JOY of Christmas--

What does the word joy means to you? Joy is a emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. But I'm here to share a new definition of the word joy.  Joy is like love, as it is not merely emotion but rather a decision. Have you ever felt the drain of a negative pessimistic attitude on your energies? You don't feel like doing anything and bored. When you are excited and happy about doing what needs to be done, we will be all charge up with motivations to do the work. It is the joy that makes the difference. There is a great strength in joy . . . especially God's joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." [Nehemiah 8:10].

Three areas for us to focus or emphasize on if you want to experience joy. We will use the pneumonic of "JOY" also.
Jesus 
Others
Yourself

For the alphabet "J" the letter symbolizes Jesus, where we should focus/put our eyes on Jesus. As bible says You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:1.

• [Philippians 4: 12 -13]  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Paul undergo shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, Paul had seen the down side of life. From Paul’s story, Paul has discovered a secret for contentment in all situations: his deeply personal sense of living in Christ. In this he found strength to handle anything. Sometimes, we failed to see the joy and the contentment because the results of things done do not meet up to our expectation or not the results we want. At many times we come before the Lord, to inquire the Lord regarding a matter. Deep down in our hearts we have prepared the answer, we expect the Lord to answer our prayers in our way, not His way and will. Furthermore, we failed to draw strength from God because we did not surrender our problems completely to God to handle it. Some may confess through our lips that “Lord I surrender everything to you, but in our heart we are reluctant to trust God and giving God everything”. Some of us may say “God will not handle small petty things”. I’m here to tell you today that God cares everything we go through, God will be happy for you to involve Him in every little thing that we do. Focus in God~God will help you.
• [John 15: 9-11] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. God is asking us to have a lovely relationship with Him, remaining in His love that endures forever and at the same time obeying His commands. . it is revealed that the relationship between Christians and Christ is the same as that between Christ and the Father.  Having a True  relationship with Him and obeying the commandments of Christ able to  impart joy in us.

As for the letter "O" it represents Others. The second area that we should pay attention to is "Others".

• When we talk about others many times we forgot about the Golden Rule that Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:12 ; So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. This golden rule covers all aspects of our life of [ethics,behavior, righteousness, and godliness]. The Law they mention is one of the Jesus’ greatest commandment; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. At times when lost our conscience where anger has consumed it, we failed to see grace, love, and forgiveness. As a result we pay an eye for an eye and we sin against God and our enemies. So, love your enemies and repay evil   with  good deeds [Luke 6:27].One way to practice the golden rule is to ask the simple question:"How would I want to be treated?" Then treat the other person that way.

• The bible also mention that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” [Acts 20:35]. Therefore, in this coming Christmas, you can bless other as well [Examples]. All people on earth will be blessed through you. [Genesis 12:3]. God will use us to bless people as well. We can obtain joy by "giving ourselves to others". It means it is not about what we get and what can we get in return, but what we can give to others.

The final area that we are focusing in is Yourself from the letter "Y". It's rather more into attitude itself.

• We should always have a positive/optimistic mindset. As commands/movements of flesh will be controlled by our mind. Having a right attitude to follow Jesus is very important too as it keeps us continue to follow Him closely and Faithfully. Always remember this point that "no one/nothing can rob anything from us except of ourselves!"
• Parable of tenants also teach us to have the right attitudes, God will share the joy of His with us.

• Why putting Jesus/ourselves/people last rather than first?
  
  Conclusion
  1) Always remember that Christmas is all about Jesus and Joy.
  3) Joy does not obtain trough worldly materials, but through Jesus.
  4) Nothing can rob anything from us except ourselves.
  5) Give ourselves to others.