5 Tips For A Joyful Christmas

Joy to the world                                                 

The Lord has come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart 

Prepare Him room 

And heaven and nature sing (repeat x 2)

Since the Christmas season began, I've sung the above words in church a few times, and ever so often I would find myself humming or singing the song. Needless to say, it's one of my favorite Christmas carols and is quite popular at this time of year. But even though I sing the song, I'm aware that there is not much joy in our world today. For many people Christmas is the saddest and loneliest time of the year. And if you live anywhere on planet earth, you know there are dozens of other reasons for the lack of joy.

So rather than depressing you by telling you what you already know, I've come up with some tips to help you experience some joy this Christmas. 

1. Spend time with the Lord. Yes, I know you pray and read your Bible daily, but at Christmas time we may find ourselves so engulfed in our preparations we may neglect spending some quiet time with God. Don't let this happen. The psalmist said, "In thy presence is fullness of joy ..." Psalm 16: 11.

2. Slow down. This may seem almost impossible, but guess what? You don't have to kill yourself trying to have everything perfect; neither do you have to attend every function to which you are invited; neither do you have to overspend in an attempt to buy gifts for everyone. 

3. Spend time with friends and family. Make it fun, leisurely and stress free. Invite someone who may be alone over for dinner. If you are fortunate to have older relatives around, have them relate stories about "the good old days." They love to do that, and the young people will benefit from a little history lesson.Watch a movie like this one that everyone can enjoy.

4. Share your faith. Don't be afraid to say, "Merry Christmas," to store clerks, co-workers and strangers you meet in the mall. You never know, it may spark some conversation about our Savior.

5. Sing. Yes, sing some Christmas carols. Find a radio station that plays them or go to You Tube where you'll find modern as well as old-fashioned ones. You cannot remain sad when you sing. 

You may be able to think of other ways to infuse some joy into your Christmas, or maybe you have some family traditions that are special to you. Why not share them in the comments box below? And do have a blessed and joyful Christmas. 

Enjoy this video of Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir singing Joy To The World. 

The Songs Of Christmas

Holiday songs on the streets in Sonoma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is nothing like music to stir the soul and set the mood for any event. This is why we have music at sporting events, at parties, in church and even at funerals. Most of us have special types of music we play when entertaining our friends at home. Christmas time is no exception. Because this is such a joyful occasion, we celebrate by singing Christmas carols at home and in church. Nowadays, few radio stations play the traditional songs, but I have been fortunate to find one that does. If you are interested, it is The Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN). You can listen live on the internet or on your smartphone.

 When I was a child, caroling, as it was called, was a very common practice. A group of young people dressed in white outfits with red capes, led by their choirmaster, went from house to house singing the beautiful carols. At the end of their presentation, the homeowner would give them money and/or refreshments. I grew up to love Christmas carols, whether sung live or on the radio. I think it is fitting that we should show our praise and adoration to our Savior for leaving His heavenly home and coming to dwell among  us. 

The Bible tells us that after the angel appeared to the shepherds and announced the Savior's birth, there came "a heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2: 13). The Bible doesn't say they were singing, but they may have been, because this was a joyful occasion. 

Therefore, if you think the birth of Jesus was a happy occasion why not fill your heart and home with the songs of Christmas? This video by the unforgettable Mahalia Jackson will surely warm your heart and put you in the Christmas spirit.

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