The day after Christmas is said to be one of the busiest days of the Season as people are running here and there returning or exchanging gifts, as well as finding Christmas bargains in the end of the year sales.

The day after Christmas is said to be a depressing time for a lot of people as all the holiday festivities are suddenly over, relatives go to their own homes, and many people are left alone.  Those who have spent too
much money during this Season are left facing the reality of bills which they will have to pay.  For some, the excitement anticipated is now over.  For a child of God, joy is not dependant on a season but on a reason.  Jesus is the reason for our joy in each season.  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but today we have been blessed with another day of life for which we can give thanks.  All of our needs are supplied by our Heavenly Father according to his riches in glory.  If we have problems, we also have a promise that He will never allow more to be upon us than we can bear.  His grace is sufficient for every condition.

We have joy because we have been redeemed and given life everlasting.  Christmas was only the beginning of the miracle of salvation made possible by God.  Each day after his birth was part of  God's total plan leading to Calvary's cross, a borrowed tomb, and resurrection morn.   The birth of Christ would lead not only to his death and resurrection, but also to our being  resurrected in newness of life with Christ to walk as the Spirit of the Lord leads us.  We have his marvelous gift of salvation and his many blessings and benefits each day of our live. His love is the greatest and we can share this love with others to give hope and help.

Christmas and the days after are a special time for reflecting not only the birth of Christ as a babe in the manger but also as King of the Jews who is Lord of all.
Each new day brings us closer to His coming again in power to judge the earth in righteousness and to rule and reign forever.

Just because the gifts have been opened, celebrations ended, and the holiday meals have been enjoyed does not mean Christ-mas is over.  It can be a reality to
us each day of the year.  His gift was not only for one day or to be remembered in only one Season.  The true gift of Christ keeps on giving and his loving kindness is new each morning when we awake. 

May today not only be thought of as the day after Christmas, but as another day with Christ leading the way in which we can praise and worship Him.  We are approaching another year that has been given us and may
our prayer be to help others as He has helped us.  His blessings are abundant and because He lives, we can face each new day in the blessed gospel way.  We will soon put away the decorations, lights, and evergreens for another year.  As we put these away, let us also lay aside anything that would easily beset us and give all our cares unto the Lord that we might run this race with patience and victory. 

One day the Christ of Christmas shall call for his Church and the day after he comes will find those unprepared left behind.  We are to share the gospel with others and live each day as if it could be the day the Lord will return.   One day soon, it will be the day after the 'coming of the Lord'.  We must be ready for we know not the day nor the hour, but have a blessed hope in all of the promises of the Lord.

Blessings in Christ, Jo Ann Kelly (c) 12/2002        J. P.'s Inspirations