Did We Miss It?

Thanksgiving was great. Lots of good food. A time to really reflect on all we have been blessed with. The first official time to really slow down and sort of take in the beauty of the season. This year we were even blessed with cool temperatures and real fall like weather. By the end of November people are anxious to get on to December and the rest of “The Holidays”. After all, the shopping malls and stores were already slipping in winter decorations and Christmas ads as early as September.
Black Friday. A newer term we have come to use. The Friday following Thanksgiving day. Some loose all their senses during this mad rush to “shop ‘til they drop”. Then came December 1. Rush. Hurry. Planning. Parties. Events.
Christmas Eve. What happened to the Holidays? What happened to Thanksgiving? The month of December? We rushed. We shopped. We hurried. We “celebrated”. Did we miss it? Just one more day…
Christmas Day. Woke up to a beautiful day. Clear skies. Cool temperatures. Lots of activity, but did we miss it?
December 26. Relief? Exhaustion? Satisfaction? Dread? Regret? A day of mixed emotions. Relief “it’s” over. Exhausted from all of the work of “it”. Satisfaction that we pulled “it” off? Dread of packing up the tree, lights, decorations, return lines? Regretting not making time to see the ones we really wanted to see? Spending more than we intended? Not getting exactly what we wanted? Did we miss it?
New Year’s Eve. December 31, the last chance to get all things done in 2009. A time to celebrate. Another party. For me, another birthday. I really do not enjoy them. I try. I just never have, even as a kid – getting older was just not something I look forward to. Must hurry. Lot’s to do. Did we miss it?
New Year’s Day. The first day of a new year. A new decade. Another celebration dinner. Perhaps another notch in the belt? Another opportunity to reflect. To resolve! To “change”. To do things differently – better of course. A New Year – A New Me! A New Me? Yet, still a looming question somewhere – Did we miss it?
January 2nd 2010 – A quiet resolve – No, I didn’t miss it. I have it. I’ve always had it. We may have lost focus on “it” for a little while – but no, I didn’t miss it. In the hustle and bustle of it all – we managed to keep Jesus Christ the center of who we are. Satan lost again. We helped others. We loved. We reached out. We gave. We were Christians. Be encouraged, you won, AGAIN!
The spirit of the world and the wickedness of it would have you think you have missed it. That same spirit would have you feel less accomplished than you like and would have you questioning things you should never question. You have NOT missed HIM!
Jesus Christ a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Your salvation, your healer, your way-maker, your deliverer, your hope, your peace, your shield and tower is right there with you. He is ready to not only see you through this New Year – but to bless you IN the New Year. His desire is to be closer to you than you have ever been before.
I’m glad we haven’t missed it! I’m glad I have another chance tomorrow to make a difference. There will only be ONE “Inaugural Sunday” for this New Year and New Decade. There will only be one First Sunday of 2010. January 3, 2010 is it. Don’t miss it! Don’t miss it! Don’t miss it! Be in Worship Service tomorrow morning and bless the Blesser of Your Soul! Happy New Year & Congratulations, you didn’t miss it!