Embrace the Present | Friday

Christmas At The Movies Week 1 

Listen instead of reading

Take a Moment

Ask God what He wants to show you before reading today

Read The Daily

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

In one of the most touching scenes of Christmas Vacation, Clark gets stuck in the attic and stumbles upon old home videos. Watching the joyful Christmases of his childhood, he’s overcome with emotion, longing to recreate those magical moments. But as he chases the past, he misses the beauty of the present—the family right in front of him.

 I actually had breakfast with a few guys this past Tuesday and one of them said that scene gets him every time. I told him that memories are great, just not always accurate.  Nostalgia can be both a gift and a thief. While it’s wonderful to cherish the memories of the past, Psalm 118:24 reminds us to focus on today, the day the Lord has made. When we fixate on recreating a perfect past or worrying about the future, we miss the joy of the present moment.  The Christmas story invites us to embrace the now. The shepherds didn’t wait for a more convenient time; they hurried to see the baby Jesus as soon as the angel announced His birth. Mary didn’t dwell on the challenges of her journey or the unexpected stable; she treasured the moment in her heart (Luke 2:19). Like them, we can find joy in the present, knowing God is with us—Emmanuel.  So this Christmas season, don’t let the longing for the past or the worries of the future steal the joy of today. God is working in the present.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?

Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

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