Christmas Joy

To find joy at Christmas, look to Jesus Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13 KJV)

Watch your expectations this Christmas season! The holidays can seldom deliver all the happiness and love we've come to expect from them. The advertising images of romantic couples and laughing families may sell a lot of merchandise, but they often mock the heartache felt by so many people at this time of year. What should we do? Shove our expectations deep down like cold hands in a winter coat? Put our hopes on long-term layaway? Pretend we don't really care? Instead of trying to temper our expectations, why not let them soar toward the highest desires kindled by this season? That hope is echoed in Charles Wesley's great hymn:

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

No holiday or human can deliver what we long for, but we can find it in Christ Himself. When Simeon saw Jesus, he prayed, "My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples" (Lk. 2:30-31). This Christmas, watch your expectations, and see them wonderfully fulfilled in Jesus! -D C McCasland

Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. (Isaiah 45:21 RSV)

I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. (Isaiah 43:11 NASB)

My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. -Luke 2:30-31 Before the glimmering dawn of creation, And with thoughts too wondrous for me, The Lord designed the plan of salvation To send the Savior to set sinners free. D C Egner

Mark