December 16, 2018 Sunday of the 3rd Week in Advent-C

Zephaniah 3:14-18

Psalm Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:10-18

…he will rejoice over you with gladness… Zeph. 3:17

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Phil. 4:4

Lord, it would be quite a sight to see our Father in heaven singing and dancing with joy over us.  Today’s message, that a joy-filled God delights constantly over us his children, can be a bit strange to us.  Yet, that’s the theme of this mid-point in our Advent journey.  If we believe how much the Father cares for each of us we can share in His joy.  We are accepted by our Creator even with all our warts and blemishes.  He wants to be so near to each of us.  I can sometimes allow the trials and struggles of life steal my joy.  Dear Jesus, as the Father loves us despite our sin, we can hold on to our joy even in times of trouble.  I have the choice to be joyful in good times and in bad because you are near and will give me the strength to live like I have been saved.   Let my joy not be skin-deep but come from the very depths of my heart, my core, my being.  No matter what happens to me today, dear Jesus, I will hold on to the joy and peace you have planted within me.  Amen.