Joy in the 2020 Journey

With 2020 just around the corner, how can we be ensured that our 2020 will be full of joy? What would it look like to live 2020 with joy?

The day after Christmas, Ben and I had to put our precious dog, Zoe, down. I’ve never had a dog like Zoe, so the loss has broken my heart. Zoe was five years old and the liver cancer just took over her little body. The days leading up to Christmas were wrought with pain, agony and concern for her. There was not much that felt “merry” about our Christmas.

Since that dreadful day, our home seems to scream of her loss in every nook and cranny. With every sound I hear, I expect her to appear in our presence. With every squirrel we see in the backyard, we expect her to make a fast dash outdoors.

I had to come to grips with the fact that I’m far from happy. But, then God reminded me of something! Something I already knew, but needed a refresher course to help me through this season of grief.

We tend to get happiness and joy mixed up. Happiness comes from an Old Norse root, happ, for happiness. It is defined as “chance, good fortune, or good luck.” We’re happy if we get a promotion. We’re happy if we win a new car. We’re happy if we go on a vacation. With happiness, we rely on circumstances and our good fortune, which cannot and will not always be there for us. Happiness is sure great, but we can’t always rely on having it.

But, joy is different. Gaio is the Greek word for joy, and this root word always points back to “great pleasure, rejoicing, happiness.” Many of us tend to confuse joy with happiness. We want so much to be happy that we will seek to control our lives at all lengths to achieve happiness. We eventually fall short of achieving it.

I’m not very happy today, but I have joy. Throughout the Bible, I read about folks who continue to have joy and praise God amidst the bleakest of circumstances. Paul was in prison when we wrote Philippians and said “Rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice."(Philippians 4:4) Paul and others in the Bible help me see that we can choose joy, no matter what is happening externally. True joy is not about chance or luck or getting what I want. God is the giver of joy and it involves living our lives for Him, knowing He is in control of all things….even when it doesn’t feel like it. As we surrender our lives to the Father, we trust Him, even amidst the pain, confusion and doubts.

I may shed a tear at the drop of a hat. I may even be sad for the next while. My heart is broken. But, at the same time, God can give me joy, even when I’m not happy. I’m expecting to live a life full of joy in 2020. Are you?

“There is a joy available that the deepest grief cannot put out. No circumstance or person can take away the joy God gives.” Timothy Keller

“Regardless of where you are today, God is with you. God is wooing you. God wants you to experience Him. Whatever you are going through today, you can find His joy and peace. However distant your dream may seem, God is working things out, and today is an important part of the process.” Lisa TerKeurst

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Giving of Gifts

The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas has roots that go back as far as the Nativity story, where the three Wise Men gave gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus.  All over the world, families and friends give gifts to one another. It’s a special time of the year when we acknowledge those we love with a gift.

Ever since I was a young child, I loved Christmas morning. I couldn’t wait to get up, get out to the tree and tear into the gifts under the tree marked “Nancy.” When it was all over, there was kind of a mini-let down. Even as a child, I remember that feeling of….. is that all?

Well, that isn’t all. All these years later, I now know that isn’t all there is! There’s so much more to the story of gift giving! In Matthew 2:10-11 we read:

“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Giving gifts to one another is a way of celebrating the greatest gift exchange of all of creation- that God came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, suffered death and exchanged our condemnation for his mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Since it’s Jesus’ birthday, what would be the greatest gift you could give Him? Welcome Him today. Allow His centering peace to guide you through the ups and downs of the holidays. Welcome Him into the things you have zero control over. Receive his unconditional love. Welcome His grace amidst your constant attempts toward doing good. Welcome Him into your brokenness and weaknesses. Welcome Him into your fears and joys. Welcome into your deepest longings and lingering pain. Guess what? God wants ALL of you. He loves you more than you can imagine. Don’t leave Him out this Christmas.  He is THE gift. Merry Christmas!

