The Christmas season, it is one of my favorites. The anticipation builds throughout Advent, the season of hope, love, joy, and peace. The time where we prepare our hearts for the coming of the baby Jesus. The time where it seems that I share joy just a little bit more, have conversations just a little bit longer with cashiers, spread a little more kindness, spend more time discussing the importance of Jesus’ presence with my kids, as compared to the rest of the year. Then bam, it hit me, tears and all, right in the middle of Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service, why can't these feelings of joy, wonder, and love, stay with me each day. I wonder do these feeling fade for the next 11 months? Do they take the back burner to busyness? Do they fade because life just seems to go on? Or, is it that I just notice acts of love, kindness, and joy more during this season of anticipation?
We are reminded in Luke 1:44, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Jesus came here as a baby, in human form to change the world. He came here to love, to share joy, to serve, and to care for everyone. And maybe, just maybe, we are here to be more like Jesus. To love others. To serve others. To use our gifts and talents, to share a little joy with others. Share a little joy.
As the anticipation of 2016 sneaks upon us, we decide on new resolutions or new goals...maybe, just maybe you will have a God sized goal placed on your heart. You will know that goal that scares you a little, that goal that seems impossible to reach, yeah that’s the goal I am talking about. That goal that will force you to look deep into yourself, because it will not only change you, but change those around you. God has taken my word “Joy” and started placing a God sized goal on my heart, now it is up to me to step up to His challenge. Maybe you will have a God sized goal that will spread love or maybe bring more joy to those around you. And maybe in the process of reaching that God sized goal, we can be a little more like Jesus. And maybe, just maybe, this season of hope, peace, love, and joy won’t fade for the next 11 months...maybe it will continue each day throughout the year.
We are reminded in Luke 1:44, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Jesus came here as a baby, in human form to change the world. He came here to love, to share joy, to serve, and to care for everyone. And maybe, just maybe, we are here to be more like Jesus. To love others. To serve others. To use our gifts and talents, to share a little joy with others. Share a little joy.
As the anticipation of 2016 sneaks upon us, we decide on new resolutions or new goals...maybe, just maybe you will have a God sized goal placed on your heart. You will know that goal that scares you a little, that goal that seems impossible to reach, yeah that’s the goal I am talking about. That goal that will force you to look deep into yourself, because it will not only change you, but change those around you. God has taken my word “Joy” and started placing a God sized goal on my heart, now it is up to me to step up to His challenge. Maybe you will have a God sized goal that will spread love or maybe bring more joy to those around you. And maybe in the process of reaching that God sized goal, we can be a little more like Jesus. And maybe, just maybe, this season of hope, peace, love, and joy won’t fade for the next 11 months...maybe it will continue each day throughout the year.