A thought on leaving Christmas lights up all year long....do you look like a Christmas tree!?

Christmas lights...some people leave them up all year.  I for one began taking our decorations down on Christmas night!  I began to box ornaments once the last guest closed the door.  The eight trees in my home are proof we love Christmas. This is proof it's not for lack of love for the holiday that we start to un-decorate but because we know it won't be long before we are back to our regular schedules.

This year, I have a new thought on these lights. I almost regret breaking them down.  I have enjoyed the last 32 days with my halls decked so bright.  Every corner was decked with bright Christmas colors since the week of Thanksgiving.  No doubts on our street we are children of the one true King.  Remember my Tim the Tool Man manger scene?  It makes the statement loud and clear we are CHRISTians, right?

So back to un-decorating....our internal lights should not only shine those 32 days but all 365.  Thus, as we undecorate that tree, let's make sure we don't lose our decorations!

Prayers that our life lights don't go dim now that shouting Jesus is the Reason for the Season and defending Merry Christmas over Happy Holiday's is 333 days away.  May we keep that light shining bring within us for Christ so there is no doubt to those who cross our paths that we are children of God the Father-Elohim.

How do we keep those internal Christmas lights shining bright all year long other than sporting this homemade sweatshirt all year? We do this through the decorations in our lives----our words, wisdom, and works.

WORDS

May our words be a reflection of The Word. May we build others up in our words.  Avoid tearing others down. The old adage "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all" applies.  I am certainly not saying we don't confront issues with one another biblically but I am saying as Christian brothers and sisters we are to lift each other up not tear each other down.  When we see our sisters and brothers in need, we encourage them.  We take time to listen to one another and to speak life in to one another.  I challenge us to let others see the light of Jesus shining bright in our life.    

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encourage one another and build each other up...

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

WISDOM

May we follow and give godly wisdom.  This wisdom comes only from God's word.  May we ensure advice we follow or give lines up with God's word.  We may have lots of knowledge and thoughts on what someone should do, before we speak it, may we seek the Lord to ensure it is His direction and not ours.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  

Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.


Proverbs 15:31-33 
He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

WORKS

May our works aka our deeds exemplify the hands and feet of Jesus.  Now, we are clear it's not our works that get us in to heaven, but they do demonstrate who we are in Christ. 

Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

In Sandra Wilcher vernacular....If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck...it must be a duck. So, if you are a Chrisitian, you should look like one, walk like one and talk like one all year long!  May we all shine bright this year!  I don't wanna look like a duck!  I wanna look like a CHRISTMAS tree...shining bright for CHRIST!  

Let's leave our internal Christmas lights on all year long!