Scripture Reading: Psalm 126

Third Sunday of Advent, December 13, 2020

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. —Henri Nouwen

n a survey of more than 700 subjects, Kathy Caprino, senior contributor at Forbes, marriage I and family therapist and career coach, asked the respondents to identify what they most desperately wanted in life. The question was: “If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?” Think about that for a moment. How would you respond? The number one response was happiness. Joy came in at number five. At number two was money — with which, one would assume, you could buy number one. If the psalmist was asked to answer this questions, JOY would have been his number one request. In Psalm 126, the reading for today, the words joy or rejoice are mentioned many times. In verses 1 and 2, he writes: “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.” But where does joy come from? You know the answer, don’t you? You know that many things might bring your happiness for a time — things like money, the latest appliances, education, fame, the admiration of others, professional success, financial windfalls and the like. There’s nothing bad about these things. And there’s nothing bad about the happiness that wealth and fame might bring. But joy? No, that is another matter. I believe that synonym for joy is not happiness, but peace. You may not have the things that make most people happy, but you can still have joy. Joy is a sublime inner contentment that comes from knowing that your life is in the hands of someone far greater than yourself. Joy is the knowledge that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is Joy Sunday. May your heart be filled with the joy of the Lord! —Timothy Merrill

Prayer: Blessed Lord Jesus, thank you for your indescribable joy. In your name. Amen.

Activity Page Week of December 13, 2020

DAILY BIBLE READINGS O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE! Sunday: Psalms 142-145 Monday: Psalms 146-147 DIRECTIONS: Tuesday: Psalms 148-150 Read the clues and write the correct answers in the corresponding circles. In the white Wednesday: Revelation 13-15 space on this page write the FIRST LETTER of each correct answer and unscramble Thursday: Revelation 16-18 these letters to form a word pertaining to this season of the year. Write your answer Friday: Proverbs 8-11 on the line at the bottom of the tree. Saturday: Proverbs 12-14

CLUES: 5. “For unto us is born this day, 1. 1. It’s decorated at Christmas. a ____, Christ, the Lord.” 2. One who governs 6. She was betrothed to Joseph. 3. The first word of a popular 7. The shepherds heard them sing. Christmas carol, it means “to 8. A Christmas hymn listen.” 9. ‘Tis the ______to be jolly!” 2. 4. It’s burned to make the air sweet.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8. 9.

______

Answers: 1. tree 2. ruler 3. hark 4. incense 5. Savior 6. Mary 7. angels 8. carol 9. season Unscrambled word: CHRISTMAS HomeTouch® | Visit us at: HomeTouchMinistry.com | © 2020 CRI, PO Box 9290, Canton OH 44711