Happy December. Happy last month
of the year. Happy almost Christmas and New Year. Oh happy day. This month
commemorates the first year of our little man and we are excited to celebrate
that, along with the birth of Jesus, of course.
The weekend after Thanksgiving we
start hanging Christmas decorations and put up the tree. We drink warm apple
cider and eat yummy, homemade sugar cookies and listen to Christmas music. Just
a simple tradition but one that we love none the less. This year Rend
Collective came out with their own Christmas album, which is fabulous and
perfect for Christmas decorating dance parties.
This song, Merry Christmas Everyone, is so fun. How can you not get in the
Christmas mood and spread some cheer? Have a listen.
Time for parties and celebration.
And people dancing all night long.
Christmas is fun, right? But what about Christianity? When you hear the word Christianity do you think fun? When you think of the savior of the world coming down, living with man and dying for the sins of humanity? For you. For me. Does that convey fun? Is following Jesus fun to you?
When you move out of hearing the word of God to living it out and doing it (James 1:22), the party starts. Comfort zones start to lessen. Random conversations with strangers begin and Jesus fills the time. The adventure begins. And the fun. The fun of sharing life altering news with others you never dreamed of sharing with. And doing things you never thought were possible. New experiences are sure to abound.
In Acts, after being persecuted for believing in Jesus, Peter and John rejoiced for being found worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). They are rejoicing because of persecution. Fun? Definitely not to my standards. But they were excited to be found worthy to suffer for Jesus. They understood the extent of what Jesus did for them and they were able to rejoice accordingly.
In Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase, he talks about how ancient Celtics referred to following the holy spirit as just that - a wild goose chase. You cannot fathom the direction it will go. Just where it will turn. What terrain it will run to. Where it will lead you is an unknown. When you follow the holy spirit, you will be lead to places you cannot imagine. You will have unexpected conversations and friends you never thought possible. Healing that nothing can compare to. And you will find yourself having fun along the way.
Praying that among the shopping and wrapping and baking and embracing our Emmanuel, Christ with us, that you have fun. That you would enjoy the ability to purchase items for loved ones and have fun. That it would not be burdensome or out of obligation but of loved.
Praying that you see the fun and joy in Christ and that your spectrum would be broadened this season to see God with an increasing clarity.
Here's to fun and Christmas and Christianity.