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given….” Isaiah 9:6-7

“The giving of gifts is not something man invented. God started the giving spree when He gave a gift beyond words, the unspeakable gift of His Son.” Robert Flatt

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

When Plans Don't Go Your Way

Just think…..what if an angel showed up tonight at your home and surprised you with life altering news that would rock your ever loving world? Well, that’s what happened with Mary!

The angel Gabriel announced to Mary these words “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the hose of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  (Luke 1: 26-33)

Imagine yourself in the place of Mary. What would be the expression on your face as you catch first sight of Gabriel? What would you be thinking as Gabe described what would happen? How would you adjust your life to this news? How would you emotionally deal with such significant change in your life?

God handpicked Mary to be a part of the greatest story every told. She had probably dreamed about the Messiah’s arrival, never thinking that she would be a part of this God-sized story! She didn’t quite get it and asked the angel for some clarification. This was not what she had planned, yet her response was one of surrender “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) That is an example of beautiful submission to God.

How do you feel when your plans are drastically changed?

What your plans are altered, how does fear set in?

When life doesn’t go the way you want, do you accept your circumstances or blame God?

It seems like Mary can help each of us see God at work more clearly in our own lives. Even while Mary and Joseph had certain plans for the future, she submitted to God for His plan. Beth Moore writes “We get so fixated on the one thing we desperately want God to do that we miss 100 things He is presently doing. Our awakenness to the other things will either buoy us up in our faith for the one thing or remind us of His goodness, if for whatever sovereign reason, it is withheld.”

Dear friend, please don’t miss what God wants to personally do in your life. Allow Him into your life and be aware, engaged and vigilant to say “yes” to Him. Don’t give up on God if He hasn’t done the one thing you want Him to do. Mary didn’t limit God. She surrendered to God and his ways and her life was forever changed.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Black Friday Frenzy

Note to self: If in need of a Starbucks Coffee, it’s best to avoid going on Black Friday morning. We headed for the drive thru line only to see about 14 cars ahead of us. We quickly made our way inside, not even realizing that a large number of Black Friday shoppers had ordered on line, appearing to receive their drinks instantaneously. We settled in at Starbucks for what seemed like a long winter nap until finally our name was called. Coffee at last!

The holiday frenzy has officially begun! Once December hits, our calendars can become so full of busy shopping, parties and entertaining that we rarely have time to pause. As the December marches on, we can easily get sucked up into the craziness and struggle to remember why we’re doing all of this in the first place.

During Christmas, we celebrate and remember that God kept His promise by sending Jesus to earth to rescue us. God has not left us hopeless. He sent Jesus! Isaiah prophesied about Jesus in Isaiah 9:6b  “He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus is the reason we celebrate!

Why do we so easily forget what Christmas is all about?

Jesus can give you perfect peace and lasting hope as you place your trust in Him.

Jesus can give you guidance and clarity as you navigate this busy season.

Jesus can give you hope, when life feels very broken.

Jesus can give perfect peace and lift your anxiety and worry.

Jesus can be your wonderful counselor, when you don’t know what to do.

Jesus can be your strength, when you are weak.

When I look at who Jesus is, I wonder how I get so sidetracked at Christmas!! Christmas is about celebrating our Savior's birth! It seems like I (and all of us) can get so sucked into the frenzy.

Maybe, we need to take some time to consider how our Christmas season could be delightfully different. Have you thought about what you and your family miss when you set Christ aside? How would taking time to pause, help you keep Christ the focus this Christmas?

Today is December 1. Picture yourself on your own personal Christmas journey from now until December 25. Your goal is to daily take in the beauty, peace and hope that Jesus came to bring at Christmas. Every day matters! Take time for pause. Read the Christmas story. Celebrate with friends. Enjoy giving to others. Take time to pray. Attend church. Play Christmas music and sing along. Let this month be about keeping Jesus up front and personal this Christmas. 

“For God so loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.