Advent Sunday of Joy - Dec 9, 2007

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: JOY

VOICE 1 - Last Sunday, the candle of peace was lit. We light it and the candle of hope again, as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world unconditional hope and everlasting peace. (Relight the first and second candle)

VOICE 2 - The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told he that a special child would be born to her - a child who would save and deliver his people.

VOICE 3 - Luke 2:7-11; “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Glory in the Highest

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

VOICE 4 - God wants us all to have joy. We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life - a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free. We light it to remember that He is the bringer of true and everlasting joy.

VOICE 5 - We light this candle today to remind us that he brings Joy to all who trust in him. (Light the third Candle)

VOICE 6 - LET US PRAY - Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our hearts for this gift. Bless our worship. Help us to hear and to do your word. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.



“What’s Your Focus?”

As Christmas approaches, many things go through our minds. We think of presents, trimming the Christmas tree, the turkey dinner, spending time with family and friends, and (hopefully) we think of the Birth of Christ.

Other thoughts include; baking, shopping and traveling; the hustle-and-bustle of the Holidays; packed shopping malls; long lines at the cashier register; crowds of people; slow traffic; icy roads; snowy cars; inconsiderate people; tired and cranky children; and the Visa bill.

For, there are many reasons to be like the Grinch, and hate Christmas. But, why can’t we celebrate the love of God, and His gift to us, without all that Noise! Noise! Noise!

For some, Christmas is not a happy time of year; for the season of giving, reminds them of the many things they don’t have, and of the many things they have lost.

Christmas can be one of the saddest, loneliest, depressing, miserable, disheartening, discouraging, gloomy, dismal, and disappointing times of the year.

In this community, (right now) it is Elusion Disease on the ranches, that has everyone one edge – wondering what will happen, worrying about that last (and the next) test result, and how many mink need to be sacrificed – for the sake of all the rest.

Money is lost, belts are less-than-perfect, the stock, that has taken years to build up – will have to be offered, as a kind of atonement, to help stop the spread of the Disease.

That nest-egg of money, and hope, might just get tapped-into. Plans for the future, might have to change. Some ranches will have to belt-out. Some families might have to move, and start over – somewhere else; & hopefully the Disease will not follow.

Then, we look at others, and we see their perfect little Christmas. The house is beautifully decorated; with stockings, and pine firs, and candles. Their Christmas tree is faultless, very bushy and thick; with the ornaments expertly place, upon the tree. The gifts are also wrapped so nicely, and they always have such great treats waiting, when people stop by.

Perfect, everything seems so perfect.

So, why aren’t they worrying about the minks?
Don’t they understand how important, fighting this Disease is?
How much money do they have stashed away?


We all long for the perfect holidays. We all want to experience the hope, peace and the joy of Christmas; but we can’t because, of what is happening right now; and because of all the ‘ifs’, ‘ands’, and ‘buts’ of the future.

But, we can, because of what has happened in the past. God sent His Son to earth as our savior, as the walking Lord, as the true gift of Christmas. This is where we can draw our Joy.
For those of us, who believe, we know that Christmas is not about, all that. It’s not about the presents from the mall, it’s not about the trimmings and decorations, it’s not about the hustle and bustle, or the long lines, or the crowds, or traffic, the winter weather, or even the Christmas bill.

For those of us, who believe, we know it’s about spending quality time with our families, we know it’s about the love we give to each other, we know it’s about the Birth of Christ, and the Gift of Salvation that comes later.

These, these are the real Joys of Christmas.

Let me tell you a story:

The Roman government has decreed a census, Joseph and his fiancée, Mary, were forced to travel (100’s of miles), from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register. Even though the journey was long, and Mary was ‘quite’ pregnant, they choose to remain focused on the Joy of the coming baby.

Mary was far from home, pregnant, and about to deliver. When they arrived in the City of David, they could not find a place to stay, because of all those people who also returned to Bethlehem because of the census. Joseph and Mary could not find a place to spend the night, and the nearby Inn was full.

They were forced to find refuge, sanctuary, and shelter, in a stable. But, Mary didn’t dwell on what she did not have, she chose to focus on the coming baby – and what she would have.

The mink ranches are same. We must not focus on the ‘what-ifs’, but focus on tomorrow; and next year. What can we learn and take from what is happening right now, and use that information, that knowledge, and better prepare or anticipate for next year.

We must thank God for the blessings of past years, ask Him to deliver us through what is happening this year, and prayer for protection for next year. We can find joy – right now, if only we remember that with God all things are possible, and through His love, we have mercy and are given grace.


Back to my story;

Scriptures tell us;
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths, and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Mary and Joseph could have fretted, and worried, about where they had to stay, but they did not. They accepted the fact, that because of the census, every room in the city was taken. They didn’t like staying in a manger, but they made the best of what they had.

For those who raise mink, Elusion Disease is not the problem; losing Hope, giving up your Peace of mind, and failure to recognize the Joy of Christ (in your life), is what will harm you – the most.
God will always provide. God will always look after us. God will always grant mercy. And, God will always give us His grace.

Let me reassure you of this:

Acts 14:7;
“God has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven, and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food, and fill your hearts with Joy.”

Isaiah 58:11;
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring, whose waters, never fail.”

In Matthew 6:28-33, from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this;

“See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet, I tell you that not even Solomon, in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not, much more, clothe you, O, you of little faith?”

“So, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But, seek first, His Kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well!”
Belting out, moving away, or taking another job, is not failure; failure to anticipate, to adjust, to bend, to be flexible or adaptable is. God knows your situation, whatever it is, and He is waiting to hear from you, so He can grant to you, Hope, Peace, and Joy.


If you remember; Baby Jesus came into this world, not with huge ‘fan-fare’ or with great celebration; he came into this world quietly and lovingly. He was born among the people that he came to save.

But, Joseph and Mary were not interested in all that fuss anyway; they remained focused on the baby that had just arrived; they didn’t worry.

They remained focused on the Joy that this baby had just brought to their lives; and to the world; they didn’t worry.

They remained focused on the love that shone out from Him; they didn’t worry.

They remained focused on the gift that God had just given to them; they didn’t worry.

They (simply) remained focused on their Christmas Joy.

Many people will have a unhappy Christmas this year, only because they choose to. Christmas Joy is all around us, and it is our choice to be happy. We can focus on all the negativity around us, or we can find and concentrate on our blessings.
Yes, sometimes we get down, and can’t seem to shake it; but if we continue to concentrate on that negativity, then we will never be as happy as God, wants us to be.

There are many Joys of Christmas, all around us; we just have to realize their importance.

God gave us the gift of Christ, because He loves us, He wants us to have hope within our lives, He wants us to have peace of mind; and live our lives Joyfully. These are the gifts that will be with us, long after the holidays. For Joy, Christmas Joy is a choice, if we remained focused on the coming baby!


Let us pray:

Dear Lord, in the hurriedness of the holiday season, sometimes we are too busy to see and experience the many Joys your Son brings to this world. I ask you to slow us down, so we can appreciate and enjoy those special Christmas moments.

Grant to us the Hope, the Peace and the Joy, that’s found in Jesus. Amen.