What is Advent:
The word “advent” comes to us from a Latin word that means “coming”. Never heard of an advent devotional before? It’s basically like a Christmas countdown calendar, but with a Jesus devotional focus instead of focusing on the dates. It has been celebrated by Christians for at least 1500 years. Advent is typically the season, or devotional practice, that starts four Sundays before Christmas. It marks the coming of Jesus in three ways – His first coming 2,000 years ago, our hope for His second coming, and His coming daily into our hearts. It’s a season for us to acknowledge the hope we have in Christ while acknowledging that everything has not been set right yet. We can, and should, enter into places of darkness, where hope seems lost, bringing with us the light of our Savior. It’s a hard thing to do and this season is a good time to explore that together with an Advent devotional. We’re entering week 3, joy.
To learn more about the traditions of Advent you can check out our first post in this series. (& here is week 2 if you missed it!)
Week 3- Joy
I always get a little twitchy when people talk about joy. I think it’s probably because I heard so many times, either when I was grieving or when I was struggling with anxiety and depression, to be joyful even if I couldn’t be happy. Which made me more resentful than jolly.
If you’re following along with an advent wreath- the third candle is pink and represents joy (fun language fact – it is sometimes called the Gaudete candle, which means joy candle). The pink candle is also sometimes called the shepherd’s candle. When the angel appeared to the shepherd’s he told them that, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy”! Jesus coming to earth is all about joy!
But Merriam-Webster defines joy as a noun and verb. As a noun it’s the emotion invoked by delight or success. A state of happiness or delight. As a verb it’s more to experience delight or to REJOICE. You can witness both at Christmas, but Jesus- the hope He brings us, the joy- it seems like much more of a verb than a noun to me.
Jesus came to meet us where we are. In grief, in anxiety, in depression, in happiness, in delight- anywhere we are on the roller coaster. That’s a hope I can rejoice in. Something to be thankful for when there isn’t much else to rejoice in. As well as something to soak in when there’s a lot to be excited about.
So wherever you are this holiday season emotionally- my hope for you is that you feel like you get a little hug from God at some point this week. That you can find some reason to rejoice in the hope that Jesus brings you (and those around you) right where you’re at. And finally, that you can bring a small light of hope to someone around you who needs it.
Songs for Week 3- Joy
PS- A special shout out to Santa’s top Christmas Elf (Who lives in San Antonio when not working at the North Pole!) for helping us come up with ideas for this week!
A Christmas Song for All Ages: Doris Day singing “Ol’ St. Nicholas”
Also check out- “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (Andy Williams version). Hope sometimes makes us do some crazy things. What’s the most joyous thing you’ve done during a holiday season?
Joyful Carols: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen & Joy To The World
How can we share the tidings of hope and joy with others in a positive way? What do the tidings of comfort and joy mean to you?
Movies for Week 3- Joy
A Movie for All Ages: The Star (You can rent it here from Amazon)
This was the first movie we ever reviewed! I love how joy is so visibly transformative in this movie. Starting with Bo’s enthusiasm changing the mind of the old donkey he worked with, down to the transformations at the manger. Where did you see joy in the movie? How did the manger scene make you feel? Could you relate to the dog characters? Or to Bo?
A Classic Joy-filled Christmas Movie: Meet Me In St. Louis
Fun fact, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was introduced in this movie. There’s a lot of sorrow in this movie, but it ends happily. What role did joy and hope play in the movie? There were a lot of different holiday traditions in this musical that we don’t usually see today- which was most interesting to you? Which character did you think was most changed by joy?
A Verse and Prayer: Week 3, Joy
Read Luke 2, Romans 15:13, and 1 Peter 8-9 together and talk about where you hear joy in the passage.
Luke 2: 8-18 (HSCB) The Shepherds and the Angels
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Lets go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Romans 15:13 (VOICE) I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:8-9 (VOICE) {Early Christians stand apart from the culture and suffer social stigmas and physical persecution at times. Peter challenges them to remain faithful to Jesus who also suffered for not conforming.} 8 Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. 9 You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith.
Prayer:
We suggest praying through some of the above scriptures, if you have little ones- let them lead a prayer thanking Jesus for coming, or praying a pre-written prayer like this one.
Dear Jesus:
Christmas is getting closer! We are so happy that You chose to come to live on earth. Help us to keep that joy in our hearts throughout this week and all of Christmas. And help us to share that joy in a way that is helpful and encouraging to others, pointing them to You. Amen
We hope that you have a beautiful Advent season! One that is filled with hope, faith, joy, peace and Jesus.
Want to check out a couple of Advent devotional books?
We suggest:
Waiting on the Word by Malcolm Guite- A poem a day.
Watch for the Light – Readings by a collection of authors for each day of the season.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp- A family celebration of Christmas with daily devotionals, questions and activities.
Craft and Pray Around the World by Beth Gorden- 24 different crafts that celebrate different countries and their Christmas traditions
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