Make Time to Celebrate

Make Time to Celebrate

Our God loves a celebration.

In the Old Testament,

He ordained an everlasting celebration called

Passover or feast of unleavened bread.

In the New Testament,

Jesus gives it new meaning and calls it

The Lord’s Supper or Communion.

In heaven,

this everlasting celebration will be called

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Are you planning a celebration?

 A few years ago we had a great celebration

for my Mother’s 75^th birthday.

We spent a year planning it out,

making sure that all of Mom’s children

and grand children could be there.

We determined that it would not be a surprise because we

wanted Mom to have the joy of looking forward to having

all her children, grand children and great grand children together.

What fun we had making the plans;

the grand kids jumped in and worked together

even though they lived states apart.

That year of planning brought a loving family even closer.

Everything came together sleeping arrangements, food,

birthday cake, cameras, trip to COSI, roses and gifts

for a five day celebration.

We laughed and played – it was a great celebration.

I will never forget the only tears were when

my brothers, Dan and Mike and sister, Carole and I

stood up and spoke a blessing on our mother.

As we laid our hands on her to pray,

you could see Mom felt the loving touch

not only from us, but from the Lord.

 It was a lot of work and the time went by too fast,

but now years later,

my brothers, sister and the grand kids

can’t stop talking about that special time.

Two years later my Mom

went to be with the Lord!

As we go through the photos

and share the memories,

we can not express how grateful we are

to have had the celebration.

God wrote into the law of the Old Testament

special feasts and celebrations.

God is preparing a celebration for us

called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

What joy to look forward to that day

when we will feast with our Savior.

But until then, make time to create good memories; times to rejoice.

Don’t let the business of life keep you from making plans to celebrate.

Those special times that you show your love for someone else.

You never know how much longer you will have the opportunity.

Set a date and make plans,

give others and yourself something to look forward to.

Scripture Reading

Psalms 145:7 NIV

7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Exodus 12:14-15 NIV

14 "This is a day you are to commemorate;

for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD

— a lasting ordinance.

Exodus 12:17 NIV

17 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt.

Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.

Matthew 26:18-19 NIV

18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,

'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near.

I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"  

Revelation 19:1-9 NIV

19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.

He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

3 And again they shouted:

"Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."

4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,

 who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

"Amen, Hallelujah!"

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

"Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,

like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

 For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."

 (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

9 Then the angel said to me, "Write:

 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb !'"

 And he added, "These are the true words of God."