Browse through any local book store and you will be bombarded with books on joy. Joy of Cooking, Joy of Sex, Joy of Not Working, The Complete Joy of Home Brewing –just to name a few.

Our Advent word for consideration today is JOY. The Bible is full of joyful sayings:

“The joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)

“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

A nervous pastor conducting his first Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service, watched anxiously as the light moved its way from candle to candle through the Sanctuary. With all the candles burning, the pastor spoke up boldly and said, “Now that everyone is lit, let us sing ‘Joy to the World'." It is the powerful affirmations found in that grea…