Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
We've celebrated Thanksgiving, and Christmas is coming.
Another holiday season has rolled around. Thanksgiving Day
we were blessed to spend time with some of our family, something we didn't get
to do last year. Nieces and nephews have grown by leaps and bounds, as have our
grandchildren. As usual on this holiday, too much food went into my mouth, but
my goodness it was yummy.
As I looked around the room and visited with folks, I thanked
God for the opportunity to spend time together. Something I'd taken for granted
before the pandemic. I also loved meeting my niece's puppies and seeing my mom
cuddle with one. The day satisfied in so many ways.
I know the holidays, along with joy, can bring stress and
busyness.
As I prepare my heart for the Christmas season, I want
nothing more than to focus on the reason we celebrate. Yes, I love the
decorations, the music, the movies, and the food, but more than anything, I
love Jesus and the reason He came.
Jesus fulfilled the prophets' words in the Old Testament by
being born of a virgin, in a manger. That sweet babe grew into the man who gave
His life for our freedom from sin. He's the reason we celebrate.
As you decorate the tree, thank God for the beauty He
created—as
you sing a carol, praise the Lord for his love and mercy—as you shop for gifts, pray
for the recipient— and every day, recognize the grace we have because of
Jesus. Let's roll from the Thanksgiving season into Christmas with a grateful heart.