Celebrate

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! - Psalm 126:3

The Free Dictionary defines "to celebrate" this way: 

1.    To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing. 

2.    To perform (a religious ceremony

3.    To extol or praise: 

4.    To make widely known; display:

And if you have to define something like "celebrate" you know you are in trouble, because something like "celebrate" should arise without the need to define it. It should flow from a glad heart, a full spirit, a life that is well lived and well experienced. 

I know I do not celebrate enough. God does something great and I see it or experience it but I'm off to the next thing, ready to for the next task, the next hill to climb, the next obstacle to overcome.

We pray, God answers, and we move on to the next prayer request. 

Someone is saved and we begin to think, "What's next?" What do they need to do now? What do I need to do?

God provides and we immediately begin to think about what to do with what He has given. 

We move on. We keep going. We don't stop. We don't celebrate. 

But...we can change. We can grow. We can learn. We can even celebrate if we wanted to. 

What if we...

...took time to really stop and be thankful and rest in the moment of receiving what God has done?

...shared with others the story of what God has done and celebrated with them?

...we got people together and just celebrated God - who He is and what He has done and what He is doing?

...stopped whenever we experience God's grace, His gift, and just said "thank you?" 

or jumped or put our hand in the air?

or raised a fist in triumph or shouted or a simple smile?

There's room for everyone to celebrate the way that fits them best. It's not the form; it's the heart. 

We don't celebrate enough. 

This Sunday we are having a celebration service to "celebrate" all that God has done for us. Even in the midst of a pandemic we have many reasons to celebrate. 

Because God is still at work, and God still loves us, and God still gives good gifts, and because God is good, and holy, and perfect, and gracious and compassionate and we are blessed. 

So, let's celebrate together this Sunday, in person or online. 

And then let's keep celebrating right through Thanksgiving as we celebrate all that God has done. 

And maybe we'll celebrate all the way to Christmas as we "celebrate" the birth of our Savior, and maybe, just maybe, we'll continue to celebrate right into 2021! 

Wouldn't that be great? What a year 2021 could be if we decided we are going to celebrate right through it. 

And then, maybe we'll build a life of celebration as we recognize that the writer of Psalm 126:3 was right...

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! - Psalm 126:3