This "smiling saint in cyberspace" has been Christmas shopping this week--and so have all of you, according to the traffic out there! It's a busy, dizzy world as everyone looks for the "perfect" gift..admit it--you do it too! See "Best Toys 20007". Trendy toys that keep moms and dads scurrying around town to grab the last one--it's ridiculous, isn't it! But what mom and dad hasn't done it for the child they love! I've "been there; done that," and so have you!
Remember the "laugh" toys? You turned them upside down, and canned laughter came rolling out...on and on and on... Haven't seen them lately--and I suppose that's a relief--but could it be we are laughing on our OWN now? A good sense of humor beats the laugh-in-a-box--and if you don't have one (a sense of humor, silly, not a laugh-in-a-box!!), I'd suggest you dig down deep and find the one you've lost! Discover something FUNNY about yourself (YOU and I can be pretty funny, you know!), your family (now THEY can be REALLY funny...grin..)... dig deep enough and you can find something to bring a silly smile, even in the hard stuff of life. Try it--you might discover a delightful sense of humor you didn't know you had!
God has a wonderful sense of humor--look around at the animals He made, so unique and sometimes, quite strange. Look in the mirror--He made YOU--with a long nose, big ears, fun freckles, a tilted smile, or whatever YOUR uniqueness might be! A good sense of humor is one of God's delightful gifts--but it's not His Christmas gift! For you see, God's gift to the world at Christmas brought MORE than laughter--and MUCH more than the canned laughter toy of our childhood! The angels announced JOY to the world--and there's a BIG difference. Come to the Well and let's find out!
A Helping Word...or Two!
I LOVE angels--and it was an angel who announced this wondrous gift to lowly shepherds on a Judean hillside. I'm sure they had little laughter in their humdrum, hard lives, let alone JOY! The angel changed all that with his message, "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:20 KJV)." The gift of Christmas--God's wonderful joy--it's better than a TOY - and it's for us today too!
Keep unwrapping...to find the joy of the Lord as your strength, your song and your salvation! Read the full devotional!
The joy of the Lord is His Christmas gift to you--it's your strength, your song, and most importantly, your salvation. As you wrap (and do it the easy way--gift-bag!) your gifts this week for the family and friends you love, remember that HE has given you the best gift of all--His Son, the Savior of the world. He comes into YOUR world this Christmas to bring you love, peace, and joy unlike any other you have known. Receive His gifts with outstretched arms and open heart--they are free and for you today--straight from a loving Father's heart! Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!
--Copyright 2008 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO.
--Bible readings: Courtesy of "Daily Manna," International Bible Society
--IBSDirect International Bible Society's bulk Bibles/resources at discount prices.
