Advent - Choose Joy [Randy McNeal]
JOY - Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a
result of choice. The Lexham Bible Dictionary
WONDERED (delogistico) - “wondered” or “deologistico” in the Greek means; to use logic, to reason
with intensity. Encounters with Jesus by Timothy Keller (196)
Quotes:
“We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give
thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge,
experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly
for the highest good…..How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from
Him the little things?” -Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (29)
“The holiest, most universal and most necessary practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God. To
practice the presence of God is to take pleasure in and become accustomed to His Divine Company…”
The Practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawrence (125)
“It is not enough,” he continues, “to love God and to know Him only by what books tell us about him, by
what we feel about Him in our souls, by fleeting feelings of devotion, or by some sort of personal
spiritual illumination. We must make our faith alive and by faith rise above our feelings, to adore God
and Jesus Christ in Themselves. This way of faith is the spirit of the Church, and it is all we need to arrive
at a high degree of perfection.” The Practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawrence (143)
“No one would dare celebrate Jubilee unless they had a deep trust in God’s ability to provide for their
needs. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (195)
“So poke fun at yourself. Enjoy wholesome jokes and clever puns. Relish good comedy. Learn to laugh; it
is a discipline to be mastered. Let go of the everlasting burden of always needing to sound profound”
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (198)
Scriptures:
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s
name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is
with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the
angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give
birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most
High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s
descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called [a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your
relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her
sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Philippians 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is
near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Luke 9:49-50
49“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop
him, because he is not one of us.”
50“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
