The challenge is to take time to really think about this and not get so caught up with all the "To Do" lists - especially this time of year!

I found when I truly focus on the love of God, then joy is there. This discipline is to think only about Christ's baptism Matt. 3:16. I focus on God's response "His is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then I focus on my baptism - when I was responding to Christ's love on the cross and how He forgives us - no matter what. Then I focus on fellow believer's baptisms and think about how we are all loved and forgiven.
This helps me to realize joy doesn't come from our circumstances - they don't really matter because God's love for me doesn't come from anything that I do or say, it is there always. It's up to us to reach out to Him for everything - especially His joy.

Merry Christmas - Celebrating His Peace and Joy