A New Year

Call me a party pooper, but standing in Times Square with a million people in -2 degree weather doesn't sound like "the greatest party on earth" to me! What it does sound like is a good case of itchy hives. And I'm getting better about the hives!!!
What in the world would possess a person to stand out in freezing temperatures for 10 + hours, waiting for a gigantic crystal ball to drop?

Do they think that their future is found in that ball? Do they think they have a shot in a million of being on tv? Do they believe they'll have better luck in the new year if they attend this traditional celebration?

I believe that I'd not only itch, but probably freeze to the pavement. It's doubtful I'd be able to feel 3/4 of my body. And what does that crystal ball hold for me? Absolutely NOTHING!
On most years, I enjoy the comfortable warmth of my fuzzy house socks on my comfy couch, with my zebra blanket. This year, I watched a movie with Tyler (after putting Luke to bed), and then I "turned in" around 10:30pm at Dean's request. By 11:30pm, he was begging me to go watch the ball drop. I guess he'd heard enough details about my day. And considering he has to get up at 6am and go to work in the morning, he was likely wondering if he'd get any rest at all! Of course by then, Tyler had gone to bed, too, so I watched the ball drop...and watched all those people acting crazy in freezing temperatures in Times Square...alone.
I noticed something, too. The crowd was off. Usually, you can't even see the road because there are so many people. All you normally see is a wide path of people going down the main drag of New York's Time Square. But this year, I saw a whole lot of pavement...still lots of people, but lots of pavement, too.

Why IS that?

Could it be that this wretched economy caused people to stay home? Or maybe people really do freeze in negative TWO temperatures...even in Times Square. Maybe some people had to work on New Years Eve, because they have to pay their bills, and are in no position to skip working when they can earn extra moolah. Could it possibly be that some people have learned that the big crystal ball holds nothing for them...?

In any case, attendance was off in Times Square this year. Other things took priority.

What things take priority in YOUR life?
When it all comes down,
what excuses do you have
for the way you prioritize your activities?

There will come a day when The Creator of all things will host a party...a homecoming. If you think Time Square is "life changing" (as directly quoted by Taylor Swift tonight)...YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!!
This party will not be lacking anything! Family...friends...even streets made of pure gold! And MAN-OH-MAN, is God gonna lay on a spread!!! The likes of which you've never seen!!!

And as His children, we'll be the guest of honor! We'll wear robes made of the finest material ever known to touch mere mortal flesh. We'll be as pure and perfect as any angel. And we'll be surrounded by the biggest life changing warmth of all...our Heavenly Father...our Prince of Peace...our King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And all those who love Him.
Times Square can never compare. In fact, nothing we have ever participated in on this planet will come close to the party that our God has planned for us in Heaven!

Will you be there?

Will you rearrange your priorities in order to seek Him? Will you explore the endless possibilities at your fingertips as a dearly loved creation by an incredibly loving Creator?

Will you be there or will you make excuses to miss the party?
This party is truly a life changing event! It's the party to END ALL PARTIES! And God has extended an invitation to you, asking for your presence. In fact, He's gone further than that.

He has spared no expense for you to come,
and for you to receive the brightly wrapped gift
that He gave up so much
to make sure you could open.

Will you be so busy looking out for yourself that you just can't fit this divine event onto your calendar? Will you be out chasing down the next best thing? Will you be working on fulfilling the latest dream?

Will your priorities be so out of whack
that you forget to RSVP?

We can accept the invitation. Even those of us who think we have it all together. Even those of us who know Him, but have chosen to push Him off to the side and take care of our whims instead of diving into our relationship with Him. And especially those of us who may believe in God, but choose to end it there...
with no commitment to Him.

You've often heard the phrase "life is what you make it". Guess what? The party is what you make it. Your relationship to God is what you choose for it to be. You can accept Him or deny Him. RSVP or not.
And the party, like the commitment is NOT on YOUR terms. But believe me...you wouldn't want it to be. Because none of us could ever make this life what God can, and will make it!

Make a fresh commitment to Him
to go along with starting a New Year.

Now THAT'S an experience that's truly "life changing". And you won't have to weather freezing temperatures to have fun!!!

Happy New Years!!!