Where to find Comfort & Joy this holiday season...

Real Dudes,
Each year one of our local funeral homes holds a remembrance service. They invite all of the families who lost a loved this past year and held the funeral at this particular funeral home. They put together a very nice service and then give each family a Christmas tree decoration and then serve them cookies and coffee. This year they asked me to speak at it. With Christmas coming up, this is a message that tied into both. Maybe you didn't lose a loved one this year, maybe it's been a while ago, or maybe you're grieving something else. Either way, I hope the message below is encouraging to you in some way. 
Enjoy!
Nate

This Christmas season, I’m assuming that eventually you’ll hear on the radio or at Christmas get togethers, the Christmas Carol…

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The lyrics are as follows…
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

**The first line of this carol says this, “God rest ye merry, gentlemen”
Let me phrase it this way…Gentleman, Rest Merrily…

• As one author puts it…What we’re being encouraged to do is to…rest or “remain in a state of merriness.” https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/the-hymn-says-god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen-but-what-does-that-really-mean/14483.article 
• This is in reference to one's mood…someone who is characterized by being merry…merry meaning joyful, cheerful, and high spirited.
• You might wonder in your mind… 
  • “How is this even possible in regards to what I’ve experienced this past year?” 
  • “How would anyone expect me to express joy, cheer, and high spirits? Listen Nate, you have no idea what I’ve been through. 
• The answer is found in the very first word of this Carol…God… “how is is possible?” it is by the help of God, it is He who you can focus on and find comfort and joy in…be dependant on Him…May God keep you in that state of mind. 
  • In Isaiah 26:3 (CSB) we read that, “You [God] will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.”
  • Can you relate? Have you been longing for peace this year? 
  • Let me ask you this, where have you  been looking for peace? For joy? For a cheerful demeanor? For high spirits? 
    •  Song: 

• What You’re Looking For by Six One Five Collective, ft. Michael Logen
  • If you're looking for God, love, faith, hope, fear, trouble, you're gonna finally find what you're looking for.
• What are you looking for? 
  • If it’s misery, depression, isolation…then let me reassure you of this…you will find it. 
  • BUT if you’re looking for hope, peace, comfort, joy, if you’re looking for God…then you will find it…you will find Him. 

**Line 2 lyrics are “Let nothing you dismay.” 

• AI – "Let nothing you dismay" means to not allow anything to discourage or frighten you; it encourages a resilient attitude, urging you to not let setbacks or challenges deter you from your goals or hope. https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+it+mean+let+nothing+you+dismay&oq=what+do&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEEUYJxg7MhMIABBFGCcYOxhGGPkBGIAEGIoFMggIARBFGCcYOzIGCAIQRRg5MgYIAxBFGDsyDAgEEAAYQxiABBiKBTIGCAUQRRg9MgYIBhBFGD0yBggHEEUYPdIBCDM3MTRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 
• In other words, let nothing steal your joy. Let nothing discourage you. Don’t allow worry and anxiety a place in your mind. 
  • In Philippians 4:6-8 (CSB) the Apostle Paul commands this… 
    • 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

**Line 3 begins with the word Remember – & Line 6 ends with astray.

• Line 6…We can attempt to resolve trials on our own, but it only leads to straying…taking paths that are not straight. So go back to the 3rd line…
• Line 3…Who is the One who can keep our hearts comforted and joyful? It’s Christ…remember Him. If He can come to earth, take on flesh, and defeat Satan and death, then wouldn’t you think that He can help you work through the trials you experience? 
• What Christ did, Who He is…as is pointed out in the chorus…the Tidings  – Good News – The Gospel…His death, burial, and resurrection. Just when we think nothing good can come from death, the Lord changes that perspective…It is His Glad Tidings, His Good News where we find true comfort and joy. 
• Again, the Apostle Paul has this to say about the Lord in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (CSB) He says, 
  • 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
  • We find true comfort in Him. 
  • We find true and eternal joy only in Him. And if joy in Him is eternal, then even in this trial of your life you can in some way be full of joy. 
  • You might be thinking, yeah right, Pastor…there is no way that I can get my mind there. You're right. Getting your mind there is only by the help of God. Only He can help you renew your mind. 
    • The command in Romans 12:2 (CSB) is “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
    • Renew your mind. Think differently. Think according to the way the Lord would have you to think. Then, and only then will you be able to experience true comfort and joy. Pray that God will deliver you from Satan’s power, so that you can endure this trial in your life. 

Application: 

• Look to God… 
  • Always Keep God at the forefront of your mind. Just like this carol begins with God…may each of your thoughts do the same. 
• Look to remember what God did for the entire world…
  • He was born into this world and came so that we can be saved by dying on the cross for the whole world…that includes every individual that’s ever been born into this world. 
  • It is by Him alone that we can be saved from Satan’s power. 
  • This is the Glad Tidings…this is the Good News. 
• Look to put your complete trust in the Lord.
• Look to Him for comfort and joy…
• Remember your loved one…your loved one would want nothing more than for you to enter into a relationship with the Lord…your loved one would want you to continue on in life in a state of feeling comfort and in a state of expressing joy…allow nothing to steal your joy. 
• If you’re looking for comfort and joy in the right Person, then you will find it. 
• Have you ever put your trust in the Lord? Once you do, then all of what I’ve shared with you this morning will make complete sense. 
  • If you’re not sure what it looks like to put your trust in Him alone, then I’d love to visit with you about it anytime. 
  • If you’ve felt stuck in this season, then let me encourage you to spend some time presenting your requests to Him. 
    • Lord, show me how to renew my mind…to think differently…to find comfort and joy in this trial. Help me remain in remembrance of what you did for me on the cross, and remain in remembrance of my loved one who passed away. 
    • May you remain in a state of being merry.
    • From me to you, I’d like to leave you with these repeated words…Tidings of comfort and joy…comfort and joy…comfort and joy!!!

Psalm 23 wraps this up nicely for us…Speaking of God as The Good Shepherd

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

**I pray this message has brought you some comfort, joy, hope & healing today.

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