Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and windy, and the fields are filled with deer on this new day of a new week in the Journey called Life. I met with the Living God with great anticipation this morning and I opened my Instruction Manual with excitement. He’s the One and Only Constant in this Life…the One I can count on to be there any time I draw near to Him and He’s the only One who will always and forever have Time for me. He’s the One who never disappoints…never gives up…never fails to Forgive…never stops Loving. He’s the One who gives me Strength. He’s the One to Sustain me. He’s the One who planned my Purpose before I was ever born! Of course, I began this new day with Great Anticipation! Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith too?

Things are buzzing this time of year as people frantically prepare for the holidays. They’ve just wrapped up shopping for the Thanksgiving feast and now they’re searching for just the right gifts. Many have already begun to celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving even arrives and in their rush to get to the holiday they really want to celebrate, they blur what’s right in front of their eyes. Some will set out to buy “the world” for their loved ones – checking off from a wish list that was provided to them while others are praying to have the money to buy even one. Kids are filled with great anticipation as they wait for Santa to show up for Christmas and lots of them are warned that the “naughty” ones receive nothing from him at all. How ironic that the Reason for the Season is to celebrate the One and Only that Loves and Forgives even the “naughtiest” of naughty. There’s no end to His Giving and Forgiving and yet, He takes the back seat to Santa in the homes of LOTS of people professing to be Children of God. With Him, being “nice” doesn’t cut it at all…He already paid the ultimate Price for all the “naughty” ones like me. He wants to be Acknowledged as the One and Only Reason for ALL Seasons…period.

Parents will flock to the malls and stand in long lines just to have a chance to get a photo of their little ones on the lap of a guy who gets credit for bringing their gifts. I guess that seems like an innocent fantasy to most people…but I’m not sure it is to God. I’m pretty sure it would make God smile if parents were willing to stand in long lines just to have the chance to Introduce their little ones to the Giver of all Gifts. I think He’d like it a lot if the little ones were encouraged to climb onto His lap to pour their hearts out about their wants and needs too. There’s no question He’d like it if they confessed the “naughty” things to Him – but when they do He’ll be quick to Forgive instead of threatening to withhold Gifts or Love. It’s nice to have decorations around the house that are a reminder of the birth of the King, but it’s even nicer when we look forward to the Season with Great Anticipation because of Him and not despite Him.

I met with my One and Only with Great Anticipation this morning and I’m facing the day with excitement. Not even a child on a Christmas morning can compare to the excitement I feel in my Heart because of Him day after day. The Reason for the Season won’t get blurred with fantasy around here and nobody else will get even the slightest bit of credit for the Gift of Love or the abundance. He’s my One and Only. My Reason. My Life. My Love. My Strength. My Redeemer. My Provider. Only my God will get credit for the blessings of the season…from my wonderfully imperfect family to the feast we don’t deserve, to all the gifts placed under the tree that represent the gifts that were delivered to the King on the night He was born. I’m looking forward to this Season to honor the One who died for me with Great Anticipation and it’s going to be AMAZING because of Him! Plenty of people will hear about the day He was born throughout this holiday season…but I’m going to be sure they hear about the Day He died to pay the Price for all the naughty even more.

How about you?