Day 360 - Keep it Going

"Ah the day after Christmas. For the most part we did what one should on the day after Christmas which is to let the kids play with their toys and go watch TV and relax."

Christmas is a time that can be a whirlwind of activity. People with young families or who have multiple events on Christmas day find themselves traveling from place to place and reliving the same experiences of opening gifts and eating too much with different family members and friends. There is nothing wrong with this. It can just be exhausting. Hosting the event can be just as taxing. Cleaning, cooking, setting the table, cleaning again, setting out desserts, cleaning again, opening gifts...cleaning again. You get the point. 

With all of the activity behind it is wise to take a brake and turn off the brain for a moment before you hit the new year with focus and intensity. 

In your rest there is still a work that has to be carried on. Never let up on the reason we celebrated Christmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season. Jesus is the reason for every day. Jesus is the reason for every season. We cannot rest or relax our faith and our daily walk with Him. 

Every day should be a Christmas day for us. It should be a celebration of God who loved us so much He sent Jesus to be with us. We now carry the presence of God in our hearts just like the manger carried the baby Jesus so long ago. 

Take a breath, watch a movie, relax, but be sure to keep it going. Talk about Jesus. Celebrate Him with your family. Enjoy His blessings and special moments each and every day. 

What are some ways we can keep the spirit of Christmas all year? How do we celebrate Jesus on a day that is not a holiday or church day?

Day 359 - Merry Christmas

"It is Christmas Day! When we woke up I stayed in bed and prayed for a while and read the Bible and then went down where everyone was. Breakfast was in full swing and the smell of bacon was in the air."

This was the ideal Christmas morning. It started with prayer and the Word and then for breakfast was bacon. Anyone who has been to our men's ministry meetings at our church knows that there is a special place in a man's heart for bacon. Even the vegans chant 'bacon' with us though they won't partake. 

As much as I love bacon and Christmas and the fun of family and friends it is nothing compared to my love for the Lord. I am amazed at the care and sacrifice Jesus gave for me. He gave everything! 

I think about Jesus in Heaven, looking down on the earth and the corruption of sin. The Father knew from the beginning what had to be done. He ordained Jesus as His Son, the only begotten, and sent Him to earth on a rescue mission. Jesus had a human body that started as a fetus and became a baby in the womb of Mary. He was born through the natural process. His first breath was probably laced with the smell of animal urine and feces. Here he was in a manger. Surrounded by the animals He had created. 

Quite different than our Christmas with the smell of breakfast and the laughter of family and friends. Here was the one who named the stars and stretched out the heavens contained in a human form. It is a mystery and yet altogether wonderful in every sense of the word. 

Lets purpose to take a moment in the midst of the sights and smells of the festivities and remember our Humble King who came to save us. He sacrificed it all so that we could be his children and brought to life. Express the gratitude of your heart in prayers and celebration for all He has done. 

What are your favorite Christmas sights and smells? What are some ways to stay grateful? 

Day 358 - The Beauty of the Season

"Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful day." 

In many ways Christmas Eve has become as memorable as Christmas Day. Families host gatherings, parties happen in the workplace and amongst friends. Christmas Eve has also been popularized by movies and stories of what happens on that night. 

Growing up I remember opening gifts on Christmas Eve and then enjoying them on Christmas Day. I don't think we did that every year but it was fun when we did. In the same way I am sure you may have fond memories of things that happened on Christmas Eve. Family traditions and celebrations that happened may have significance or special memories. 

I would encourage you to look for the beauty of the day. I think of the feeling in Heaven on the day before Jesus was born on the earth. The Son of God was physically formed in Mary's womb and only Heaven knew the following day would bring Him into the world and change history forever. I can only imagine the anticipation of the angelic host as they looked on the events on the earth. I can imagine the watchful eyes of the Father as He looks on at the events unfolding. Joseph and Mary traveling and making their way to Bethlehem and the pains and discomfort of a full term pregnancy. 

What a day. What a thought. 

Now that Jesus has come and we look back on those events we should look for the beauty of what God is doing. God has a special plan and good works He has prepared for us to do. Heaven is still watching and anticipating the plan of the Father coming to fruition on the earth. The Father is watching over your life and Jesus is interceding for you while the Holy Spirit is leading you. 

Enjoy your Christmas Eve. May God bless it and reveal His plans in and through you. 

What is your favorite Christmas Eve memory? How can we live out God's plan and see His beauty today? 

Day 357 - Turn It Up

"The volume level was up past 11."

It is the time of the year for family, friends and food. We all could probably compare the volume levels of our family activities. Even my side of the family which is a total of eleven people and has a few introverts gets loud. 

It is also a time to linger and talk or just hang out. Some like to watch the game or a Christmas classic. 

And the food...dinner, snacks, desserts, baking and the list goes on! I have to detox after the new year starts. Thankfully we fast in January to seek the Lord but it also has added health benefits. 

All of this is an opportunity to turn up another level. It is an opportunity to talk about what is truly important. It is a time to patch up relationships and restore what was lost. It is a good time to pull someone aside and say "I love you" "I forgive you" and anything else that needs to be said. It is a good time to breach subjects that matter. 

