My Christmas Letter

Every year the average American receives a Christmas letter in their mailbox. Usually in a Christmas card, the letter gives valuable information about all the events that took place in that family's life for the last year. Uncle Ted shot a buck, vacation to several different states went well, little Johnny got his braces and Aunt Dot planted her garden in plenty of time before the ground froze solid. The Christmas letter has been the subject of jokes by comedians, sitcoms (Everybody Loves Raymond) and telephone calls to sisters and brothers asking if they got the dreaded letter. So, I decided to write my Christmas letter on my blog. I don't garden, can't shoot the side of a barn and all my kids are finished with their braces. For Christmas, I want to share joy. John Calvin wrote in a comment on Psalm 47:1-2..."The Holy Spirit has exhorted the faithful to continue clapping their hands for joy until the advent of the promised Redeemer". Paul would heartily concur! Writing from a prison cell from which he had no certain knowledge of escaping other than to his execution, joy is what came to mind. Joy is what the epistle to the Philippians is all about. So much is Philippians about joy that George B. Duncan once referred to it as "the life of continual rejoicing." The opposite of joy is misery, and miserable is something we are not meant to be. The Reformers caught the centrality of joy in the affections of Christians when they insisted that our chief goal in life is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (WSC.Q.1). We're tempted to be discouraged and depressed by the force of overwhelming circumstances...but in such circumstances, we must tell ourselves that we have no right to feel the way we do! Paul, who knew what it was to be in prison, to be beaten and spat upon, to be cold shouldered and ignored, commands us to rejoice, despite what we may feel: "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).

I rejoice first for my salvation and the gift, true gift of eternal life. My gratitude is multiplied as I am assured that each of my children and their spouses will be with me and Glenn in Heaven. Another gift that I have been given is 11 magnificent, Godly, loving grandchildren. My cup is full and I am worthy of nothing. The season of Christmas is the pure definition of joy. The joy of baby Jesus born to become our Savior. Our joy is portrayed, our joy is incarnate and our joy is commanded in the Bible....

I do enjoy receiving a Christmas letter every year. I enjoy reading about the family and sharing in their experiences. So for me, my wish for you for Christmas is to experience the joy of your family, your faith, your community of believers and to know that in every circumstance, if we are the Lord's people, we are assured of God's care and providence. He is working out every detail. Every moment of our existence is cause enough for joy: the good and the bad together should integrate to form a hallelujah symphony to the praise of Almighty God.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!