Anticipation!

Most recently, the sermon series at our church was centered on the word, “anticipate”.  At first, I found it hard to relate until I noticed that I had used the word several times in conversation and I began thinking about the New Year.  Generally, this time of year I take personal inventory and begin to think about goals I want to reach and activities in which I want to engage in the coming year. Well, I was doing it –
Anticipating!
Anticipation can keep us going.  That hope and expectancy can power us on to life and happiness in spite of what unfortunate things go on around us.  There have been some rather rotten things (to say the least) that have gone on in our country recently (shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School) and we have a choice as to how to respond.  I choose to be all the more determined to be a catalyst and conduit for good and an advocate for hope and positive expectancy.  I will hug those closest to me and tell them “I love them” while I can.
It is the Spirit of Christmas that will enable us to maintain that attitude of blessing and hopeful anticipation.  Those of us who are celebrating the birth of Jesus at this time of year are anticipating what blessings and wonder He might demonstrate next.
I know that all things are not good, but let’s allow that to be an even stronger motivator for us to be instruments of good in the world –others need us to understand, listen, carry the hope and point them to the One who is the answer to our need – the real reason for the
season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!