WAITING IN JOY THROUGH CONTEMPLATION

As we think about our later years, ask God what meaningful involvement in the Kingdom He may be drawing you to. Sometimes we experience long seasons of waiting. Pour out your heart to God about something you are waiting for.

God called Simeon and Anna to wait for the promised Messiah and God gave them a special role in the first Advent narrative. Where do you sense God calling you to be a part of His unfolding story?

Spend some time praising God for a life-changing gift in your own life.

God, please give me patience during my seasons of waiting. I want to be a part of your unfolding story. I praise You for the gifts You have placed in my life.

AMEN

WAITING IN JOY THROUGH WORDS

Richard Foster writes in his book Celebration of Discipline, “Christ entered the world on a high note of jubilation: ‘I bring you good news of great joy,’ cried the angel ‘which shall come to all people.’ And he left the world bequeathing his joy to all disciples: ‘these things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.’ ”

Foster reminds us, “In the spiritual life only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience. The old hymn tells us that there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to ‘trust and obey.’ . . . Joy is found in obedience.”

How can we wait in joy this Advent? We can be joyful because we know the end of the story. We know that the baby in the manger, born to be the Savior of the world, will come again and, as C. S. Lewis puts it, “everything sad is going to come untrue.” We can be joyful as we walk in step with the Spirit in obedience remembering that Jesus said,” Blessed are those . . . that hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)

What love could remember no wrongs we have done? Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum. Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore. Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more.

Father, my sins are many and I thank You that your “mercy is more.” Help me find joy in obedience.

AMEN

WAITING IN JOY THROUGH APPLICATION

The month of December is a time of so much anticipation and joy! We help our children pace themselves through the waiting of Christmas using tools like an Advent calendar that they open each day as they look forward with such joy to December 25!

Like Simeon, who was encouraged in his wait by God’s promise to him and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can find joy in the wait by claiming one of God's promises each day and receiving the daily present of His presence.

Using the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study, “wait in joy” through this season of anticipation by claiming His presence and promises. As you make joy an intentional part of waiting, take time to confess to God when you catch yourself waiting with discouragement and misery. How can you help someone else experience the truth behind the words “Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come!” ?

Father, forgive me when I wait with discouragement and misery. Fill me with anticipation as I wait for your promises.

AMEN

WAITING IN JOY THROUGH EXPERIENCES

At Christmas, we celebrate that God took on flesh and came to earth - we celebrate Jesus. But Jesus didn’t come to earth just to be born in a manger, Jesus came to earth for a greater purpose. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:1, The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. That is great news.

Jesus came to save sinners and He did that through dying on the cross. This is why the cross of Christ is central to the Christmas story. Jesus came to earth to save sinners. Hebrews 12:2 says: Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Sometimes we get joy and happiness confused. Happiness depends on our circumstances, but joy depends on Jesus. We can be in the middle of something really hard and not be happy, but we can have joy and trust Jesus.

Waiting can be hard can’t it?

We can be impatient, cranky, and even selfish when we wait, but there were two people waiting for Jesus who chose to wait with joy. Simeon and Anna waited patiently with great joy to meet the promised Savior, and guess what? They were not disappointed.

Give each family member a sheet of paper and a pen. Ask them to draw a symbol that they think represents Christmas and allow everyone to share their drawing and how that symbol represents Christmas.

Take out the balloon from the Family Advent Kit* and handle it carefully because there are beads inside.

Next, fill the balloon with water to about the size of a baseball. Tie off the water balloon and pass it around to family members.

What do you think will happen to the balloon?

We will have to wait several hours to see what this balloon becomes.

This will be a great chance for us to wait patiently and with joy to see what happens. Let’s pray and ask God for help.

Set the balloon aside. In 4-8 hours, the beads inside will expand, and the balloon will become a sensory ball and family members can play with it. Be sure to gather back around the balloon when the beads have expanded. Look at the balloon, what was once a balloon with just water and beads is now full and transformed! It was worth the wait, wasn’t it? Let’s pass the balloon around and as we play with it each share a way that Jesus brings us joy.

Dear God, thank you that even at Christmas we can remember the cross. Thank you for examples like Simeon and Anna who waited patiently and with joy to meet Jesus. Even as we wait on this balloon, but even more on Christmas, help our hearts have joy as we wait.

AMEN

WAITING IN JOY THROUGH REFLECTION

What did you learn from waiting in JOY this week?