{"id":39,"date":"2006-12-17T06:28:40","date_gmt":"2006-12-17T11:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lovingchristmas.com\/blog\/?p=39"},"modified":"2025-12-11T20:04:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T01:04:10","slug":"dec-17-candle-of-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovingchristmas.com\/blog\/2006\/12\/17\/dec-17-candle-of-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Candle of Joy, Third Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we begin the week of the candle of joy.<\/p>\n

What Is Joy?<\/h2>\n
\"Opening

Opening gifts on Christmas Day<\/p><\/div>\n

Joy has sometimes been a difficult concept for me, and from the Biblical standpoint of “counting it all joy” when we suffer tribulations, it is probably a difficult concept for most of us.<\/p>\n

We find joy to be one of the fruits of the Spirit, biblically. \u00a0From this we take that it means joy grows from the presence of Christ within us. Perhaps that explains how we may find joy within hard circumstances: because Christ has the greatest possibility of creating His character within us when we turn to Him during our difficulties.<\/p>\n

The Joy of Jesus<\/h3>\n

Jesus Christ did not always have the happiest circumstances in His earthly life. Yet it is said of Him that He had an anointing of joy, above all others. \u00a0Where did this come from? Christ gave us a clue as to where that joy came from when He told us to pray that our joy may be full.<\/p>\n

Answered prayer gives us proofs that God loves us. He always does love us, and we are supposed to know that by faith, but we have a little child’s joy when we see how wonderfully He often answers our prayers. We also have His nature within us and have joy when we see His Will done on the earth.<\/p>\n

The Opportunity of Christmas<\/h3>\n

Christmas is a time when the opportunities for joy are great, not guaranteed, but pregnant with potential. Sometimes we must labor to see the outcomes that give us joy. I think we, at least I , would have more joy if centered upon how the efforts will produce enjoyment in others. Joy is a fruit and seeds can be sown to produce more of it.<\/p>\n

Let this be the theme for the week: how can we seek the good and the happiness of others around us?<\/p>\n