Embrace the Word ~ December 2024: Bold Celebration – Joy to the World Week 5
Merry Christmas to all of you!
I hope your Christmas was indeed the most wonderful time of this year.
(Link to the FREE Devotional Guide at the end of this email)
Whether you have hugged all your family and said your goodbyes, or if you still have family gathered around, even if you have BIG New Year plans, for most adults, the majority of the holiday celebration is over. But not for the kids! They will still be celebrating their gifts and treasures for some time. Even when we return to school, my students will share what they did and what they got. I allow them to do so on day one, but by day two, I will redirect them to tuck their treasures away in their backpacks and leave them at home!
Life will try to have us tuck away the treasure that seems to bustle in our hearts during the holiday season. The joy that we remember when we celebrate Advent, the coming of our Lord, seems to fade with the putting away of the Christmas lights. We won’t sing “Joy to the World” for another year, and our hearts feel that joy less and less as each minute slips away.
Let this truth be a source of continued joy for you: At Christmas, we celebrate the first Advent of Christ. There is a secondAdvent! Jesus is coming again! And when He does, He is coming back to get His bride, the Church, of which you and I are a part. In Christ, we have a living hope that one day, we will see Jesus face-to-face and will forever live with Him in glory (see 1 Peter 1:3-5)! This is a reason to rejoice!
To continue to experience the joy that Jesus is to share that Joy with others! How can you spread the Joy of Jesus?
- Share Your Testimony: Encourage others by sharing how Jesus has impacted your life this year.
- Host a Joyful Gathering: Organize a small gathering with friends and family where you can share the love of Christ.
- Send Encouraging Notes or Cards: Write notes to friends, family, or church members, letting them know you are thinking of them and praying for them.
- Volunteer: Find opportunities to serve in your community. Whether it’s helping at a local shelter or participating in a church outreach program, your efforts can bring joy to those in need.
- Invite Someone to Church: Extend an invitation to someone who may not have a church home. Share the joy of worship and community with them.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16
We should be unashamed to speak of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like children desiring to show off their treasures, we should be bursting with joy because we have the greatest treasure ever!
You can also continue to cultivate joy in your life by drawing nearer to the Lord in His Word. Join us in January as we study James: A Faith That Works! I am so excited. Look for your email with all the details coming soon.
Thank You all for studying me this all year long! May God give us all the faith and grace to keep living with BOLD FAITH!
Don’t forget your FREE Devotional Guide.
Download this week’s guide HERE.
Did you miss week four? Get it HERE.
Did you miss week three? Get it HERE.
Did you miss week two? Get it HERE.
Did you miss week one? Get it HERE.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Your friend in the journey,
Remember: The Word W.O.R.K.S. We are walking in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success through the Word of God.