What Do You Want For Christmas?

We'd like to share some unusual inspiration for your Christmas, from three very special men.

From Matthew Kelly:

Since Aristotle first spoke of the good life almost two and a half thousand years ago, it seemed everyone has been on a quest to experience it. I've heard many people speak about it, and I've read many books on the subject. Some people think it's about success and accomplishment. Others think it's about money and things. Some think it's about love and family. Others think it's about food, wine, travel, adventure, education, meaningful work, independence, friendship, and pleasure. There's nothing wrong with these things, unless these things are all you've got because even all of these things together will not deliver the good life.

There is one essential, indispensable ingredient to the good life. It's so essential that without it, the good life is impossible. You would think that such an ingredient would be widely sought after. It isn't. You might think that such an ingredient is scarce. It isn't. You may think that this ingredient is expensive. It isn't. You may think people would be clamoring to get their hands on it. They aren't. When people talk about the good life, you get the impression that it is mysterious and only available to a select few people. This isn't true. There is no secret to the good life. It isn't a mystery. No exceptional talent is required. It isn't only for the rich and famous. It is available to everyone, everywhere, at all times.

So, what is the essential ingredient of the good life? Goodness itself. The secret to the so-called good life has always been right there before our very eyes. If you wish to live the good life, fill your life with goodness, fill your life with love and kindness and gratitude and compassion and generosity. Take risks with your goodness. Test the limits of your goodness. Don't just love, astonish people with your love. Don't just dabble in generosity, live a life of staggering generosity. How would your life change if your only goal was to do as much good as possible? Let's find out. Don't let that question remain unanswered. Celebrate goodness, every chance you get.

From Allen:

Have you ever noticed that Christmas is bubbling over with joy?  Everywhere you turn, Christmas is bubbling over with joy from the very start.  Zechariah, fulfilling his task as a priest in Luke 1 in the temple: An angel appears, says, "You and Elizabeth are going to have a son, and you're going to name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth."  Elizabeth, in Luke 1, receives a visit from her cousin Mary, who has conceived Jesus.  And when Mary arrives, the baby leaps in Elizabeth's womb for joy.

Luke 2:  Angels have the wonderful task of sharing the good news of Jesus' birth.  God arrives with the shepherds and says, "I bring you good news of a great joy for all people."  And then best of all, in Matthew 2, with the Wise Men, they arrive on the scene, they discover Jesus, and when they see the star, they rejoice with exceeding great joy.  That's a lot of joy.  Joy is everywhere.  Christmas is dripping with it.  Joy is overwhelming, and Christmas joy reigns supreme.

Christmas and Jesus Christ are all about joy.  Jesus brings a great joy.  “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”  Shout it from the rooftop.  Whisper it to a friend.  Joy sustains you in the highest moments, perhaps at the birth of a new child or in your darkest moments of despair.  We know the Lord, and nothing can change that or remove that.  We have a joy that is inextinguishable.  Joy is at the center of God's heart.  Joy makes us different because we have a joy that the world really doesn't understand.

Oswald Goulter understood that.  Oswald was a missionary to China many, many years ago, and on his way back to the United States for furlough during World War II, his sponsoring agency gave him a ticket to get home.  He arrived in the Port of India in Mumbai on his way.  And he found that there were large groups of Jews being housed on boats there in the waters outside the city to protect their lives because Jews couldn't land anywhere; they weren't welcome.  They weren't accepted anywhere at the time.  So, Oswald went to see them.  And he walked on one of the boats, and he said, "Merry Christmas!"  And they said, "We're Jewish."  He said, "I know, but it's Christmas. Merry Christmas!  What do you want for Christmas?"  They said, "We're Jewish."  He said, "I know, I know.  But what would you like for Christmas?  Merry Christmas!"  And they said, "Don't you understand?  We are Jewish."  He said, "Merry Christmas!  What do you want for Christmas?"  So finally, to get rid of this nuisance of a guy they said, "You know what would be great?  Some German pastry, that'd be great."  So, Oswald goes, and he scours the city of Mumbai until he finds a bakery that makes German pastry.  He sells his ticket to go home and uses the money to purchase pastry.  He goes back to the boat, and he generously shares it with them.  Years later, he was speaking about that experience to a group that was supporting him, and a very prim and proper member of the congregation stood and said, "Why did you do that?  They don't even believe in Jesus."  And Oswald said, "I know, but I do."

Christmas isn't so much about changing the world, changing other people.  Christmas is really about God changing you.  It's about Jesus.  There is no greater joy than Jesus.  

From Isaac Watts:

If you want to raise your joy a little, look at the words to the hymn, “Joy to the World”, then click on the link below to celebrate with this happiest of songs.

Joy To The World, from Isaac Watts (pub. 1719):

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vnB8xAqzjE