would take root, and I would have to battle not to let it grow and flourish. Desiring a mate myself, I struggled with loneliness. Sitting alone in church, Sunday after Sunday, watching couples sit side by side, nothing made me feel lonelier than the service.

However, comforting a friend going through a breakup didn’t challenge me as much because I could relate to the pain of loneliness and rejection. Fast forward to the present day, and I’ve learned a lot about relationships. Now I know, some of the most miserable people live in loveless marriages, and some of the happiest live single lives. We never truly understand the inner workings of another’s life because we don’t walk in their shoes.

Now, when someone has something to rejoice over, I do it gladly. Suffering takes a toll on everyone, each of us dealing with unseen struggles. Whoever you meet today has a hidden battle. No one has a carefree life. The Lord told us we would have trouble in this world, but take heart: He overcame them for us (John 16:33). So, rejoicing when we have opportunities to rejoice taps into the hope of the Savior. In Him, we have all we need to rejoice when people rejoice and weep when they weep.

Journal Questions:

When have you had trouble rejoicing with someone?

In what ways does weeping with someone seem more manageable?

Who has exemplified rejoicing and weeping with others well in your life?

Joyful Application:

Find someone to rejoice with today and share in their joy.

Two-minute read.

“Praise God!”

Thanking the Lord for the work He does in our lives causes us to shout for joy. Successful surgeries, safe travels, reconciled relationships, healthy babies, divine provision, miraculous healings, new faith commitments, from big to small actions, we can shout for joy at God’s work in our lives. Leaning into the joy of the Lord for strength, we will find it and discover a million plus one reasons to sing the Savior’s praises.

God delivers us from our problems, and when He does, we can’t help but praise Him. Miracles unfold when we trust and believe. Life’s uncertainty brings us to our knees. Often, we wonder why things happen, but if those struggles didn’t occur, would we turn to the Creator for help? How can we have a relationship with someone we don’t seek?

One sermon illustration always comes to mind when discussing deliverance. A recovering alcoholic asks his pastor a question.

“Why doesn’t God take my desire to drink away?

“Well, what do you do when you feel like drinking?”

“I get on my knees and pray.”

“Would you get on your knees if you didn’t want a drink?”

Most of us wouldn’t. When we think we have things under control, we typically don’t get on our knees. During my single years, I would desperately cry out to God for a mate. Then, when someone came into my life, I thought the Lord had answered my prayer. I promptly forgot the Savior, and the new guy became my priority, until the relationship failed and I found myself once again back on my knees. The transformation occurred when I kept the Lord as my priority, especially when I met a potential mate. As I kept God first in my life, my relationships became healthier, and I realized the truth of Ecclesiastes 4:12: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Tie yourself to the Savior, rely on Him in all circumstances, live in His joy, shout His praises, and gain His strength.

Journal Questions:

When did you shout praises to the Lord last?

What brings you to your knees before God?

In what ways can you strengthen your relationships by adding the third cord of Jesus?

Joyful Application:

List ten reasons to shout praises of joy to God.

Two-minute read.

“Chara,” the original Hebrew word for joy, means rejoicing, happiness, gladness, filled with joy.[1] An Angel proclaimed Jesus’s entrance into the world. A bold announcement of the gospel, the baby in the manger came to change the world, lighting the darkness and sharing the truth. On that day, so long ago, the best news we will ever receive began its trek through the ages, generation after generation sharing the story of Christ’s birth.

As a shepherd on a hill, the stars shining in the night and the angels appearing would scare me. But heavenly hosts quickly assured the men, “Fear not, I bring you good news.” Only divine intervention would calm my nerves in such a climactic moment. A new era of peace and salvation came with the babe in the manger, as an angelic choir sang praises to God as the story unfolded.

Joy, unspeakable Joy

An overflowing well

No tongue can tell

Joy, unspeakable joy

Rises in my soul

Never lets me go

Christ Tomlin[2]

Traveling over Christmas, Ron and I attended Family Church Marco. Within their walls, I heard Chris Tomlin’s version of Joy to the World for the first time. As the chords of the guitar began, the worship leader’s voice led us through the lyrics, and joy filled my heart as I thought of the birth of the Savior, my lifeline, my everything. Without Christ, I can’t live, but with Him, I can do all things through the One who strengthens me.

As we celebrate the Savior’s birth, listen to the words of your favorite Christmas hymn and let it seep into your soul. Fill your heart with the love of Christ, dispelling all fears and anxieties, and letting your soul overflow with the divine love that entered the world that starry night so long ago.

Journal Questions:

What makes you fearful this holiday season?

In what ways does Jesus’s birth fill your heart with joy?

How can you celebrate Jesus’s birth in a fresh, new way this year?

Joyful Application:

Sing joyful praises to the Lord with the angelic hosts!

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[1] NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary Copyright © 2015 by Zondervan.

[2] https://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/joy-to-the-world-unspeakable-joy-chris-tomlin/

Two-minute read.

God changes circumstances; He turns our mourning into dancing and our sackcloth into gladness. Around the holidays, everything intensifies. Whatever the difficulty, it gets magnified with the pressure that we all feel between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Starting on Black Friday, the race to buy the perfect present begins. Lists get made, invites get accepted, and the actual reason for the season gets forgotten in the hustle and bustle of creating the best December 25^th possible.

For many people, holidays emphasize what they don’t have. The loss of loved ones God called home becomes more pronounced as people experience the first holiday without them. Financial pressures make it difficult to celebrate the Baby Jesus. A health diagnosis makes everything else trivial. On and on the list goes of things that cause us mourning. Finding joy during bleak times seems impossible, much less turning it into dancing.