Keep the motivation love and look for appropriate timing. But take the opportunity when it is presented. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open the door and then be on the lookout for His leading. 

Too many bad things have happened on the holidays to ruin them for years to come. Purpose this Christmas and New Year that it will be different. Turn up the volume on your life and love. 

Have you ever been able to repair a relationship at Christmas? What are some other things we can present this season? 

Day 355 - 10 Days Left

"I gave the altar call and talked fast but by the end I slowed down and knew that I had their attention. The number of people who raised their hands confirmed it. There were ninety six people who responded."

It is the final countdown to the end of the year. Christmas is five days away and we have 10 days left until we close out the year. In this season there is a captive audience waiting to hear about Christmas, Jesus and the true God. 

This past weekend I had the privilege of preaching the Christmas weekend. It was great to see so many people respond to the call for salvation. It is an opportune time and season for salvation. Everyone is open to hearing the story of Christmas and when they hear the gospel they are ready to respond. 

Look for the open doors to tell someone about Jesus in the coming days. At work, around the family dinner table, or wherever you happen to be, God wants to use you to tell His story. Look for the open doors and go through them when given the opportunity. 

There is a longing and desire for God. Someone said it is a God shaped hole in our hearts that only Jesus can fill. It is true. Christmas shows us that even when Christ was a baby that He is everything we need. The angel reported to the shepherds that He is the Savior born for all, given to us. He is all inclusive and yet personal. 

Give someone the greatest gift you can this Christmas, give them Jesus! 

Is there a good way to share the love of Jesus at Christmas time that you have used? What about for the end of the year? 

Day 348 - Not What it Looks Like

"God is faithful and true no matter what I think or see. What matters is what God thinks and sees."

When Jesus came people were not expecting Him to come as He did. In fact if I would have written the Bible I am sure the text would be very different. 

I would have written a grand story like all the others. Jesus would have been very well received, He would have had every earthly comfort and lived a perfect life. At least I would have agreed with God on one point. 

Jesus would have still been the hero in my story and would have died in our place and been raised again to life. But in my story it wouldn't have been such a brutal death. No it would have been like when Superman died. It would have been an epic battle with the devil where Satan thought He struck the final blow and then Jesus would have raised again to life and totally annihilated the devil. Okay so there is a second point of the story my narrative would have agreed with. 

What is so awesome about Christmas, and even Jesus' life, is that it is a story like no other. No man could have nor would have written it. We mess things up when we try to play God. 

This Christmas you may have expectations of how things should go. There may be a picture in your mind of the perfect Christmas dinner, the perfect gift, the perfect Christmas morning or even the perfect message at church. Realize that God's picture is so much better. He sees what we don't see. He has plans that blow our plans out of the water. 

Look for the leading of God and grab hold of what He is doing this Christmas season. It may be unexpected like a baby in a manger. It may be as surprising as the cross. One thing I can tell you is that when God is involved it will be in His time, in His way and it will be as powerful as the resurrection because that is where everything in life flows from. Jesus is the Author of life. The story He is writing is wonderful and perfect. Let's live out His story.

What is your favorite unexpected part of the Christmas story? How do you see God's story being written in your life?

Day 347 - Just Let It Happen

"We came home and the boys got baths. My son did a cannon ball into the center of the bath tub. It was like watching a train wreck. You can't stop it but you can't look away."

There are experiences we have in life that at the moment seem like they will be catastrophic. Looking back on them you smile and may even laugh when you recount the tale to others. Somehow you recovered and are able to tell the tale. 

You surely have had family over and someone breached a subject and you died a thousand deaths while they talked. Or maybe for you it when you saw your children climbing off of the kitchen counter with chocolate all over their face and the beautiful cake that was waiting to be enjoyed by everyone was left with hand prints and sections missing. (Both of these have happened in our family by the way.)

Whatever the scenario is be sure to laugh and take it all as it comes with grace. This Christmas season as parties are happening and people are over make what is important important. Those things that will happen, and they will, are not the end of the world. There is nothing that you cannot recover from. 

This is the most wonderful season of all. It is a time we celebrate that Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, laid in a manger. He was announced by angels, adored by wise men, hated by the world, and died for our sins. Be prepared to forgive quickly, make room for error and delay and be lead by love. As you do it will make this season so much more memorable and stress free. And who knows, maybe you will have a story or two to tell when it is all over. 

Have you had any catastrophic Christmas stories that you laugh about now? How did you recover from them?

Day 342 - A Change of Heart

"We made our annual Gingerbread house. I think it was our best one yet."

When we first got married my wife brought home a gingerbread house for us to make together. I wasn't exactly thrilled and let her know that I didn't really want to make a gingerbread house. She was hurt and a little bit of Christmas joy died in her heart that day. Okay, maybe it wasn't so dramatic but I wasn't scoring any good husband points nonetheless. 

Later, when we had kids later, Jess would always buy a gingerbread house for the family to decorate. The kids enjoy eating the candy as much as they do decorating the house. I usually am like the general contractor overseeing the subs and making sure construction, icing, and candy decorations all run smoothly and make for the perfect house. 

