Good day all.\u00a0 I hope each one of you will have an opportunity to celebrate with friends and family this Thanksgiving.\u00a0 Keep in mind those that are away from or don\u2019t have family to be with.\u00a0 Invite these people to your celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Christians we can have a party or get together to celebrate to be a part of God\u2019s Kingdom.\u00a0 The Kingdom of God is a party! Let healthy laughter fill our meetings, our meals, and even our worship.\u00a0 Allow the joy of our faith to be clear in our speech and on our faces. The Proverbs quote below reminds us that happiness is very healthy!\u00a0 Happy people recover from illness much quicker than negative people.\u00a0 Happy people deal with stress much better than negative people.\u00a0 Happy people solve problems much better.\u00a0 For some negative people, their illness, stress, and problems never go away.\u00a0 What a better way to be happy than to have a party celebrating God\u2019s grace for us, and the promise of eternal life?\u00a0 I am currently planning a Christmas party for the worship and tech teams at my church.\u00a0 What an awesome time to celebrate the birth of Jesus than with those who work together to provide the best environment for everyone in the congregation to renew their joy in Christ.\u00a0 These opportunities refuel our joy and happiness.\u00a0 Use these gatherings and our worship to fill us with Joy in Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c<\/em>But his father said to the servants, \u201cQuick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.\u201d So the party began. <\/em><\/strong>(Luke 15: 22 \u2013 24)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em>Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again \u2013 rejoice!\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Philippians 4: 4)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em>A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person\u2019s strength.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Proverbs 17: 22)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideas for Action: <\/strong>Many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family this week.\u00a0 <\/strong>How about planning another party for the coming advent season and inviting a couple of individuals, coworkers, or families over to celebrate. Don\u2019t forget the cake or pie! What\u2019s the occasion? Christ\u2019s birth first and foremost, but also the joy of knowing and serving Jesus and belonging to our church family. What are some ways that you and your church can have parties to celebrate what we have as Christians?\u00a0 How about a church dinner together?\u00a0 Now that the pandemic is behind us, it is time to gather together in fellowship.\u00a0 Fellowship is so powerful! It strengthens us in so many ways. It equips us to go into the world and spread the joy and good news of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be Happy, Christ is in our life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n