New Years Blessings!  {image:crosscards.com}

What happens when one of the lights on your Christmas tree stops working?

In some instances, all lights on the string of lights may also go dark. I speak from experience; that is very annoying. One of our past artificial Christmas trees had permanent miniature lights, set in three separate sections.

At the end of a Christmas season, the bottom section lighting quit. I ignored the outage, deciding I could wait to correct the problem. I got a wake-up call when I set up the tree the following year. I asked my husband to solve the problem and he said that it would be easiest to buy new lights.

A simple task it was not. After purchasing a new set of lights, he dropped them on the floor and shorted them out. So, he made a return trip to the store, bought set # 2 of lights. He is a patient man; I applaud the final results. The tree never looked prettier.

Each light on a string of tree lights is important…

They brighten their branch, working with the others to illuminate the tree and our homes.

Jesus left us with specific instructions.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16 NKJ).”

The body of Christ is much like a Christmas tree. When we each let our light shine, we form a line of lights to illuminate a darkened world.

Have you checked your calendar today for upcoming Christmas events?

True, our head is frequently whirling as we try to keep up the pace. We do not want to offend any that invite us to Christmas parties and we wisely set great importance upon church choir cantatas, children’s programs and candlelight worship services.

In the pace, make the Prince of Peace top priority.

“And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6b NAS).”

Revelers plan and anticipate Christmas & New Year’s parties.

Beware of imbibing…                                                                          

“Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.
Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;
At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
“They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
[Proverbs 23:29-35 NKJ]