Much to Celebrate

All I wanted was a peaceful breakfast. A morning without kids kicking each other’s stools, fighting over who gets the pink cup, or hearing “mooommmm!!” Shouldn’t a Bible verse on the wall solve for that?

As I continue to observe that printed piece of paper, I laugh a bit for thinking it would be easy for my kids to just “turn off” their irritating choices and replace them with helpful, kind and patient ones. It’s still such a struggle even as an adult!

It can seem overwhelming to consider all the lengths we still need to grow in as believers. I continually hear exhales of confession, regret, and frustration from myself and others over needing so much correction from the Spirit. 

But when we look around, we can see so much incredible work that the Spirit is doing and so much responsiveness from God’s people. And it’s amazing.

Parents are responding to the call of community and rearranging their schedules to attend parenting groups.

Friends are responding to the call of discipleship and carving time out of their chaotic lives to study God’s Word and discuss it on a weekly basis.

Neighbors are opening up their homes to welcome people over for fellowship.

New believers are stepping out in boldness to publicly profess their faith through baptism.

Mamas are apologizing to their littles when they lose their temper.

Dads are kneeling down to pray with their children and lead them in the faith.

Grandparents are forsaking an easy retirement to continue being stretched in their faith and to continue pouring into the next generation.

Teachers are waking up early to pray over the souls of their students.

Kids are standing up for what’s right and kind and including friends that other kids said couldn’t play.

Teammates are cheering each other on and learning to love others as themselves.

Y’all. This is incredible! These are the things that are celebrated in the kingdom of God, so surely may the people of God stop to celebrate too. 

This life – it is not about perfection. It is not about condemnation for the ways that we will, forever this side of heaven, fall short. It isn’t about us. Rather, it is about the greatest treasure, made available to us now, and promised to us in its fullness for all of eternity.

We have a God who made us, on purpose and full of purpose. And our God has paid the debt that we owe and credited our account with his own righteous works so that, through Christ, we can be called his children and friends. May we remember, He has treasured us first.

We don’t learn to walk in the ways of the Lord simply because we want a better life or a lighter conscience. We don’t teach our children to obey him simply because we want a peaceful breakfast or an easy parenting ride. (Even though we may still want that!) We learn to walk in the ways of the Lord because he is worthy of all. 

I never anticipated learning anything myself when I so confidently taped that scripture on our kitchen wall. Maybe I assumed I already had it figured out, but clearly I was so wrong. No matter our Christian “tenure”, we are always in need of our Savior. As we continue to walk alongside our God and within his Spirit, we continue to learn, our father and friend compassionate all the way. We teach by example and also in repentance. And may God use it all the same, for his name and his glory. For he reigns forevermore.

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“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” – Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Sing it! The Church is Alive

Pray it. Take some time to praise God for the work he is doing in your life and in the lives around you.