THE UNOPENED GIFT: The Fullness of JOY

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.  Psalms 16:11

So are you done?  Did you get everything you wanted?   What did you have to take back and exchange?  Are you happy now?   Or is it possible that you are still not satisfied?    Did Christmas not turn out the way you wanted?  Maybe a certain someone is gone.   Maybe your ungrateful kids are already asking for more.   Maybe you are filled with depression because you wanted to make it bigger and better than years before and for some reason you weren't able to.  Maybe you feel lonely, and Mr or Ms. someone spent their Christmas with the new Mr. or Ms. someone.   

Whatever it is..........it's not JOY-FULL for you!   As a matter of fact you on the verge of a nervous breakdown.   Maybe you are already there, and depression is the blanket that chills your already cold body.    But somewhere you forgot to open this gift from God.   You knew it wasn't an IPAD 5 or 6 whichever one they are on now.   You knew it wasn't a Lexus with a big red bow on it.    It wasn't him or her with a bow waiting to receive you.......it was this box that was damaged, with tape keeping it from totally collapsing on itself.   It's labeled fragile, handle with care, and possible it's come from a long way so it has multiple postages on it...and it's not that attractive either.   But you sit in your room sobbing over what WASN'T or ISN'T totally ignoring that if things were really your way.......that you gave them the best Christmas ever, or that He or She was there to spend it with you, or that you finally got your flat screen, laptop, new tablet or toy....that that would only last until the NEXT BIGGEST THING was released.......so what is it that you really need?  What is it that would really satisfy our constant want for.............................

JESUS.....it's a personal relationship with Him that gives us the fullness of JOY.  It's the very GIFT OF GOD which is eternal life, because in this life, during some days, and holiday there will be ample opportunities to have a slice of depression pie, or you can say I'll pass, and I'll take another serving of the JOY of JESUS in which I have contentment in Him. 

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!  John 15:10-11  Notice you remain in His love when you obey, not when you seek your will and your way.    That your joy is full and overflows when you are where you are supposed to be doing what He desires you doing.  

So spend today opening that BOX filled with the grace of GOD, and the JOY of JESUS, that you may live today content with those gifts, and spend time in prayer, worship and reflection of what HE has given you!   LGLP