Now that the wrapping paper has been picked up and the dishes have all been washed, I have had a moment to pause and reflect on the memories created this Christmas season.
Our families are blessed with aunties who have thoughtfully created special traditions for their nieces and nephews. Each year, my sister hosts a gingerbread house-making party that everyone looks forward to. In fact, the kids now have designated partners and strategies for maximizing the fun while loading up on sweet treats!
In addition, my husband’s youngest sister-in-love plans super fun games to play after Christmas dinner. Each of the kids waits with anticipation to see the surprises she will pull out, including a scavenger hunt for their presents this year!
All the children walk away from these events feeling special and loved.
Our sisters joyfully host these events annually all while working, caring for their families, shopping, and wrapping gifts for their children. We are eternally grateful for their graciousness and for the kindness they show to each of our children. They beautifully demonstrate how believers are carriers of God’s presence.
When you look at the life of Jesus, He carried the glory of God. As He went around to different places, there was healing. There was deliverance. There was freedom. There was preaching and teaching of the word.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus stated: ““The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come. ””
Colossians 1:27 NLT reminds us: “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory.”
Whether we are at home with our families, shopping at the grocery store, or in a meeting at work, we are carriers of the presence of God. This means His goodness is in us and those around us can experience someone who speaks like Jesus, thinks like Jesus, and acts like Jesus.
As this year draws to a close and we prepare to welcome a new year, may our prayer be that every person who interacts with us will have an encounter with the Lord.
~Joyce
