HALLMARK
Christmas Specials~
Why do I watch them to the end,
no matter how many twists & turns may happen throughout the story?
Because I experience
PEACE in the midst of uncertainty.
PEACE in the midst of absurdity.
PEACE in the midst of calamity.
Why?
Because I know how the story will end~
HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
HALLMARK Specials~
HAPPILY EVER AFTER tales for grown ups.
I looked up the word
HALLMARK
& then it all made sense~
"to put a seal upon, certifying the highest standard of purity"
To Be
SEALED~
"In the ancient world, a seal was used to identify and to protect.
If something was sealed, everyone knew who it belonged to (the seal had an insignia),
and the seal prevented anyone else from tampering with the item.” (Guzik)
HALLMARKED~
THIS BABY was born to HALLMARK you and I.
To put a seal upon us, stamped with the perfect insignia~
An inherited birthright status through
JESUS CHRIST.
Our Birthright~
Belonging to THIS BABY who was born to give us
the guaranteed HALLMARK ending to our story~
And she/he lived HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for BEHOLD,
I bring you GOOD tidings of great JOY which will be to ALL people” (Luke 2:10).
"FOR BEHOLD"~ to excite to attention.
Bringing "GOOD Tidings" (news), of the coming kingdom of GOD~
JESUS~the way to salvation.
FOR ALL PEOPLE~
The BABY who came for ALL~
mother, sister, father, brother,
husband, wife, niece, nephew,
grandmother, grandfather, grandchild,
teacher, care giver, friend and student.
To be clothed with JOY, not fear~
Because our story is written.
We have a guaranteed future no matter what we may be going through~
Sealed with a
HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN HIM
Ending to all our stories.
THE JOY OF WHAT IS TO COME
BECAUSE WHAT JESUS HAS DONE~
all because of
THE BABY
who grew up & became
THE RISEN MAN.
No more fear.
No more sorrow
No more tears~
In perfect eternity with HIM.
What has stolen your joy, or is stealing your joy from today?
Is it an illness, a prodigal, financial burden, a relationship, or just plain ole life?
How does the truth that you will live HAPPILY EVER AFTER
bring you joy in your present circumstances?
HALLMARKED~
"HE anointed us, set HIS seal of ownership on us, and put HIS Spirit in our hearts
as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come...." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
What if we lived our moments, no matter what the twists and turns may be,
with our eyes focused on our guaranteed ending?
How would your perspective change?
Would you be filled with PEACE?
And not just an ordinary kind of a PEACE.
It is the PEACE that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4)
The PEACE that THE BABY brings into your heart.
Therefore~
Let's live today with our eyes fixed on
THE BABY~
ON JESUS
And experience HIS PEACE in the midst of whatever
Chapter of our story we may be living,
Because we know how our story ends!
"...Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—
an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad.
There is wonderful Joy ahead, even though
you must endure many trials for a little while" (I Peter 1:3-6)
All because of
"THIS BABY BOY" (listen to the song below)