{"id":3412,"date":"2016-04-24T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-24T14:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3412"},"modified":"2016-05-01T22:00:05","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T03:00:05","slug":"choose-to-celebrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3412","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Celebrate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Time<\/a>God is a God of joy.\u00a0 The scriptures are full of exhortations to rejoice.\u00a0 (Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4) But did you know that God likes to celebrate as well?\u00a0 Celebrate means to observe a notable occasion with festivities.\u00a0 God likes a little singing (Ephesians 5:29, James 5:13), a little dancing (Psalm 149:3; Ecclesiastes 3:4), a little shouting (Isaiah 12:6; Psalm 47:1), and a lot of laughter (Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 126:2).\u00a0 Good times!<\/p>\n

From the beginning it was so.\u00a0 When God laid the foundations of the earth He looked around and said, \u201cIt is very good!\u201d\u00a0 Then the morning stars and sons of God shouted for joy!\u00a0 (Job 38:7) Sounds like a celebration to me!<\/p>\n

For the Old Testament Holy Days God told the people to save their money, buy what their hearts desired, share it with others, and rejoice!\u00a0 (Deuteronomy 14:26) Sounds like a celebration to me!<\/p>\n

After the wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt everyone came together to dedicate it to the Lord.\u00a0 There was gladness, thanksgiving, praises to God, plus singing with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps.\u00a0 (Nehemiah 12:27-28) In fact, God had them rejoice with great joy, so much so that \u201cthe joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.\u201d (Nehemiah 12:43) Sounds like a celebration to me!<\/p>\n

When David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord to the city of David, there was much shouting and the sound of the trumpet.\u00a0 David was so excited he danced with all his might. (2 Samuel 6:14) Sounds like a celebration to me!<\/p>\n

The biblical examples are endless.\u00a0 When the prodigal son returned, his dad threw a big party.\u00a0 (Luke 15:23-24) Jesus\u2019 first miracle took place at a wedding. (John 2:1-8) And there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7, 10) Sounds like a lot of celebrating to me!<\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/a><\/p>\n

God created us to enjoy life.\u00a0 Celebrations are an important part of that enjoyment.\u00a0 They give us a break from our routines.\u00a0 We take pictures, send flowers, write cards, give gifts, have parades, shoot fireworks, throw parties, and eat cake.<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 Celebrations can help us commemorate our past, appreciate the present and look forward to the future \u2013 and we who have Christ in our lives have much to celebrate!<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think God takes pleasure in joyless Christians leading joyless lives.\u00a0 I\u2019m not saying we should all walk around with fake smiles on our faces pretending to be happy.\u00a0 There are times for quietness and reflection, but God\u2019s presence in our lives gives us much to celebrate.\u00a0 God is the eternal joy giver.\u00a0 If we aren\u2019t doing some celebrating, we might not be as close to God as we should be.<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n