A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE...

Dear Readers,
The following article was not written by me. It was shared with me by my mother and it was like a heart hug and brought tears to my eyes and JOY to my heart. So, I thought it would be perfect to share with you this Christmas season as a reminder of what we have in a committed unity with Jesus Christ, and what astounding and overwhelming wonder there is to come.

Read on...

THE JOY OF JESUS by R.T. Kendall.
"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy Name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted." Psalm 89:15-16.

If you think you are going to be happy when Jesus comes the second time, let me tell you that it will but like crumbs from the table compared to the joy our Lord will have on that day. Parents, what makes you happy on Christmas Day? Is it not seeing your children happy? When I watch my son or daughter open a present that they had hoped for, and I see their joy, it is my joy. I delight in just seeing their faces. And that is what makes our Lord's joy complete. His joy comes not only from what He did or from pleasing His Father but also from seeing the expressions on our faces when we see Him.

What was it like on Easter morning when Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene? Do you know why He appeared to her first? I suspect Mary Magdalene took it the hardest when Jesus was betrayed and crucified. Oh, the joy Jesus felt when He could see her as she wrapped her arms around Him. He had to say, "Stop clinging to Me." There was joy that Jesus felt when He could say to Peter, "It's all right." For Jesus knew how Peter felt when he wept his heart out (Matthew 26:75). Jesus wanted to go to Peter and say, "It's okay." There were those disciples in the upper room. They had forsaken the Lord in the last hour; now they heard that He was alive and they were so ashamed. But what joy Jesus had in going to the disciples to say, "Peace. Peace. It's all right. It's okay." And when they saw Jesus meant it - that He held no grudges, but absolutely and totally forgave them - what joy they felt! What joy He felt in seeing them accept His forgiveness!
(Taken from a Daily Devotional book called "Treasures of Wisdom".)

Readers, ideally, at this time of year, our thoughts are cast toward Jesus and the gift He was and is from God moreso than ever before. For those of you who know Him, share Him!!! Tell your family and friends, tell an acquaintance or a stranger. SHARE HIM!!!! Not only is it our obligation as Christians, but it should be our uncontainable desire and JOY to do so!

For those of you who do not know Him, He is waiting, with open arms for you to accept Him, and in turn share in the JOY that comes from a life of knowing Him as Lord and Saviour. You won't regret it! :-)

NOTE:- The author of the above piece wrote a book called "The Parables of Jesus". Highly recommended reading for anyone who does, or has struggled with understanding some, or all, of the parables told by our Lord. (**hand shoots up in the air...Me - Me!!) A very, very good book.

Now, from me, Dearest Readers...
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I still feel so new to this whole blogging thing, but in the short time I have been at this I have felt so blessed by you, your thoughts, prayers and comments - those directly here to my blog, and those who have commented on FB, Twitter and personally to me by TEXT message. (I've been challenged too, and as a Christian looking to continually grow in my faith, I welcome that!) Thank you to each and every one of you who have taken the time to read and comment on my posts. I look forward to where God will guide me through writing in 2012, and hope you will continue to travel this literary road with me.

Have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas, and a safe and healthy New Year - 2012. Be a blessing to others in Jesus' Precious and Beloved Name, and take care of yourselves. God bless.

Hugs - Jeanne.