O Come, Immanuel: Journey Of Joy

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11, (NKJV)

Hello Dear Friend,

Sarah couldn’t believe the joy she felt as she woke up the next morning – earlier than usual even. Her mind was clear, her heart was full and her spirit was renewed. Sure all the stressful circumstances she faced yesterday were still there today. But she’d left the church last night with so much peace in her spirit from her reconnection to Christ that her joy wasn’t dependent on her mood or situation. Instead it came from this flowing outpour of grace that she knew could only come from the Lord.

A smile beamed across her face as she got out of bed and went over to slide the curtain of her big bedroom window open. As she looked outside the world felt still as if it were in a quiet slumber and waiting to wake up. The city however, was already awake and delivery trucks lined the streets as their drivers were out and unloading cargo. Sarah looked up at the snowflakes gently drifting from the heavens making it feel like she was looking into a snow globe of the city she loved. She opened her window, closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of fresh air as she said, “Good morning, Jesus!”

“What is with you this morning?” Seth asked, three hours later when Sarah came into the office humming a Christmas tune and giving him a big smile as she stopped by his desk to hand him the coffee she’d picked up for him from their favorite coffee shop.

“I have had the best day!” Was the only response she gave as she headed over to her office.

Seth followed behind her. “What do you mean you’ve had the best day? It’s not even eight o’clock in the morning.”

“I know.” She laughed, “Isn’t it great?! I woke up early with all this energy that I decided to add a little extra to my workout this morning. I started out with this really great morning yoga routine that I’ve been meaning to try out for a while now. It was so good! I’ll have to send you the link to the video I found on YouTube. Then I went down to the gym for my usual cardio workout and used that time to pray then I followed it up with my usual Pilates routine. Came back up to my apartment to shower and get ready to come into the office. Stopped by our favorite coffee shop for my morning cup of Joe with enough time to actually stay there and enjoy it while listening to this devotional I found on Advent. Oh! And I downloaded this Bible app to my phone and was reading…”

“Whoa, wait a second, hold up!” Seth put up his hands and with a look of disbelief he asked, “You were praying while working out and then intentionally reading the Bible and listening to a devotional on Advent instead of catching up on all your social platforms? Who are you? And what have you done with the version of my best friend that left here on Friday?”

Sarah smiled and hugged him. “That girl was going one way. This girl has decided to take a completely different path. I’m sorry pal but I’ve got to get to work. I’ve got a new idea for this presentation for Stuart that I want to get moving on. But let’s grab lunch this afternoon ok? I’ll fill you in on everything. Spoiler alert, it involves a church.”

“What? No, you can’t drop something like that and leave me hanging!”

“I know, I’m sorry! I’m really excited about this idea though. I’ll tell you everything at lunch. I promise.” Sarah was literally pushing him out of the door to her office.

“You’d better!” He said as he finally gave into her pushing and left her to do her work. “Twelve o’clock sharp. Right here, no excuses.” He pointed down at the floor as he backed away from her office.

Sarah laughed, “You got it, no excuses. I’ll be there!”

Joyous Declaration

“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” –Isaiah 49:13, (NIV)

Just in case you haven’t already guessed it, the theme for the third week of Advent is joy. As this week is wrapping up I want to reflect on what the third week is meant to represent – it's the declaration of the coming Lord and King. The third candle lit during Advent is referred to as the Shepherd’s candle, reminding us of when the Angels first appeared to the Shepherds to give them Jesus’ birth announcement. The first day of the third week of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday, the Latin word for rejoice.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room And Heaven and nature sing Joy to the world! The Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sound joy”

The lyrics of Joy To The World written by George Frideric Handel and Isaac Watts in 1719 are some of many we often hear at Christmas. We hear the Christmas carols so often this time of year that we easy forget or take the time to ponder what they mean and why they were written in sung in the first place.

A Joy–Filled Life

I want to feel Christmas, how it used to be With all of its wonder falling on me This season has felt so empty, oh for quite a while I want to feel Christmas like a child…

I want to see snowflakes fall to the ground My brothers and sisters all gathered around Singing “Away In A Manger” as we sit by the fire I want to feel Christmas like a child…

It’s been so long now, I can’t say Just when I lost my way But I’m going back to how it was like a child When this day meant everything And we spent our time remembering The baby Child born for us…

It’s all about Jesus, asleep in the straw

This infant, this King, this Savior for all

So I don’t need bells to be ringing

'Cause I’ll join with angels singing – Gloria

And I can feel Christmas like a child

The lyrics above are from one of my favorite, more modern, Christmas songs by Third Day off of their album, Christmas Offerings. The song is called, Christmas Like A Child. It basically talks about wanting to be able to experience Christmas like we did back when we were children. Do you remember the excitement that came along with the anticipation of Christmas and how magical this time of year used to be when you were little?

I’m ashamed to say, try as hard as I might to hold onto my excitement, I lose the thrill that comes with this season far too easily. I could make the excuse that I’m stressed out and overworked due to it being our busy time of year at work and the fact that most of us are just ticking off the days until we can have a break away from the office for a few days. The anticipation for the “holiday” has become the English use of the word as another term for vacation. I look forward to vacation time. Making it easy to forget to remember the manger, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the scared virgin mother and the true reason for the season – Jesus.

Yes, sadly as the years pass, Christmas as an adult keeps becoming more and more lackluster with my big “to-do” list of things that need to be checked off before Christmas day. Before I know it the day has arrived and like a blink of an eye, Christmas is over. Then the disappointment sets in because it’s all over and I didn’t embrace it at all like the way I originally intended.

That being said, I want the excitement back. I want snow. I want to see the world in a blanket of white. I’ve always loved the snow and how it serves as a reminder to me that there is still purity in this world. Jesus came innocent and pure as a Savior for all! I want the world to see that Jesus is the light that shines brightly in the darkness and that He is the “magic” of Christmas and that He is the hope, peace and joy of the season for all mankind.

I want the thrill of hope that comes with this season. I want to remember His truth in my life and reflect on all the times that Jesus has proved Himself faithful to me and the joy that has come from all the difficult times that I put my faith and trust in Him. I want to get excited in eager anticipation for the return of my King. I want to empty my heart from all the distraction and noise and prepare the way for Him and experience the true joy of Jesus this Christmas.

A Prayer For Joy

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” –1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV)

Precious Jesus, I want to thank You for being the joy that this world still needs so desperately. I pray that You would be the center of our focus not just for the Christmas season but always. I welcome You and I pray that You would open our heart to Your glory, Your joy and Your goodness. I pray that You would remove any and all obstacles that the enemy may try to throw at us that would hinder us from receiving Christ this season.

This Christmas let our hearts and mouths be filled with an outpouring song for our King. I pray that You would rule and reign in our lives today and that we would embrace all that You are to us – Emmanuel, Master, Savior, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, King of kings, Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, Messiah and the best Comforter the world will ever know.

God, may our lives be pleasing to You, Creator of Heaven and Earth. May every word we speak, every thought we think and every attitude we have be a reflection of the joy of Your Son, Jesus in our lives. Amen.

With love,

a Poetic Soul