Celebrate me home

It started to snow, ever so lightly, on Christmas Eve in east Tennessee. The stillness and solitude of a dark December night had given way to a flurry of frosted flakes fluttering toward frozen soil. Many miles were navigated to reach this circle of love and you could feel God’s presence among those assembled to celebrate the happy homecoming and the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:21), the beloved Son of the Lord Almighty. By mid-morning Christmas Day, a thin blanket of pure white greeted the gathering. While we each may measure the memories of countless Christmases in our consciousness, we also carry with us daily the Holy Spirit that resides in the heart of every believer (Romans 12:1). It’s a very comforting feeling, being home for the holidays, totally surrounded by family (plus four rowdy and rambunctious canines), sharing stories, songs and silliness in such a secure and safe haven. No matter how far we roam from one another, we take refuge in the assurance of The Savior’s compass, guiding us along the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10). There are times that will always be remembered and times we will recall when we find ourselves alone. And in those quiet moments, bow a knee and pray, then joyfully sing yourself home… and celebrate!

Shower the people

Every January triggers one of the most timeless rituals of the holiday season – making New Year’s resolutions. The ten most common probably haven’t changed for decades: stop smoking, get fit, lose weight, enjoy life more, quit drinking, get organized, learn something new, become debt-free, spend more time with family and help others. It should come as no surprise when such freshly articulated re-commitment falls short so quickly, no matter how committed the person may be to the cause (Malachi 2:2). In an effort to amend or correct the error of one’s way, a feeble attempt is made to alter one’s own humanity. Yet, for all the countless promises we might make to ourselves for self-improvement, the Bible offers one often overlooked –- love one another (1 John 4:8). The trouble with the majority of resolutions is that they merely focus on the end-result of repeated behavior but do not address the true root of the problem: “If I can tweak A, then A will cure B, and B will fix itself.” We can’t change how God designed us (2 Chronicles 19:3), but we can better prepare ourselves to carry out His desire for us. As you draft this year’s list, resolve to shower the people you love (and even some of those you don’t) with love and show them the way that you feel. Things can only get better if you only will.