December 24th and 25th

December 24th
"Joy to the World!"
There is excitement in the air…can you feel it!?

Expressions of Joy!
Jesus: Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.

3rd Nephi 9:21
Mary: My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour Luke 1: 47
Joseph: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife…Matthew 1:24
Angels: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14
Shepherds: And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. Luke 2: 17 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. Luke 2: 20
Wisemen: …they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasure, they presented unto him gifts… Matthew 2:11
You: ? What will you do?

Will you rejoice in God as Mary did, perhaps in prayer and pondering?
Will you have a quiet joy of commitment and service to the Lord as Joseph?
Will you sing and praise God as the angels?
Will you make known abroad like the Shepherds?
Will you fall down and worship, and then offer gifts as the Wisemen?
What will you do today?
What will you do all year?

Create “Joy” and enthusiasm in the atmosphere in your home today.
Set an extra place at your dinner table tonight as you light your little candle tonight. Talk about how fun it is to keep a secret or to know a surprise. Let them think that someone is coming…Teach them the Joy Squeeze! When someone is excited they make fists and hold them tight, and bring them up to their chest and lift their shoulders. Do it with a smile! Try it! (If you have boys just have them make a fist and nod!...that is cooler)
Then at the end of dinner tell them that someone is coming. We are celebrating the Lord coming.

Do what your family does to make a celebration. Feel happy, spend time together. Spread Joy every where you can…visit, Sing! Tell the age old story! Talk to your family how you can feel joyous beyond today and tomorrow.
If you want you can discuss or read the thoughts below…

On their long journey to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph anticipated the baby, king, coming to the world, but who else was thinking about it? Who else anticipated? Who else knew?

There were a host of people living in the America’s waiting…
And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both to the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth. For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand…3rd Nephi 1:17-18

But maybe they too were not the only ones…Do you suppose maybe all things in the heavens and earth which were created by Jesus Christ, anticipated and shouted for joy….
”Let Heaven and Nature Sing!”

The night before Jesus Christ was born a giant wonderful secret spread throughout space.
The angels were tickled with delight and the sun overheard their excited Hallelujahs.
The sun could not wait to tell and whispered to the moon!
The moon yelled out with joy and told the wind!
The wind danced all around the earth to tell her of His coming!
The Earth laughed in rainbows and tears which spread through clouds to the oceans.
The oceans swelled with the thrill and all of the rivers and sea creatures felt the movement. For all water is connected!
The sea creatures bubbled and squeaked to tell everyone underneath from sea to sea.
The whales spouted out the secret so the birds and insects heard the news.
The birds flew to the land and told the great mountains and all of the trees.
The trees shook their leaves and fruit with joy which fell to the earth where the plants and grasses could hear the news and Celebrate.
The insects, in their excitement, Buzzed whispers to the flowers, which put on their prettiest colors and stretched and lifted their faces to the sky in gratitude.
And the animals ran and jumped and leaped and danced with the thrill. There were chirps and squeaks, and roars, and whinny’s, and howls and claps. There were croaks, and moos, clucks and quacks.
The world was having a celebration dance, even though it was a secret.
They too were included in the excitement, the night before Jesus Christ was born.

How will you express Joy that the Savior of the world was born? How will you express Joy that the Savior of the world sacrificed for you…?
Perhaps this year you could do something a little different then usual. Instead of a New Years Resolution to loose weight or organize your cupboards, maybe you could take one of the messages from the 25 days of “Christ in Christmas in Bits and Pieces” and choose to do something that would give Joy to our Savior.

Ideas:
Perhaps try to say “I love you” more often.
Perhaps try to be a little more gentle then you were last year.
Perhaps “Come” to the Lord more often, however you can.
Perhaps tell about Jesus Christ as a missionary.
Perhaps be an angel to someone in need.
Perhaps “be good for goodness sakes” and repent and change.
Or, perhaps copy the 25 days and place it in your scriptures, and when you partake of the sacrament, you read one. And remember Christ, and covenant to do better that week.
*Or, perhaps you could do a Joy squeeze when you partake of the Sacrament every week silently reminding yourself…
“Joy To The World, The Lord Has Come!”

December 25th
“Come “adore” on bended knee, Christ the Lord… ”
Angels we have heard on High French Carol

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of who it was written by the prophets, that should come.
And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
Hosanna!
Blessed be the name of the Most High God!
And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him. 3rd Nephi 11 15-17

And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears. 3rd Nephi 17:10

We must each go one by one and see with our eyes and feel with our hands and witness for ourselves that Jesus is the Christ. And when we know, we can fall down at the feet of Jesus and worship him...and bathe his feet with our tears!

Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him… Mosiah 27:31

Tonight can be the last night you light your little candle of the Christmas season. But don’t feel sad.

The light of Christ is everywhere; When you feel the warmth of the sun; When you look up at the huge night- light of the moon; As you observe the twinkling of the stars; As you walk on the strong foundation of the good earth with all of its life and beauty. Light is the law by which all things are governed.
But mostly it is in you. It is the light that shines in your eye. You are the “little candle” that shines. Now, shine forth, and Come to Christ.… the true light!

(Powerful)

He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; which shineth. This is the light of Christ.

As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power therof by which it was made.

As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power therof by which it was made;

As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power therof, even the earth upon which you stand.

And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. D&C 88:6-13

Behold I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. 3rd Nephi 9:21


And his countenance did smile….,
and the light of his countenance did shine…3rd Nephi 19:25