Monday, December 28, 2009

After Christmas Blues...

I'm always kind of bummed out after Christmas. You see, for months I have been looking forward to this one special day. Actually for us it is a string of special days. I look forward to opening gifts, eating great food but most of all, spending time with family.

After Christmas everything I have been looking forward to is over. It seems a little silly to look a year ahead to the next Christmas. My birthday is in March and that will be a good time. We have vacation plans with family this summer. I've been excited about that for quite a while.

It seems like life is more fun if you have something to look forward to.

Paul wrote something about this in Romans 8:

17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

We have something to look forward to! We are heirs to the Kingdom of God! Let us live with this in mind.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Christmas Rush

Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means the line just got really long at Walmart. Actually, I only know this from TV. When crowds go shopping, I stay home. Apparently, not everyone shares my aversion to standing in the parking lot at 4 a.m. The crowds were, for yet another year, incredible as people searched for that special bargain.

Many ran into the same issue as last year - the great price on that new flat screen only lasts until 5 a.m., or whenever the two TVs in stock are sold. Two TVs; 5,000 people in the parking lot. Somebody is going home disappointed.

That’s what is great about Christmas - the real reason we celebrate. The grace that was born that first Christmas is never out of stock. No one who has placed their faith in the Savior born that day will ever be disappointed in his love. His mercy will never wear thin or go out of style. This season, celebrate the greatest Gift of all.

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.