I’m sitting here in my “Seek JOY” sweatshirt, pondering joy. It has been my mantra for about four years now, yet it still seems elusive so much of the time. I have JOY art on my walls and plastered on pottery that I have painted…as I look around me it is everywhere yet—it still seems so far to find.

Especially in this Christmas season, I think we can get caught up in so many other things. We write lists, plan events, and buy things that we think will bring us JOY. The reality is that it is found elsewhere.

True JOY is found in a baby. A fleshly, human, needy baby boy born into a world that did not want Him. JOY is found in a man. A 100% God, 100% human man who gave His life for us.

JOY is found in the Immanuel – God with us – in the knowing that He is with us and so we can and should choose JOY.

I have shared this definition so many times with so many of you, but it never gets old to me:

 “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” (Kay Warren, Choose Joy)

What will this look like for us this Advent season? This week as you read the reflections on JOY, think about the assurance that God is in control, the confidence that everything will be alright, and the choice to praise God – in all things.