Advent Week 3 - Joy

Yesterday marked the start of the 3rd week of the Advent season and the lighting of the sole pink candle.  This candle represents Joy.

Joy is a word I've been learning much about this week.  I've always associated joy with happiness but I learned that they are not the same.  Happiness is a temporary feeling that you get from an outside stimuli. Say for example, eating an ice cream cone brings me happiness.  However, that happiness is short lived and when the ice cream cone melts all over my hands, I'm no longer happy.

Joy on the other hand, is true contentment on an internal level.  It is deep inside you and cannot be changed by outside influences.

The third week of Advent is about the joy that is ours because God has entered the world.

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.' But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.'" Luke 1:26-33

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2: 8-14

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Do you blog about a particular scripture or just about Christian Fellowship each week? If so, I would love to have you join me and my friend Tasha at ABC's and Sweet Tea and link up to help spread His word.

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