Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing a contemporary arrangement of the classic Advent Carol … Joy to the World … poignantly and JOYFULLY singing of the joy which we should share everyday reflecting the joy of Jesus coming into our lives to save mankind. … And THEN USE THIS LINK to hear children singing of the joy we Christians should have in our hearts … and if you can’t be joyful hearing these kids sing so joyfully, you need to go deeper into your relationship with Christ to let Him give you His joy.
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Highlight Verse[s]: John 16:22 [NKJV] …
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. … "
… Jesus promises joy in the midst of a scary, confusing time for His Disciples.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 16:16-24 … USE THIS LINK …
… In the midst of a fearful/sorrowful moment, Jesus promises joy to come.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 2:10 …
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
… Jesus on how we, as His disciples, must love others, even our enemies, just as He loved us.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Julie Ackerman Link, illustrates her teaching about extending God’s joy to others with a story of a mission teacher. The ODB author writes: When Janet went to teach English in a school overseas, she found the atmosphere gloomy and depressing. People did their jobs, but no one seemed happy. They didn't help or encourage one another. But Janet, grateful for all that God had done for her, expressed it in everything she did. She smiled. She was friendly. She went out of her way to help people. She hummed songs and hymns.
Little by little, as Janet shared her joy, the atmosphere at the school changed. One by one people began to smile and help each other. When a visiting administrator asked the principal why his school was so different, the principal, who was not a believer, responded, “Jesus brings joy.” Janet was filled to overflowing with the joy of the Lord and it spilled over to those around her.
Hey Christian [!] … are we joyful - especially in this Advent season - that Jesus came into this world, which is so riddled with darkness and pain to bring us His unfathomable joy? If we’re not, we should be; because JOY IS A CHOCE! And if we Christians can’t share some joy in this world, who will?
Please take the time to take in today’s linked - and joy-filled - songs; and then meditate on the Scriptures provided. Then, … let’s all go out today and share some smiles and reflections of Christ’s joy with others. Let’s choose JOY to lift up the world today!
My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Show me someone today whom I can share a little of Your light and joy, … perhaps merely with a joyful smile reflecting Your love. ... Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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