I love a good party. There's nothing better than gathering with friends and family and CELEBRATING. In the middle of our packing, dear friends are hosting a party today. This is an annual Christmas party they host for our church family in their home, and I can't imagine missing it for anything in the world. Not even the "to do" list of today. It's going to be the oasis of my day of work and a huge blessing of my CHRISTmas celebration this year. What I love about it is the simplicity of it. No fancy clothing, no gifts, no stress.....just gathering together with one another over food and sweet conversation.
I was thinking about celebrations in the Bible. Scripture is filled with so many examples of how the people celebrated- festivals, feasts, deliverance, and Passover. Isn't Christmas ALL of these? If Jesus had never come, our lives would be hopeless. We'd still be in such bondage. Grumbling, complaining, and wondering when God was going to EVER come through for us. Today I looked up the antonym of "celebrate" and found these words: ignore, forget, neglect, disregard, and overlook. Do you know what happens when you neglect to celebrate? You complain! You think only of what you have or don't have and you forget what God has so graciously done for you by sending Jesus to earth and offering Him to you. You neglect to see Him because you disregard all He has proven about His love and the price that it took for you to receive it. When we don't celebrate, we focus on only ourselves. Let's be about celebrating this year. Let this celebration involve others, and most importantly Jesus. Look at ALL He has given to us through CHRISTmas. When you are in a place where you can't celebrate with or for others, perhaps you need to return to Thanksgiving and remember His grace to you. It may be time to re-count your blessings.
"Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who You are, what You do-they can't keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us-You've been so good to us! We're walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!" Psa 89:15-18 (MSG)
Today let us love more, live fully, spend less money and more time. Most of all, think about what CHRISTmas- more of Jesus- means to your life. You will not be able to keep it quiet!
"Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
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