Last week I wrote about my favorite movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” (https://d2dministries.com/2011/12/02/its-a-wonderful-life/) and how George Bailey had a changed outlook because he had a changed perspective.  Well Christmas is less 3 weeks away and you still have a few opportunities to watch my favorite animated Christmas show “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The Grinch is great story about a change of heart and also another show I cannot get the kids to watch anymore!

The Grinch literally stole Christmas: “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming! They’re just waking up; I know just what they’ll do. Their mouths will hang open a minute or two, then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry, “Boo Hoo.”

Yes, the Grinch literally stole Christmas and the same thing can happen to us – our Christmas can be stolen and even by the same things the Grinch stole – presents, decorations, and food.  The difference from the Grinch is that we allow these things to steal our Christmas.

We try to look to these things to fill us with joy. Please don’t get me wrong – we should enjoy these things: buying and giving gifts, baking cookies, attending Christmas pageants and concerts. But are we looking to these things to fill us with joy?

What is the secret to truly being filled with joy this Christmas season? Well it isn’t a secret and it is the way to be filled with joy the other 11 months of the year: stay close to Him so you can be filled with joy from the inside out. It doesn’t work the other way – you can’t be filled with joy from the outside in. Yes the things of Christmas can provide enjoyment but they cannot fill us with joy.

Enjoyment or happiness has to do with circumstances and stuff, even Christmas stuff.  Joy is a byproduct of a relationship with a wonderful God who loves us which Paul states this so incredibly well in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Our pastor, Jason Barber, at Northside (http://www.northsidechurchroswell.com/) had a great quote from last Sunday’s message: “Jesus can be your life or He can be an obstacle to doing life your way.” In the same way, Christmas can be about Jesus or He can be an obstacle to doing Christmas our way.

Enjoy the things of Christmas but don’t allow them steal your Christmas.

“The Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, he thought… doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps… means a little bit more!  And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!”

In His Service,

Ed