Joy To The World....

I was just watching the T.V. show "Monk" a special Christmas episode.

"Joy is a trick, a diversion, it is not real," said Monk.
That's pretty extreme... it made me stop and think.

I know that joy is real and not a trick because the JOY of the Lord is my strength.

But how can we still have JOY during this holiday season when we are missing our kids, and not feeling very joyful?
Start by keeping our focus on the "Reason for the Season", Jesus our Saviour.


I love the scripture in Philippians 2:5 that tells us that Jesus gave up His throne to come to earth and save mankind.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, for this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow."

Matthew's Gospel recalls Isaiah's prophesy that applies to Mary and Jesus.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,and they will call him Immanuel- which means God with Us"

"In Jesus, God would succeed in a unique way, becoming a man in order to save the world not from the outside, but from the inside Immanuel, God with us, to rescue, redeem, and restore our relationship with him." Ann Spangler

It is the truth of the Gospel that we can focus on this holiday season that will bring us Joy and Peace.
It is the truth of the Gospel that motivates our children to serve Him in full time service.

Another Way to Fill our season with JOY is to
spend more time in prayer for our kids.
We are apart, but God is with them.
My prayer is for much blessing on them during this holiday time.
That they will not be to homesick, and that the people in the village will see Christ in them.

Finally I find that if I try and focus on being thankful it helps. Thankfulness seems to put the sadness in its proper perspective, and fills my heart with the JOY of the Lord. He has been so good to my family, and I praise Him for that.

Thank you to those who have left messages of encouragement and for your prayers. It blesses me that we can support one another, and that as missionary parents we have something in common. When my children first left it was very hard to find any one that understood my pain, over the years that has changed and I am thankful.