Having Joy Regardless?

The Atheist movement recently paid 25k to rent a sign in New York City’s Times Square — a 40′ by 40′ display that stated, “Nobody needs Christ for Christmas.” Is that really true? Has the world become so full of themselves that life is no more than packages and toys wrapped up under a spruce or artificial tree decorated with lights, money that’s spent on gifts purchased for kids and grown-ups; beer, pecan pie and family gatherings who celebrate on Christmas day?

Who and What really brings Joy at Christmas? It’s not any different today than it was some 2000 years ago. God chose Mary; a virgin girl upon whom He would place His favor. Even though she was troubled about how the details could become a reality, Mary proclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46)  Even with all of her questions, suspicions, doubts and fears, she chose to rejoice in her God who was bringing Great Joy to the World.

             While she struggled to See, Feel and Explain these events, regardless her faith allowed her to bring Christ into the world with JOY. It’s empowering to me how she worked through each step in this journey of joy.
            Before the Baby came, we see Mary living out a life with a smile. Too many times in life we just can’t seem to muster up having joy before the ‘baby’ or the miracle comes. But there are People who believe that there is Peace beyond their Pain, Miracles beyond their Misery, Healing beyond their Hurt, and a Testimony beyond their Test. God says, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Eccl 7:8)

            How did Mary and Joseph work through their struggles in this incredible Season of their life?  They Focused on God’s WORD instead of their WORRIES. God still deposits His Words of life to guide our steps today. They Focused on THE SAVIOR instead of their STRESS. God can calm us down to live in Peace and Joy instead of stress. They Focused on a Miracle instead of their MESS. In the natural, they had a real mess on their hands. Living out God’s plan can get a bit messy on this side of heaven. But God says, “My thoughts are higher than your thoughts and my ways than your ways.” (Isaiah 55:10) They Focused on CHRIST’S COMING instead of their CHAOS. Lifting your eyes to Christ produces LIFE!
   

Christ not only came 2000 years ago, but He will come again. Choose to have Joy not based on the world’s situations. Matthew 2:10 states about the wise men in search of the star, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding Great Joy.” So will YOU and I when we Search and find Christ

Having Joy Regardless? - video message