Where Is Your Joy? - Crosswalk the Devotional - December 17

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Where is Your Joy? by Debbie Holloway But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” [Luke 2:10-11]( The winter season can be bleak for many. Students are preoccupied with their work. Others become easily stressed with the pressure to plan (and cook for) family gatherings associated with the various winter holidays. Some of us even struggle with S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder), a medical condition where melancholy and sorrow creep up, due in part to the lack of sunshine. There is something special, then, about the coming of spring. About seeing daffodils peek their yellow heads above the ground for the first time. I imagine the Jews of Jesus’ day longed for the spring of the Lord’s favor. No word from the Lord had come for a long time. Jews were living under a powerful, pagan Roman government. While the people were not necessarily miserable or oppressed, their joy perhaps had worn a little thin. They no doubt pined for something better. Imagine, next, the Shepherds who were visited by Angels on the night of Christ’s birth. The hum-drum of their evening duties, perhaps even their sleep, was interrupted in a big way. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were terrified. But the terror was short lived, of course. What terror can stand against such amazing, incredible, joy? [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [10 Things the Bible Says about the Mark of the Beast]( DiAne Gates In the span of my generation, what sounded like an impossibility in The Book of the Revelation, today’s technology has made a reality. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Hallmark Christmas Movies: 5 Reasons to Be Careful]( Catherine Segars They can be addictive, can’t they? Especially this time of year. I know a few people who don’t have cable, so they are immune to the silly but strangely satisfying pleasure of downing a Hallmark flick with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Or rather, like a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. I think of this made-for-TV fare as having the nutritional value of pre-packaged junk food. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2019 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](