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  I had lost it all. My messy little kingdom of self was crumbling and there was nothing I could do. How could this happen? Why was this happening to me? Over two decades of complacency, selfishness, and mistreatment had come to a head. My desperation was palpable, my sadness overwhelming.

  Months of saying what I thought people wanted to hear had left me empty. I had quit drinking so why was everything so much worse than I thought it should be? I was exhausted. Where was this “higher power” I kept hearing about in AA meetings? Why wasn’t it working?

  I met a man who had a calmness about him that I had tried to attain through every means I could think of. He told me I could get better. I didn’t believe him, but I so desperately wanted to. I worked with him on the 12 steps of AA and things were good, until they weren’t. I was sober, but I just couldn’t let go of what I thought I needed.

  After several frustrating months I met another great man. We had dinner together and he told me Jesus loved me. I choked back tears and unbelief. I wanted it to be true, but how could it? I was a despicable person, nothing like the man sitting across from me. He told me of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and what it meant for a guy like me. Something inside me knew this is what I had been seeking my whole life. This is what was intended to fill the emptiness I felt for as long as I could remember. When we parted ways that evening, he gave me a Bible and said he loved me. I did not understand.

  I started attending the church where he Pastors, and I was immediately surrounded by something new. People were asking me how I was doing, and they waited to hear my answer. This was not obligatory small talk, it was genuine. The church needed help in an area that I had a bit of knowledge about, and despite some of my more stubborn character defects, I had fun. It felt strange to do something and not expect anything in return. What I did get in return cannot be expressed in words. It is a gift that I will carry in my heart for the rest of my life.

  As time went on, I was finding myself more interested in the message than the neat stuff I got to play with. I wanted more of Him. I wanted to do more. I wanted to use what I had been through to do good. I was seeing old relationships miraculously being rebuilt, much deeper than I had ever imagined they could be. I was letting go of guilt and shame I had carried my whole life. I felt like I had a purpose. I found myself believing Jesus loved me. I was letting go of what I thought I needed and finding rest in His love.

  I was baptized in that church. Through His transforming grace and mercy, I have been taught what love really means. I have been given a new life of purpose. I have been led to a place where I feel safe, welcome, and I don’t have to be anything but myself. The Lord has opened my eyes and my heart. Thank you, Jesus, that I have hope and can say with confidence, praise God, I had lost it all!

  Joy is often associated with the Christmas holiday season. Joy is mentioned/infused in Christmas songs, movies and cards. It is expected to be part of the season; it is just there. Except when it is not.

  I took a few minutes this morning to look for joy in my life, in my day. As I ate breakfast, Mindy and Jubilee joined me at the table. They wanted to spend a few minutes with me before I left for work. Shortly, Jubilee’s hand became caught between slats in the chair and tears ensued. Once she was freed, she climbed into Mindy’s lap for a comforting, all-is-right-in-the-world hug. Mindy’s smile radiated joy in that moment.

  There is joy to be had in the small moments that bring us pleasure and happiness, for ourselves and others. And we are to rejoice in those moments. But there is more to it, a larger reason to celebrate. Why is joy celebrated at Christmas time? Should Christmas be a more joyous time than the rest of the year?

  The joy at Christmas is wrapped up in the Gospel, beginning with what we deserve, followed by God’s promise, and the answer to that promise in the birth of a child. Our joy is found in knowing that despite our sin, our selfishness, our deserved separation from our loving Creator, He wants to be reconciled. This season’s joy is in the birth of His Son, who paved the way back for us; our joy lies in knowing how the story ends, with eternity in His presence.

  Like the shepherds in Luke 2, the birth of Christ is joyous news! More than being joyful, we are called to share that joy with others, to share the Good News that the Messiah has come to rescue us from the penalty of sin.

  You might be thinking. “Hold on, Paul!” “It is hard to be joyful or even share joy right now. I am alone, or money is tight, or I have to work on Christmas.” Those are all valid reasons to struggle at this time of year. God reminds us in Psalm 30:5 of the temporary struggles of this life and the eternity of His love for us.

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

A shout of joy comes in the morning! I would encourage you to look around, today and this month, and seek where the Lord is at work. Seek opportunities to find and share joy. If you are alone, are there others who might also be alone that would be blessed to celebrate Christmas with you? If money is tight, how can you bring joy into the lives of others at no cost? There is value in time and attention. If you have to work on Christmas, how can the Holy Spirit shine through you, sharing the joy of Christ with those you come in contact with that day?

  It can often feel like our hands are caught in the slats of life, but we have the One who can offer us comfort, reassurance, and joy. We can climb onto His lap for peace. When He was born a baby, the story to eternal joy started. Resurrection Day completes our joy.

  Today, we can remember that while the challenges of life can hurt us in different ways, He is there, ready to bring us to joy. Share your joyful moments in the comments below. Merry Christmas!

We pray this Advent you find peace. We pray you find joy. And hope. And love. And we would love for you to follow along with us this Advent season.  Please see the link below for our family Advent guide.  It includes crafts and fun ideas and small readings for families.  You can download and print or you can grab a printed copy in the church foyer.

Family Advent Guide

In the summer of 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking if he’d be willing to fill shoeboxes with gifts for children in war-torn Bosnia. Franklin agreed, figuring Christmas was months away. He forgot about his promise until he received a call close to Thanksgiving asking about the gifts. With help from others, 28,000 shoebox gifts made their way to the Balkans that Christmas. Through these gifts it was communicated to children and their families, for the first time for most, what the angel said to the shepherds about Jesus’ birth: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” - Luke 2:10.

Every year since, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. The boxes serve as a tangible expression of God’s love, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, God’s Greatest Gift. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach 11 million children in 2022. And, this year the project will collect its 200-millionth shoebox!

Mountain Christian Church has supported the mission of Operation Christmas Child for many years. We support the mission in a few ways. First, we pack and donate boxes as a congregation. In 2021 we collected 137 boxes. Our 2022 goal is to collect 150 boxes. We are well on our way to this goal! Another way we support the mission is to serve as the East Mountain drop-off location. When an individual or church goes online to find the nearest drop-off location, MCC is listed as the site for all those in the East Mountain. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and to witness to our community. New this year, during Sunday School we had our grade school children write personal letters to the recipient children. These letters will be distributed in boxes collected by our congregation, letting the children know that they are loved by others and are being prayed for. 

If you haven’t yet packed your shoe box gift(s), do so today! MCC is collecting boxes through Monday, November 21^st. 

“Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” - Mark 10:14