With Jesus, we can experience joy, despite our circumstances. Aligning our hearts with His helps us gain an eternal perspective. Nothing in the world can separate us from the love of the Savior. Loved ones called home to heaven wait in God’s glory for our reunion. Brothers and sisters in Christ have the hope of eternity, understanding that the things of this world will pass away, but the things of God never will.

As impossible as it may seem, the Lord does turn our mourning into dancing. Clothing us with gladness from the Holy Spirit helps us focus on Jesus. The more we submit our lives to God, the more we will find His joy. Keeping all His promises, the Creator knows exactly what we need and when we need it.

Mourning comes with life, but so does dancing. If we don’t have one, we can’t appreciate the other. Gaze upon the Savior today, asking for His peace and joy. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your pain, healing you from within your soul. With shouts of glee, our mourning becomes dancing as God clothes us with gladness.

Journal Questions:

How has God turned your mourning into dancing?

In what ways has God clothed you in gladness?

What can you do today to celebrate all God has done for you?

Joyful Application:

Turn on your favorite worship song and allow it to soothe your soul, bring joy to your heart, and get your feet dancing.

Two-minute read.

Prioritizing God, the psalmist shows his loyalty through praise and obedience. Striving to love the Lord first and foremost, the writer ignores temptation, living for the Father his life’s goal. With the Creator as his right hand, the author finds stability in God’s goodness, grace, and instruction. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus, trusting His promises and living by His commands, will find a centered life on solid ground.

In this world, people make a lot of money helping others find balance in their lives. But balanced lives don’t exist; something always rocks the boat. Sometimes you have more joy than sorrow, other times sadness carries more weight. In work and family, one must always sacrifice for the other. And relationally, prioritizing the Lord often gets waylaid by pressures of life. Last week, I missed a day of my yearly Bible reading plan and didn’t even realize I hadn’t given the Savior my full attention. Life happens, distractions occur, and we don’t know we’re tilting in one direction or another, never quite reaching a balance.

However, we can live centered lives focused on Jesus. Like a true north, revolving our lives around the Savior gives us a haven. When life pulls us in one direction or another, we have a secure place to return and find stability. Realizing I missed a day of reading, returning to my solid routine allowed me to catch up and re-center my life. Jesus doesn’t move, but we veer away from Him. Turning back to the Lord, He eagerly awaits our reconnection.

Center your life on Christ. Connect with Him through praise and obedience. Find stability for the journey as you build an unbreakable connection with the Savior. Unbalanced lives remain unshaken when they center them around God’s Son.

Journal Questions:

How does God give you stability in your life?

Where do you feel out of balance today?

How does centering your life around Jesus provide you with stability?

Joyful Application:

Center your life around Jesus today with joyful praise and obedience.

Two-minute read.

God delights in His people, rejoicing with gladness, covering us in love, and singing for joy. Every sinner who chooses the Lord causes a celebration in the heavens. The Creator doesn’t want any to perish and grieves when people turn from Him. But nothing makes the Almighty happier than one of His children coming to Him with an open heart and a receptive spirit. A mighty warrior, God has the power to deliver us from sin and our enemies.

^“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once, they left their nets and followed him.”

Matthew 4:18-22

While walking along, the Savior sees two brothers going about their daily busy. When He calls out to them, Simon and Andrew immediately drop their nets and follow Jesus. The revolution began with that one act of obedience. Forming a team of twelve, Christ’s disciples learned to connect with God, loving Him and others through the example Jesus set. First, the fisherman had to believe before they could follow.

Jesus calls people to Him daily. As His followers, we have the privilege of sharing the Savior with all we meet. Many won’t want to talk about God or His Son, but some will. And when you plant seeds of the good news in their hearts, you never know how the Lord will grow them. But we do know He rejoices when the kingdom grows.

Live in the Lord’s love daily. Receive His fresh mercies in the morning, asking the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you. When we seek God, we find Him, and all we need to face whatever comes our way.

Journal Questions:

In what way have you rejoiced over someone placing faith in Jesus?

How quickly do you follow God when He calls you?

How can you share the gospel today?

Joyful Application:

Think about how God has changed your life and sing songs of joy.

Two-minute read.

 In the Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25:14-23, the master goes on a journey, leaving his servants in charge of his property. Upon his departure, the man gave talents to three servants: five to the first, two to the second, and one to the third. Talent, a measure of money, refers to silver or gold.[1] When the master returned, the first and second servants doubled his money, while the last one buried his talent and made nothing. Joyful over the profit made in his absence, the owner praised the wise servants who increased his wealth with today’s verse.

As servants of the Lord, one day, He will return, and we will give an account of our actions. If we follow God’s commands, we will grow His kingdom. However, if we bury our treasures and do nothing with them, nothing grows. Everyone wants to hear the Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Bringing joy to the Almighty through our actions requires us to manage our blessings well.

Lately, the Holy Spirit has increased my generosity. While getting a drink at Starbucks, I felt compelled to pay for the person’s order in the car behind me. Scrolling through social media, I saw a post from a nonprofit organization that supports moms and their babies. In need of diapers and other necessities, I felt prompted to place an order from their wish list. And when the owner of the store where I rent a booth came by during an event, I had the immediate urge to give her my latest Christmas devotion. Every one of those acts came from a divine nudge that I followed. As we draw closer to the Savior, we become more sensitive to His prompts and obey quickly.

Obeying the Lord refreshes our souls and brings joy to our hearts. One day, we’ll hear the longed-for words from Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Journal Questions:

When have you done something that makes you feel God’s pleasure?

How have you managed the resources God gives you?

How can you become more sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings?

Joyful Application:

Tune in to the Spirit’s promptings today and follow His nudges.

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[1] https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/38373/in-the-parable-of-the-talents-matthew-25-how-did-the-servants-trade-theirtal#:~:text=In%20New%20Testament%20times%2C%20it,years’%20wages%20for%20a%20labourer.