KEEP CELEBRATING

Quote:  “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you’, it will be enough. – Meister Eckhart

 Scripture:  Psalm 9:1 – “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

 Some Thoughts:  We are remembering ALL of you this Christmas Day with love and prayers! It is a joy to serve God with you!  We are blessed beyond measure!

I was reminded of the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and the true love gave gifts for each of the twelve days. “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” also known as “Twelvetide,” has been celebrated in Western ecclesiastical traditions.  (Christmas Day is considered the “First Day of Christmas” and the twelve days last from December 25^th through January 5^th.  Yay! I used to be so sad that my mother took all the Christmas decorations down the day after Christmas. I didn’t “inherit” that gene. (My decorations usually stay up into January.)

Every December we celebrate the greatest gift ever given – God’s only begotten Son. It doesn’t stop after Christmas is over. It’s a gift for every person, every day, for ever. May we end 2025 on a note of gratefulness. The Bible says in James 1:17 that “every good and perfect gift is from above.” Does that include the scribbled drawing from a young grandchild? Yes! God is the source of ALL that is good. So, when we receive a gift, we not only appreciate the love coming from the gift-giver, but we can look beyond and feel God’s love flowing through them and prompting them through the Holy Spirit with the idea.

God is the ultimate gift-giver! Romans 8:32 ESV: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”.

What do we do with all the gifts that God gives? We need to be humble. John says: “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

We are reminded to worship the Giver, not the gift. When we do not express gratitude toward God, there is a danger that the gift has the power to enslave us.

We also need to remember that we are blessed to be a blessing.  God has blessed us generously; we need be generous “blessers”.

“Do not neglect to do  good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16. Jesus said: “Freely you have  received; freely give.” – Matthew 10:8. “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.” –  II Corinthians 9:10-11.

Prayer:  Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the many, many good gifts You give to us, Show us those You would have us bless. May our entire days be days of thankfulness, not just during this season.  We don’t want to miss seeing the “good and perfect gifts” You give us every day.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Your children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.

I found this prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson.  It is beautiful and timeless:

 Christmas Prayer – by Robert Louis Stevenson

 “Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift, and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.”

May God bless all of you – wherever you are this Christmas!

 

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