Celebrate Every Day

I awoke on this day, the very last day of the year, to the sound of excited chatter abounding from the trees surrounding my yard. Cheery little birds greeting the day with joy and exuberance filled the air. They often sing in chorus as a new day rises; they seem to care not whether it is the last or the first day on the calendar. Their celebration rings in every day; they seem to rejoice at their current blessings, and at the prospects each day holds.

As the year comes to a close today, whatever blessings you recount, whatever prospects you hope for in the new year, don’t lose sight of them and let them fall by the wayside after just a few short days or weeks. Hold onto both—continue to count and recount your blessings, and continue to cling to prospects and hope found in each new day. Continue to rejoice and celebrate each rising of the dawn. Praise the One who blesses you, and seek the One who holds your hope. And like the birds, greet each day with a song in your heart.

Psalm 145:7, “They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”

Hope Fulfilled

As the flying gift wrapping scraps begin to settle, and the seasonal hustle and bustle calms to a breathable pace, I allow myself a few moments to sit, reflect, and savor the recent festivities.  Last night as I was heading off to bed, first stopping to unplug the Christmas tree lights, the lure of quiet and solitude whispered my name and beckoned me to sit for a spell. As I plopped myself down on the couch I recalled the abundant celebrations that had only just passed in this most joyous of seasons. A season punctuated with parties, gifts, decorations and lights, with gatherings and reunions of family and friends; it is punctuated with the sounds of laughter and chatter, and the taste of indulgent goodies galore. As I sit here in quiet contemplation my gaze wanders over the beautifully decorated tree before me; my eyes pause on each ornament as memories come to mind. A newly received ornament catches my full attention, as it rests on the branches at the center of the tree. Within its beautiful rectangular shaped glass with gilded silver edges, is a picture highlighting the journey of the Three Wise Men. These men of the Bible had heard the promises of God and believed them to be true. They clung to the hope that God would provide a Savior; that God would send a King unlike any other—a King of truth, justice, love, mercy, holiness, peace, and perfection. The wise men knew to be on the lookout for the sign of a special God-designated star, which would lead them to a place of hope fulfilled. Believing the promises of God, the men traveled from a far-off country, following the star until it came to rest above the house where their long-awaited Savior resided. They brought gifts of great worth—gold, frankincense, and myrrh— in worship of this highly-anticipated Newborn King. Even now all signs and arrows point the way to Jesus, if only our will hearts follow. Jesus is the One in whom all our hope is fulfilled. And when we find Him, we too offer Him our best gift. We will surrender all we have—our hearts, our lives, our worship, and praise. With our hope fulfilled, our joy too overflows.

Matthew 2:1-12, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Christmas List - a page from my Lilies and lemonade Devotional

A New List

Go here, go there. Do this, do that. Buy for him, buy for her. Make those lists and check them all twice. With all the hustle and bustle that usually comes with the Christmas season we often lose sight of what matters. We are often overcome with anxiety and hurriedness, instead of experiencing the peace and joy that Jesus came to give at this miraculous and holy time of year. At that first Christmas, so long ago in a stable full of curious animals, Mary and Joseph had their minds filled with a singular focus—the birth of their sweet baby Jesus.  The shepherds who watched over the flocks by night heard the angels declare with joyous song, the arrival of The Son of God, The Savior of the world. Filled with awe and wonder they hurriedly ran to join the celebration in Bethlehem. Everything centered around the birth of Jesus on this most special night in all of history.

 It is time to make a new list, and put Jesus first. Remember the simplicity of His beautiful and humble birth. Appreciate the grace and mercy that God has shown through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.  In His honor, let’s love, give, and show kindness to others. Give smiles, hugs, and encouraging words freely in celebration of Him. Slow down and appreciate time with loved ones. Make memories. Bless others. A wondrously simple, yet brilliant new list.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” Luke 2:8-12

Indescribable Gift

The love, mercy, grace, power, and justice of God are all wrapped up in One Beautiful Gift—The Gift of Jesus. Jesus our Savior, Jesus our Lord. God’s Gift brings us salvation and freedom. His Gift grants us peace, joy, and hope. God’s Gift of His very own Son is a lavish demonstration of His enormous love for us. A love that goes beyond the greatest extent and farthest length, all to draw us near to Him and make us each His child. God’s gift brings us a sure hope we can cling to for now and all of eternity.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Of all the gifts exchanged this season be sure to unwrap God's Gift and receive His abundant love for you!

True Joy

True joy is not found in our external circumstances or situations, which change like the shifting sand—blown and formed at the whim of the wind. True joy is discovered in our perspective. True joy is found in contentment and satisfaction despite our current circumstance and situation. True joy is a treasure to hold and behold. True joy is a mindset we choose to put on—we grab hold of it, let it fill us with delight, and then overflow and pour out of us, infecting the world around us with true joy.