Tag: celebration

Celebrating Me

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Don’t you love a celebration?

Happiness explodes while loved ones bring honor to the one celebrated.

God celebrates you. While He is in your midst, meaning with you, He saves you.

Not only does He save you, but He rejoices over you with gladness.

Repeat after me: God celebrates me!

Rejoicing over you with gladness can mean only one thing: God cheers you on. He is your biggest and loudest cheerleader.

His love quiets any storms within your heart. Any doubts. Any fears. Anything less than the goodness He has for you.

He delights in you. So much so, that He sings over you.

Can you picture yourself singing over something? You’re usually in a pretty great mood over something to sing about it.

It’s like you can’t help it, but break out in song when something is just pure delight.

And that’s how God thinks about you.

And the best part is we don’t earn any of this love. God’s love is not for sale. Not earned. And not taken away.

Genesis reminds us God created us in His image (1:27).

And many verses declare we are also God’s child (1 John 3).

God delights in you because you are His. Do you act like it? You should! Wear that crown!

God delights in you simply because you are His creation.

God, who created all things, notices and celebrates little ‘ole you. Someone throw me a pom-pom!

Photos by Samuel Myles, Nathan Anderson, Eliza Diamond, & Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

Our Christmas Gift

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

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. Isaiah 9:6

Do you find it odd our entire world celebrates Jesus’ birth?

Our secular world who seeks to elevate themselves more often than not?

Sure, you could argue Jesus’ birth has morphed into Santa, presents, and reindeer.

But even Santa is based on Nicholas of Myra, a fourth century bishop who left gifts for poor children.

Maybe the world isn’t totally lost. Yet.

How can you help your friends and family see the baby Jesus instead this Christmas?

Through you. Your witness. Your focus.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Overused phrase, yes, but it’s so true.

When you think for just a moment how deeply God loves you…..

When you ponder why God sent Jesus to earth…..

When you stop and realize how desperately you need our Savior…

You’ll discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Jesus came to earth just for you.

God missed His relationship with you that much.

He missed you and desperately wants that relationship back.

He wants you to trust Him. To love Him. To realize how much you need Him.

Because His plans for you are so good. The very best.

And to communicate that love, God set Jesus’ birth in motion.

That’s how much He loves you. All of you.

Begin to replace the commercialism of Christmas with the celebration of Jesus.

God’s peace on earth will come to your corner.

Your “why” you celebrate will alter everything. Real peace and real joy for once.

Let’s replace all the trinkets nobody needs. The gifts people return. Events we feel compelled to attend.

Replace it all with an increased devotion to Jesus, thanking Him for His gift. Himself.

Rely on Him for your peace as you dwell on the love He has just for you.

Let your celebrations stem from this and all of the gifts, events, and chaos will become worship to God.

While the world has lost the focus of Christmas, let’s keep ours, shifting back our focus to God and His precious gift of Jesus for you and for me.

Photos by Tristan Maness, Max Beck, Matt Botsford, &  Alda González-Cuevas on Unsplash