If there's one experience that I believe most people could agree that brought them great joy, it was the birth of their child. After waiting for 9 months, when the child finally arrives it is a time of great celebration and the joy that the child brings is greater than anything else we can experience.

That was true even in the most difficult of situations for Mary and Joseph on that first Christmas. It was a depressing and stressful time of being registered for more taxes. Everything was so crowded there was no room for them anywhere except a stable that housed the farm animals. Here their first child was born and was laid in a rustic manger. Not the greatest of conditions by any means. Yet, there was joy at the birth of this child, just as at the birth of any other child. But wait, there was something more…When this child was born angels appeared to shepherds in fields and begin singing "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace to those whom God favors." The angels announced to them that this child was the Messiah that the people of Israel had been awaiting for thousands of years! The shepherds came and praised God. The joy didn't remain in the hearts of Mary and Joseph, but the joy came to those who didn't know them and didn't know this child. Yet, they were so consumed with joy that went to the village and told everyone what they had seen. Yes, the birth of a child brings joy, but the birth of this child was something very different. It brought a joy that no other birth has ever brought.

Even as Mary carried Jesus in her womb, the child brought joy. During the time Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Listen to the story: Luke 1:39-44. So this child brings a joy that is beyond our comprehension and a different joy than anything in this world can offer - even greater than the joy of the birth of your child.

The presence of Jesus brings lasting joy that goes beyond any joy the world can offer. It is a strange kind of joy that even abides in times when we have great grief or suffering. Jesus talked about this joy that he came to bring in Luke 6:20:

Blessed are you who are poor…for yours is the kingdom of God.

The world would not tell us that being poor is a joyous experience. We fear being impoverished. Hollywood doesn't produce shows about the lifestyle of the poor and needy. But here Jesus is saying, "Joyful are the poor!" This is a different kind of joy that Jesus brings, isn't it?

Grace Venable - one of the poorest persons I have known. Yet, she always had a smile on her face. Grew up in a shack, dirt floor. Parish built her and her family Heart and Hand home and she said the greatest thing was for the first time in her life she was able to go barefoot in the winter! No insurance.Husband had cancer, she had cancer and was healed by God. Canned between 500-1000 jars every summer for her family. Hard work farming - raising own animals. Yet, she always had that smile and that joy. Recent reunion of parish workers. Of all the people they went to visit, they wanted to see Grace. Said she was the same as always. So glad to see them, smile on her face. Joy that only comes from Christ. Can't come from anywhere else.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Most of us would not say that we could be hungry and have joy. But Jesus came to bring joy even to the hungry. The joy he brings satisfies beyond what delicacies food can bring. The food channel doesn't express this kind of joy. Only Jesus does.
How else can you explain a hungry village in Africa who still gathers to praise the Lord and worship Him?

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Clyde Hardman's mother died on Dec. 23. The family held visitation on Christmas Eve and she was buried on Christmas day. Clyde said he couldn't think of a better day for His mother to be buried! That's strange isn't it. But not to Clyde. The joy of Christmas and the joy of knowing His mother was with God was one and the same. They were all about the joy Jesus brings even in the midst of grief and sadness. This is one strange kind of joy!

Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you, and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

Many who were ridiculed and tortured yelled curses at those who were persecuting them. But not Jesus and his followers. When people reviled them, they yelled out "God forgive them!" and expressed that nothing could take away the joy of their salvation in Jesus. The book Jesus Freaks relates countless stories of Martyrs around the world. One man's family was killed by Radical Muslims and they threatened to kill him if he continued to preach about Jesus. He said no matter what they had taken from him, they could not take away the joy of His salvation that Jesus had brought. He continued preaching the gospel until he was martyred.

This is radical joy. It's not the kind of joy that the world can experience outside of the very touch of God. It's the kind of Joy that is a pure gift of God's presence with us, that opens up our hearts and fills our hearts even in the worst of situations.

Jesus told the disciples when he was preparing to go to the cross: John 16:20-24.

Lori wrote a powerful Advent devotion that was shared with us this week. In that devotion she expressed the difficulty of losing three men in her life - her husband, her father, and her father-in-law, all in a year's time. Listen to what Lori shares:

I didn't plan for these strong, loving men to be taken from my children's and my lives. But God spoke with me in the early hours of October 2006, "Trust me, I have a perfect plan for you." I have learned to trust Him. Some days are better than others, but when I stop, reflect and review my life, I can see God's perfect plan. John went so early, but my life was made better because I met him, married him and was blessed to have our three beautiful kids with him. That was part of God's perfect plan. But the beginning of God's perfect plan began the day He sent His only Son to die for me, so that I may have everlasting life. Now, that is perfect!!! Sometimes, my days are better than others, but I have to learn to trust him and realize that He cries when I cry, and He laughs when I laugh. I know He has a perfect daily plan for me and I don't need to worry.

That's a real gift - a gift of joy that cannot be taken away that abides deep in our hearts even when life throws us some real grief and hardship that we can't understand.

God gives us this greatest gift everyday in Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus was sent, to give us that abiding joy that only Christ can bring. It's the joy that was present from the beginning of creation as everything that was made was made through him. It's the joy that's present as each bird sings, each wave rolls, each stream flows. It's the kind of joy that makes a flower spring forth in the dessert where nothing can grow.

It's the gift of the Christ that is given to us all, that we may share that joy with others and let it flow into their hearts as well:

Holcombs - Erica's story.

Erica's gift expresses the joy that only Christ can give. When you don't have anything to give, Jesus makes it possible to give the joy of yourself, your heart. That's what Jesus gave and it was the greatest gift that's ever been given.
That's the real Christmas present - the presence of Christ and the joy only he can bring.