What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing. (Isaiah 5:11-12 NLT)
It’s the Christmas season! It's party time! There's no busier season for caterers and those who own restaurants or pubs. Family get-togethers, work Christmas parties, church socials and other group socials are just some of the gatherings with music and dancing, laughter and good food. It's the time to indulge, we tell ourselves. Whether it is food or alcohol or something else, many people use this season to find permission to have a good time. In spite of the fact that the reason for the season is the generous gift of Jesus, we seldom think about Him during the Christmas party season or notice what He is doing. He left the glory of heaven to come to earth, to be born in a stable so He could be our Saviour, and the truth seems to get lost in the celebration. This is both the challenge and the invitation the prophet brings to us today -- to remember the reason for the season and in doing so, to find the great joy that wine and parties could never give us on their own. God wants us to be joyful and even tells us that His kingdom is marked with "righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17 NLT)
Jesus came to earth to give us, who believe in Him, peace of mind. All our sins are forgiven. We can rejoice in the freedom of living in the truth rather than the cover-up of lies. He is there to come along side us and comfort us in times of sorrow. We have proven over and over again that we are not wise enough to sort out the events of life on our own. We are powerless over many things that make life unmanageable. Today we are invited to stop and think about Jesus and notice what He is doing in us, and around us. As we welcome His goodness into our daily lives, we can remember, with joy, our invitation to the great party in heaven that awaits those who put their hope and trust in Jesus. 
And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:9 NLT)
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