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Breathe. Inhale and exhale. Enjoy the rest after the boxes and wrappings; too much food and never enough time.
Now we relax from the celebration of Christmas.
Yet, it was after that first Christmas that the shepherds and wise men started arriving to worship baby Jesus.
And it was after that first Christmas that God continued to work His plan—growing Jesus to maturity; sending John the Baptist; preparing hearts and minds to understand the good news.
And God is still at work on His plan; His plan that was the gift from His heart.
God’s plan didn’t end on Christmas morning. It didn’t end on Easter morning. And the celebration of Christmas doesn’t end for us at Christmas time.
Christmas is a pause in the plan. Not a stop or a bump or simply a sparkle point.
It is a time to wonder at the power and creativity of a God who would send our savior in the form of a human; a tender babe, perfect and innocent at the beginning of His earthly life. Perfect and innocent at the end of His earthly life. Perfect and innocent throughout time.
It is time for the afterglow. The soft-focus filter of God’s holy light to shine on us and through us, catching fire and burning brighter each day from now on.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the celebration of Christmas. Please help us maintain the celebration throughout the coming year. Please shine on us and through us for your glory. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How will you maintain the afterglow?
