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Learn how to get more out of Christmas through the gift of anticipation. As we appreciate what God has already done for us, we can trust him for our future. We can anticipate the good things he was in store for us, like a child waiting to open their presents on Christmas.
Hello everyone and welcome to episode 82. Today is the third of our December series on Relationships at Christmas.
We\\u2019re coming off the 3rd Sunday of Advent, which occurred just a few days ago. This 3rd Sunday traditionally focuses on Joy. The joy of Christmas. Did you know that you can experience the joy of every Christmas 3 times?
You really can! Hang around and listen, as I explain.
The first joy found in each Christmas is anticipating it, looking forward to Christmas and imagining what it will be like. Then there\\u2019s the joy of Christmas Day; and all that happens during those 24 hours. That\\u2019s the 2nd joy. Lastly, there\\u2019s the joy of remembering afterward what happened on Christmas. It\\u2019s reflecting on the events of our Christmas and how what happened touched us in some way. For Today, We\\u2019ll Focus on Just the First Joy of Christmas, the Christmas Gift of Anticipation
He will very great
He will be called the Son of the Most High
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David
He will reign over Israel, and finally
His kingdom will never end
She praises God in response to Elizabeth who tells her will be called \\u201cblessed\\u201d
Because Mary calls to mind what God has done in the past for her ancestors, she can trust God and anticipate more of his goodness in moving forward in her life, and in the life of her people.
And what joy there is in this Christmas gift of anticipation of what Jesus is going to do next. Mary set the stage for the rest of us in showing that the real joy of Christmas is found in a relationship with Jesus.
What about you? Where are you finding joy this Christmas? Is there anything you can remember that God has done for you in the past, that makes it easier for you to anticipate the good things he will do in the future?
To best experience the Christmas gift of anticipation of what is to come. we need to reflect on what has already come. What God has already done in our lives that speak to his character and gives us confidence to trust him in what is yet to come.
What can you anticipate about your relationship with Jesus, based on what he is doing now in your life, and what he did in the past?
If you can\\u2019t point to many things Jesus has done for you, it\\u2019s only because you don\\u2019t know him well enough\\u2026yet. It\\u2019s never too late to start getting to know him. Why not start today?
Do what Mary did in Luke 1:38, she just believed. Not in an \\u201cI hope so manner\\u201d. but rather in affirmation of what God was telling her through the angel Gabriel. Elizabeth tells Mary You are to be called blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. (Luke 1:45)
As always, another thing you could do is let me and your fellow listeners know what resonated with you about today\\u2019s episode. The easiest way is to put your thoughts in an email and send them to me, john@caringforothers.org. Or you can share your thoughts in the \\u201cLeave a Reply\\u201d box at the bottom of the show notes.
In closing I hope you will savor the joy found in experiencing Christmas in 3 ways this year, starting with the Christmas Gift of Anticipation of what is to come. And just like Mary, I hope your Christmas joy is based on your relationship with Jesus. Because after all, You Were Made for This.
If finding more joy during the Christmas season interests you, you might want to listen to episode 46 from last year, Where Joy to the World is Found.
If you come at four in the afternoon, I\'ll begin to be happy by three.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exup\\xe9ry, The Little Prince
That\\u2019s all for today. See you next week. Goodbye for now.
You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. We depend upon the generosity of donors to pay our bills.\\xa0 If you\'d like to support what we do with a secure tax-deductible donation, please click here. We\'d be so grateful if you did.
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