Stella's Word of the Week: Joy

I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! Have you been counting your blessings this holiday season? I sure have! This is my very first Christmas and I'm excited! From what I've seen, there are a lot of people who forget the meaning of this time of year. Christmas shopping can be annoying, planning for parties and guests can be stressful...but in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, don't forget the reason we celebrate! Jesus is the reason for the season. Yes, it may be a redundant statement, but it's true! Your word this week is joy! Have JOY this Christmas! Why? Because we are celebrating the birth of a very special baby. If Jesus wasn't born, you and I would be in big trouble. But He was, and because of His birth, we have eternal life and grace that is very much undeserved. Don't lose sight of Jesus this Christmas! When the roads turn to ice, the Christmas cookies get burned and you don't get everything you want for Christmas...just keep right on smiling, because the JOY of the Lord is our strength!