Send to Kindleby Rebekah Beene
Danny and I both grew up with big extended families. He even had a great grandmother among his list. The huge families with loads of cousins has now dwindled. He has two uncles by marriage left and I have one aunt left and she’s in her 90’s. The oldest cousin alive is 76 years old. Our family is aging. What was once an opportunity for huge family get together, holidays are now much smaller. I don’t know how to make a smaller holiday meal, so I just make the same amount and have loads of leftovers to send home with others or to enjoy for several days.
I could stay sad and despondent over lost giant holiday gatherings. But that does no one any good, especially me. We will make every holiday as joyful, fun and blessed as possible. By thanking God for all the blessings we do have, we will keep the blues away! They are not welcome in my house – don’t let the blues be welcome at yours.
Oh beloved, holidays are not overrated. But you are enough reason to celebrate. Jesus never had a family Thanksgiving, but He stayed full of joy and had purpose all of His life. You too can have joy and purpose. Your hopes and desires cannot be built around stuff, people or events. They must be built in – from within. Your choice in preparation, planning and meeting the day must include things that give you reason to live, not hopes to die. Focus on the good stuff and there’s always something good if you look for it. Count those blessings – you might be amazed at how very blessed you are. Focus on the Lord – believe it or not on your worst days, the saddest, most melancholy, hardest to face days – He is focusing on you – giving you hope, peace, joy, favor and a more heavenly perspective. Your life situation, whatever is not perfect about this season for you – is temporary. Open the window curtains, breathe the chilly air, run around the house, pray, praise and shout aloud – God You are so good! Sounds silly but it will relieve you are things that want to bury you down instead of lift you up. It’s okay to lift yourself up as well as others! You are a favored child of the Only Living God and you are seated at His banquet table!
God loves you and He’s for you. Prep for the holidays, give yourself lots of slack, think about the goodness of God and spend lots of time talking with Him about everything. And live, holidays or not, in the Light of His wonderful, overwhelming, never ending blessings of faith!
Romans 14:17 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Proverbs 10:28 The prospect of the righteous is joy…
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
About the Author:
In a Christian Women’s meeting in 1983, Rebekah was given a prophetic message that she would write books. Several years ago she began writing stories about special holiday memories and travels, sharing God’s love and care through each story. God has gifted Rebekah with the ability to look at the natural and see the supernatural. Both Rebekah and her husband Danny have a heart to share the Gospel and the riches of life in Christ to everyone they meet. They have served in the local church and in ministry to motorcyclists. Danny is an ordained minister and they both have been Bible study teachers for many years. Rebekah also speaks at women’s retreats and conferences. Her tag line says it all “God loves you and He’s for you”.
My website is http://rebekahbeene.wordpress.com
