I hope your Christmas has been truly special. I wonder, how did you celebrate? Perhaps some of us were alone, or with a small number of friends or family. For others, I know you’ve spent this past week at some of the largest family gatherings of the year! However you like to celebrate, there is so much to celebrate. In addition to the unique ways God has blessed each one of us, we are engaging in a worldwide celebration of the birth of Christ! I can hardly think of anything more awesome.
I am sure 2019 has looked very different for each of us. This week, I encourage you to take time to journal about the highs and lows of this year. Be honest with yourself about the disappointments and sadness you’ve experienced, and be sure to remember all the ways God has blessed you and made Himself known to you. I feel confident each of us have so much to celebrate.
Although Christmas is past, I feel something important about continuing our celebrations into the New Year. What better way to prepare ourselves for 2020 than to proclaim how good God has been to us?
I want to leave you with some extracts from the Bible. The Bible is full of celebration – and it has so much to say about it! As you read through these verses, allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you. How do you like to celebrate? And how can you remind yourself how good God is to you?
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! Psalm 47:1
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls 1 Peter 1:8-9
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:7
Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days Numbers 29:12
But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind Luke 14:13
Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord Ephesians 5:19
Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling Psalm 2:11
And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:23-24
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126:3
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full John 15:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31
With heartfelt blessings for the New Year, Faith Blatchford