This "smiling saint in cyberspace" has been Christmas shopping this week--and so have all of you, according to the traffic out there! It's a busy, dizzy world as everyone looks for the "perfect" gift..admit it--you do it too! And what's hot this year? There's Barbie, Sing & Snore Ernie, Real Talkin Bubba, Giga Pets, and more! Trendy toys that keep moms and dads scurrying around town to grab the last one--it's ridiculous, isn't it! But what mom and dad hasn't done it for the child they love! I've "been there; done that," and so have you!

Remember the "laugh" toys? You turned them upside down, and canned laughter came rolling out...on and on and on... Haven't seen them lately--and I suppose that's a relief--but could it be we are laughing on our OWN now? A good sense of humor beats the laugh-in-a-box--and if you don't have one (a sense of humor, silly, not a laugh-in-a-box!!), I'd suggest you dig down deep and find the one you've lost! Discover something FUNNY about yourself (YOU and I can be pretty funny, you know!), your family (now THEY can be REALLY funny...grin..)... dig deep enough and you can find something to bring a silly smile, even in the hard stuff of life. Try it--you might discover a delightful sense of humor you didn't know you had!

God has a wonderful sense of humor--look around at the animals He made, so unique and sometimes, quite strange. Look in the mirror--He made YOU--with a long nose, big ears, fun freckles, a tilted smile, or whatever YOUR uniqueness might be! A good sense of humor is one of God's delightful gifts--but it's not His Christmas gift! For you see, God's gift to the world at Christmas brought MORE than laughter--and MUCH more than the canned laughter toy of our childhood! The angels announced JOY to the world--and there's a BIG difference. Come to the Well and let's find out!

A Helping Word...or Two!

I LOVE angels--and it was an angel who announced this wondrous gift to lowly shepherds on a Judean hillside. I'm sure they had little laughter in their humdrum, hard lives, let alone JOY! The angel changed all that with his message, "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:20 KJV)." The gift of Christmas--God's wonderful joy--and it's for us today too! Keep unwrapping...

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength!

Suddenly, the routine work of the shepherds became easy and less stressed. A new sense of strength must have filled their bodies, as they busily prepared for the journey to Bethlehem. Joy in the soul becomes strength to weary bodies and worn-out souls! And that same strength--that same joy of the Lord--is available to us today. Far beyond laughter, it is His gift to you--a deep and empowering strength; it lifts the soul out of weakness into HIS wonderful strength. Let His joy bring strength to your life today!

The Joy of the Lord is Our Song!

"Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God...(Luke 2:13 KJV)." Did they praise Him in song? I'd like to believe they did--with joy, a contagious joy! I can just hear the shepherds, unlearned in the fine music schools of Israel, begin to hum along--to feel a song of joy bursting from within their hearts as well. The joy of the Lord brings a song--whether you can sing beautifully, or not hold a tune in a bucket. It may surprise you, when in grief and darkness, you suddenly sense a song deep within. That's the Holy Spirit bringing comforting joy to you--receive it with gladness! For far beyond laughter, it is His gift to you--a deep and lasting song; it fills your heart with good things. Let His joy bring a song to your heart today!

The Joy of the Lord is our Salvation!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." A joyful promise to a weary world. A Savior for the shepherds--a Savior for us all! The fun, happiness, thrills and laughter of this world are exactly that--OF THIS WORLD--and they will pass away. The JOY of the Lord is eternal--and the soul who finds the Savior finds the joy. It's that simple! As you live in His presence, you can know His joy. Even in the hard times, when the laughter won't come, HIS joy will remain--deep and abiding. For you are His CHILD. He endured sadness beyond our comprehension--that we might know JOY beyond our comprehension as well! For far beyond laughter, it is His gift to you--a complete, eternal salvation; it fills your soul with assurance, confidence, and joy. Let the joy of your salvation bring a deep, inner gladness to your heart today!

The joy of the Lord is His Christmas gift to you--it's your strength, your song, and most importantly, your salvation. As you wrap (and do it the easy way--gift-bag!) your gifts this week for the family and friends you love, remember that HE has given you the best gift of all--His Son, the Savior of the world. He comes into YOUR world this Christmas to bring you love, peace, and joy unlike any other you have known. Receive His gifts with outstretched arms and open heart--they are free and for you today--straight from a loving Father's heart! Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

And that's just a NOTE or two--from my heart to yours!

His Healing Words

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)."

"Lord, YOU are my JOY--my strength, my song, and my salvation. May I be aware of this precious gift in my life as I celebrate your wondrous birth this week.
In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Other Christmas gifts in this devotional series:

Gift No. 1

Gift No. 2

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Featured links this week

A Top Ten Christmas at Peggie's Place!

Help for the Holidays!

Angeltouch!--Angel links, with a Christian perspective!

AND..would you believe...
KCRG-TV's Toy Test!

A place to enjoy other devotionals!

Visit with my friend Barb! Food from the Master's Table

Visit with my friend Charlene, Barb, and guess who! Under The Juniper Tree

Peggie's List of Devotional Resources

Be Still and Know That I Am God!
a Christian-based nature tape for your devotions time!
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Not hearing music? You need Crescendo! With thanks to Gilberto Barreto for the beautiful music playing at Peggie's Place. His original composition is entitled, "I Love You, Jesus."

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