good news

  • Why The Gospel Is Good News That Brings Joy

    The third week of Advent is a special week and most everyone celebrates with a focus on JOY, along with a pinky-rose coloured candle. 

    An article in The Daily Press explained how, “The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday” which means “rejoice.” And what colour is as happy and joyful as the colour pink?

    It’s not just a different candle that is lit during the third week of Advent, but there are different carols sung too, songs of joy fill churches. 

    Soul H2O Devotion

    Why The Gospel Is   Good News  That Brings Joy

    Why The Gospel Is Good News That Brings Joy

    Pre-pandemic, you just never knew who would be at the Christmas dinner table. My family would often invite people in who didn’t have others to celebrate with and the Lord knows, we always have WAY MORE food than needed. It might be someone who was down and out on their luck or just people who didn’t have family nearby.

    I think there’s great joy in knowing that Jesus came to set a seat at the table for anyone, not just a select few. 

    Take a look at your nativity set and actually think about the people surrounding the manger, along with all the others in the Christmas narratives recorded in Scripture.

    But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

    Luke 2:10-11 NIV

    First of all, there’s a baby. God could have chosen to come down as an adult but he didn’t. He chose to come down as baby. The gospel is for the youngest of the young. Next, there is Mary and Joseph, she’s a teen mom and he was just a young step dad.

    The gospel is for the young. 

    The first people to hear about the good news of the savior coming to earth was actually Mary’s older cousin Elizabeth. When she found out, she was so excited. Elizabeth and her hubby Zechariah housed Mary for the first part of her pregnancy. They were probably in their 40s or 50s as Zechariah was still working… so the gospel is for middle-aged people too.

    The gospel is for middle-aged people. 

    Anna and Simeon in the synagogue were seniors in their later years, waiting for the promised Messiah and they were filled with joy as they recognized Jesus as the Christ.

    The gospel is for seniors. 

    The wealthy, wise, and educated magi came from the east. Men with different skin tones, backgrounds, and beliefs from the others in this story.

    The gospel is for the wealthy, wise, and educated.
    For people of every nationality or ethnicity. 

    And then, there were the shepherds; just regular, every day, working class people.

    The gospel is for the the average Joe or Joanne. 

    The gospel is good news because it’s for everyone!

    No matter your race, creed, colour or family background, the gospel is good news that brings joy for you!

    Prayer

    Father… I want to thank You for including me into your family. Your gospel is good news for me. Help me to live in a joy-filled way that entices everyone to long for the good news your love can bring into their lives. In Jesus Name…Amen

    Drawing from the well

    Verses to help fill up your well.

    1. 1. Luke 2:10-11
    2. 2. Acts 2:28
    3. 3. Psalm 16:11
    4. 4. Luke 24:46-48

    Soul H2O Resources

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    #musicpic

    #musicpic SONG: Joy Unto the World – The Afters @ 3:56

    Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu018_9wF7k

    Soul H2O Spotify Playlist: Online | On App

    advent Spotify Playlist christmas

    Joy For The Holidays is a part of the Advent Series on the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Show Episode #90.

    You can find the  Show Notes at http://www.soulh2o.com/90

    Splash Online Event

    Childlike Faith Series – Christmas Crackers
    Expecting Good Gifts From God

    Join us in the Soul H2O Splash Facebook Group December 16, 2021

    Advent Inspiration for your Christmas Season

    Devotions, Podcast Episodes, Recipes, Christmas Messages and more!
    https://www.sherrystahl.com/advent-inspiration-for-your-christmas-season/

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  • Joy to The World

    joy to the world“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” –Luke 2:8-12 NLT

    Jesus- the Joy to The World

    Do you have a favorite Christmas carol? One of my ultimate favorite’s is Joy To The World, especially when Mariah Carey is singing it!
    It’s just my opinion, but I think there are too many sad, slow, and unrealistic Christmas Carols about Jesus. Carols about Santa are filled with Joy. There’s Santa Baby, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and Here Comes Santa Claus. Those songs just make you happy singing their jingles.

    Silent Night doesn’t even make any sense to me. I struggle to think that a baby’s birth in a stable with animals around was a “silent” night.

    Away In A Manger isn’t logical either. The song ends off well and is angelic when sung by a choir of children, but to think that cows mooing wouldn’t cause a newborn to cry can only be written by someone who’s never had a baby!

    O Come All Ye Faithful has us singing “Born this happy morning” in an almost sorrowful way. Hardly joyful, birthday celebrating songs appropriate for my Jesus’ birthday!

    Nothing brings more joy into the world than the birth of a child. Reading Luke’s account of that wonderful night when Jesus was born helps me to understand that He came to bring Joy To The World. His desire is to take our sorrow and replace it with the good news that our savior has come. This year share the joy of Jesus’ good news with someone. This will bring a great joy to their celebration of Christmas and yours!

    Prayer

    Father…Thank-you for bringing joy into our world because we need it! So often life is hard and doesn’t make sense. May the joy of knowing you Jesus and the freedom Your salvation brings bubble out of my life this Christmas and forevermore! In Jesus Name…Amen.


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