YGT: Dancing with My Eyes Closed

*I dedicate this post to my sister Jessica. 

 We spent many nights dancing in the kitchen. 

Those are some of my happiest memories.

A part of the allure of writing is the ability to document sadness.  

Sometimes though, you just need to be happy.  

This past weekend, I had a euphoric reminder of the joy that life can bring.  Ashley and I listened to some R&B and I just danced...  For no reason at all...  If you're like me, sometimes when you're dancing and the music feels good, you close your eyes.  If you've ever been there, you know this is the height of joyfulness.  

I imagine this was David's experience too in II Samuel 6:14-15 - Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

It's not hard to imagine David dancing with all of his might and with his eyes closed.  If God has ever done anything for you, you have a reason to rejoice.  Life's too short to be sad all the time.  Why not take some time to dance?!?!!!

Lord, thank You for making us a people who can dance and dance with others.  Help us to shout as well as we sulk.  Please remind us to leave our concerns at Your feet and rejoice in the victory we have in You.  Thank You for it all.  In Christ's name, Amen.

-j.a.g.

YGT: Sales Papers (John's Job)

This week will be one of the most important days of the year, a day when people will shout and cheer, run and rejoice, even debate and fight.  It's a day that has lived long in our country as a sign of our values and success.  Yes, you guessed it, it's Black Friday.  (God bless you if you were thinking Thanksgiving.)

Black Friday is the shopping climax of the year.  It's the day stores open in the middle of the night to welcome shoppers who can't wait to purchase gifts for Christmas   If you're unaware that Black Friday is coming, there's a surefire way to know.  Each year, this day is brought in by the arrival of sales papers in your mailbox.  Every day you will receive new papers with announcements on sales, discounts, and specials that all start on Friday.  They come for things you want but don't need or things you want but don't want to go into debt over.  The avalanche of sales papers can be informative but also overwhelming.

In the church, we are preparing for the season of Advent, or the time the church focuses on the coming birth of Christ.  Luke 3 tells us that Jesus Christ also had a sales paper (or maybe pauper).  His name was John.  John was to Jesus what Black Friday ads are for lego-dreaming children, purse-ogling women, and tech-obsessed men.  John was getting the people ready for the special of their lives.

Like a sales paper, his message was loud and clear (I imagine it in BOLD, BLUE FONT):  I know you want this and can't afford it.  But there is a day coming when you can have it.   There's going to be a deal that you can't resist and that you have to take.  Someone else has paid the price for you.  Don't worry, it's no money down.  Bad credit, good credit, no credit?  No problem, it's 100% off.  That's right, FREE.  Don't miss this special.  This is something that will change your life forever...

Whoever you are reading this, I pray there is an urgency in your spirit to trust in Jesus Christ.  If you know him already, I pray your faith increases in this season of advent.  If you desire to know him, I pray you connect with a sales person (Christian) who can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with you.  The day is coming when the sale will be over.  While we still have the chance, let us grab hold of the hope John so desperately promoted.  

-j.a.g.

Lord, thank You for Jesus.  And thank You for John.  Amen.

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Luke 3:2a-6

2 ...the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:


“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”