In recent years I have handed over more and more responsibility to the kids since they are getting older and are able to do more. It really has been fun. 

It is good for us to change and enjoy things in life that we didn't always enjoy. A change of heart can make life much better. Pride will stop us from having this type of change. But just because you may have tried something once or thought you didn't like something doesn't mean that you won't like it in the future. Especially when people you love are involved. 

This Christmas season make sure that you enjoy the times you have. If there is something hindering you like pride, unforgiveness or bitterness then it is time for a change of heart. Life is too short, the blood of Jesus too strong and the love of God too great to stay stuck in these ways. 

Have you had a change of heart like I did with the gingerbread house? What are some things you enjoy at Christmas? 

Day 339 - Celebration time

"It was messy and lots of last minute things needed to be done."

Christmas is coming up. You probably are like me and have lots of details to get done before you can celebrate. It can be a mess of shopping, details, emotions, and many other things. 

Anything done right will take time and effort. The larger the thing the more mess to make it right. After all the details are nailed down and the pieces are in order it is time to celebrate. 

It is all worth it in the end. You may bleed before you sing but it is worth it. 

Think about what had to happen before the greatest event the world had ever known took place. God had to set up thousands of years with lives, prophesies, nations and kings moving people and God moving a star in the heavens before He could bring Jesus on the earth. 

To Him it was worth it. So for us it is worth celebrating. Yes it is a lot of work and family can be the toughest critics but that should t be the motivation for what we do. Shine the light and celebrate Jesus this season. 

How do you celebrate? What is your favorite Christmas memory? 

Day 333 - Christmas Lights

"At the end of the night the kids watched a Charlie Brown Christmas and then we drove home and looked at some Christmas lights on the way before getting the kids in bed."

Every year looking at Christmas lights with the kids has been a tradition that has kept our family close. I enjoy hearing the kids ooh's and ah's and seeing their faces light up with the large displays. 

There is a street in a neighborhood close to our house we have gone to a couple of years in a row that everyone on the street puts up a huge display. It is actually all linked together and they have their own radio transmitter so you can listen and watch from your car as everything moves and switches on and off in time. 

During this season we need to remember the words of Jesus that we are the light of the world. We have something to shine this season. Don't hide your light under a basket but put it on a stand for everyone to see. 

Take it a step further to our illustration link up with other believers this season and show the unity of the body of Christ. Let the world see how with one mind and one mouth we declare the praises of God together. They will tune in and want to be a part of that light. 

We have the greatest story to tell and the most opportune time to tell it. Put the Light of the world on display. He is after all the reason for the season!

Do you enjoy looking at Christmas lights? How can we shine the light of Jesus this season? 

Day 319 - Too Early For Christmas?

"We went to Costco and got Christmas lights. I put them up today so this marks the earliest we have ever put them up."

First off let me say that I love Costco. (With respect to the the Sam's Club lovers of coarse. I worked at Sam's for two years so I have much love for them as well.) Now that we have that out of the way lets get to the point. 

Christmas lights. My wife loves Christmas. Much like my love for Costco only she gets one time a year whereas I get multiple opportunities every month to express my love. Because my wife loves Christmas so much she has me moving bins of decorations, setting up trees and putting up lights. 

Last year I invested in LED lights. I would agree with everyone who just thought that LED lights do not look as good as the old incandescents. But they are more efficient with energy, cost less and burn out less frequently. Convenience over aesthetics any day. In our neighborhood we had an unspoken race with our neighbors that only we knew about (so we thought) for who could get our lights up earliest. Last year we won and then this year we moved securing our crown as earliest house in the neighborhood to have their lights up forever. 

Some would scoff and say it is too early for Christmas. But just like I said in my Thanksgiving post earlier this month that it should not be the only time we say thanks is on Thanksgiving we also should celebrate Christmas more than on December 25th. 

How can you limit the wonder of God becoming a baby to a single day? That is a light that should shine in our hearts all year long. People should wonder at the joy we carry because that same Christ now lives in us. We have the most wonderful story to tell of the most wonderful time of the year. 

Don't hold back, shine the light of the season early and often. 

What do you enjoy about Christmas? How does that shine the light of Jesus to others?

Day 3 - Taking Down Christmas

"We took down Christmas tonight. It is amazing how long it takes to put it up but how quickly everything comes down. I guess it is as with most things in life. Things take time to build but can be torn down in an instant. Trust is built over a long period of time and faithfulness but one mistake can break it. Great wealth is earned over a lifetime but a stock market crash or real estate bubble can make it all fly away. It is the same with our interests in the season we are in. It takes us a long while to get into the spirit of Christmas and remember the birth of Christ but once the New Year comes we have lost the awe and wonder of the Christ child and are looking for vision and to better ourselves. Maybe what we need is to stay and linger at Christ and we will have vision and be better from His presence."

Have you noticed how quickly things crumble that it takes a long time to build? Even driving a long distance seems shorter coming home doesn't it?

*A fun side note: This was the day I had the idea for this blog.