2020 Advent Devotions
Thursday, December 3 - Bonnie Distad
Luke 24:52 “And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
This verse from Luke’s account of Jesus’ life and death ends with “great joy” as the disciples had just witnessed Jesus being carried up into heaven. And what is Joy? Melody Beattie describes it this way, “Joy is not a fleeting emotion based on outward circumstances, a transitory feeling of the moment, a reaction to the scenery around you. It comes from within your heart like the waterfall that rushes out the side of a mountain. Joy is run off from the wellspring within you. And sometimes it is a delightful, surprising contrast to the scenery around you.”
Where do we find joy? I believe it finds us in the most unexpected times. For me it is not shouting or fireworks. It came when Angela put hearing aides in my ears at Hopkins and I could hear again. My eyes got moist and tears ran down my cheeks. It happened when I was privileged to be with my daughter at the delivery of my first grandchild, Becca. It happened at my son’s wedding with family all around. Those were tears of joy. My cup runneth over.
As we prepare for another Advent celebration of Jesus birth, may we absorb the “good news with great joy”. For we are God’s good news people in this bad news world.
Prayer: Dear God, I am so grateful for the good news of the birth of your son, Jesus Christ. And like Mary, expect to cherish these moments in my heart with great joy. Amen.
Luke 24:52 “And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
This verse from Luke’s account of Jesus’ life and death ends with “great joy” as the disciples had just witnessed Jesus being carried up into heaven. And what is Joy? Melody Beattie describes it this way, “Joy is not a fleeting emotion based on outward circumstances, a transitory feeling of the moment, a reaction to the scenery around you. It comes from within your heart like the waterfall that rushes out the side of a mountain. Joy is run off from the wellspring within you. And sometimes it is a delightful, surprising contrast to the scenery around you.”
Where do we find joy? I believe it finds us in the most unexpected times. For me it is not shouting or fireworks. It came when Angela put hearing aides in my ears at Hopkins and I could hear again. My eyes got moist and tears ran down my cheeks. It happened when I was privileged to be with my daughter at the delivery of my first grandchild, Becca. It happened at my son’s wedding with family all around. Those were tears of joy. My cup runneth over.
As we prepare for another Advent celebration of Jesus birth, may we absorb the “good news with great joy”. For we are God’s good news people in this bad news world.
Prayer: Dear God, I am so grateful for the good news of the birth of your son, Jesus Christ. And like Mary, expect to cherish these moments in my heart with great joy. Amen.