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How do I find joy? Living the Gospel! How do you find joy in living the Gospel? For me, living the Gospel brings peace and I find joy in that. The Gospel asks us to be people of forgiveness and mercy, people who think more about others than about themselves. The more we follow the path of Jesus, the more contentment and joy are in our lives. We can’t always be "happy." There will always be sadness in our lives, we can’t escape it. We will get sick, we will lose people we love, we will be betrayed and eventually we will face our own deaths. But because we are people of faith, there can always be joy, the joy that comes from knowing we are not alone, that death is not the end but the beginning, the beginning of eternal life won for us by Jesus. Soon, Christmas will be in the past. The music will change back to whatever you usually hear. There will be trees lining the sidewalks, shorn of the decorations and lights. There will be lines at the department stores and the post office with people returning gifts. Christmas day was probably a very happy day for you, for me, and for all those people in line, but happiness is fleeting. However, the joy of Christmas can last all year if we carry the blessings that that day brings in our hearts every day. The blessing of knowing that we are redeemed, the blessing of knowing just how much God loves us, these and many more give us a joy that lasts long after the decorations are put away. Where will you find joy in this Season?Prayer: Gracious God, you sent your son to let us know the joy that comes from the gift of salvation won for us by Jesus. Help us to remember always to give you thanks and praise for your great love for us. Amen.