Joy!
To say the year has gone by quickly is an understatement. It was only last year, at this same time I was traveling home with the Jan Masuhr Band after a Christmas concert engagement on December 23, 2011 that we wondered whether or not we would make it home before December 25th. The interstate coming out of Switzerland was entirely blocked, and we had to take a detour through some small villages and towns our navigator had no knowledge of and it kept sending us around in circles. It was raining, the streets were dark, slippery, and the signs were difficult to read, and an excellent concert with a full house was suddenly challenged by the circumstances, which confronted us on the way home.
- How do you cope with unexpected circumstances beyond your control?
You have just experienced a high, something has turned out well, and you have succeeded and walked through an open door and then bang! Something unexpected happens that tries to steal your joy. Such things always happen at Christmas, and they can be devastating.
In our bus, we took a look back at the concert and remembered the joy on the faces of the people who had come out to celebrate the Christ Child voluntary coming into the world, and this warmed our hearts and kept us balance. It was early morning when we finally got home, but our hearts were still filled with thanksgiving and joy, and each one of us was able to participate joyfully in our own church’s Christmas services.
Christmas lies in the heart. It is not an emotion, but a fact we should never forget. It is a momentous day set aside where we acknowledge God came down and made himself known through his son Jesus Christ. It is a day of joy, no matter our circumstances.
I am not talking about the joy that comes from gifts, laughter, or from jokes being told. No, the type of joy I am thinking about is the joy, which comes from resting in God. It is the joy that tells you,
- To hold on,
- To not give up,
- To have faith.
It is the joy that dares you to move on when you are at your deepest and darkest point in life; it is the joy that comforts when your heart aches with pain and sorrow; it is the joy which brings you peace and contentment when the seas around you are raging, and turmoil is on every corner.
So, today I wish all of you, Joy! The joy that surpasses all understanding!
Frohe Weihnachten!
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
Buone Feste Natalizie!
Geseënde Kersfees!
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok!
Nollaig Chridheil dhuibh!
Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova!
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
- Posted in: Christmas Message ♦ Inspiration
- Tagged: Christmas, Feliz Navidad, God, Holiday, Jesus, Joyeux Noël, Switzerland, Weihnachten
Walk On 
Merry Christmas and God bless you Patricia!
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Hello,
I too wish you a Merry Christmas and God’s blessings for the future.
Shalom,
Patricia
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Thanks Pat – I needed to read that.
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Hi Keith,
You are welcome. I thank you because you tickle my joy bone. Your coming in and reading my blog was a confirmation to me and a joy that lit up my day.
Have a blessed Merry Christmas and walk over into the New Year.
Ciao,
Pat
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Dear Pat, I pray that you continue to seek His face, and find it in the most unexpected places. I pray that you feel His warmth, when the cold dark world tries to grab hold of you. I pray that the joy that makes the biggest smile on your face matches the joy that you have found in your heart, not just this season, but throughout the rest of your days. Thank you so much for blessing me for these months now with your beautlful love for the Lord! I am grateful to Him for the gift He gave me in sending me your way! You have touched my very soul and made me smile, in peace, in joy, and in love for Him. Merry Merry Christmas my friend!
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Dear Deirdre,
Thank you and I too wish you a blessed Christmas. You too are a blessing to my life. Your articles are a reflection of your relationship with God, and I treasure them, dearly. I look forward to your children book. I know it will bring cheer to many children and adults.
Merry Christmas
Ciao,
Pat
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All the best to you Pat!
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Hi,
Thank you. I hope you and your family are fine. The four of you have increased the joy in life. It is a pleasure reading about the boys. In many ways, your articles about the boys have helped me discover the child in me once again, and that is something I don’t want to lose. It is a joy knowing.
Shalom,
Pat
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That’s wonderful. The whole blog would be worthwhile just for that.
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Good morning,
I hope you and your family had a joyous holiday. Mine was filled with joy and laughter. Here is wishing you a powerful start in the New Year.
Shalom,
Patricia
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Sounds good.
may you continue to make progress on your goals and aspirations.
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What a beautiful post, keeping us connected to our joy in Jesus , now and always! Thank you and God bless you!
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Good morning Debbie,
I sincerely hope you had a blessed Christmas and thank you for your loyal support as a reader of my blogs.
In the true spirit of Christmas, I repeat, Thank God, it is still Christmas, because as along as Christmas exists, there is still hope.
Ciao,
Shalom,
Patricia
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