SANCTIFIED DECORATING

How can Christmas decorating be SANCTIFIED?? Think about it. You know what sanctified means, don't you? It simply means "set apart as holy unto the Lord."

So, how can you sanctify your decorating? Simple.

• PRAY before you decorate.
• WORSHIP as you decorate.
• GIVE THANKS after you decorate.

Paul says it this way: "Whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father by Him." Colossians 3:17

Some years back I began framing family Christmas photographs (like the ones on the sidebar of my blog this month), decorating them and turning them into ornaments. With every passing year, the supply of photo ornaments has grown. The last time I counted there were more than 200 of them. I don't try to count them any more. LOL

I cannot even describe what JOY fills my heart as I hang each one of them on the tree and remember with gratitude to God the occasion on which it was taken.

• Lisa in the arms of her daddy as we left the hospital on Christmas eve
• our first Christmas together as husband and wife
• big sister Lori trying to hang onto a wiggly baby brother for mommy to take their picture
• those "baby's first Christmas" pictures of eight grandchildren
• the children with my daddy
• Mamaw and Papaw on a happy Christmas before he died - he loved Christmas so!
• Memories! Memories too many to count!

Oh. My! Talk about opportunities for prayer, worship for God from whom ALL blessings flow, and pure unmitigated and over-flowing thanksgiving to Him.

Yes, girls - some decorating gets right down HOLY!

What about you? Do you pray, worship and thank God when you carefully place each piece of your nativity set in its rightful place? It will make your decorating more enjoyable if you do.

What about when you hang a Santa ornament? Can you pray and thank God for the joy that the mystery and lore of Santa Claus brings to children? Can you pray that God will make the real reason for the season, Jesus, more meaningful and alive in your children's hearts than Santa? Can you hang a snowman ornament on your tree and thank God for the elements of nature that He created like rain and snow and sunshine and ....? Girls, the truth is, EVERYTHING you use to decorate can be santified if you let it!

Give your decorations and your decorating to God. Set them apart as holy unto Him.

Father, help us remember that we are not decorating to impress others with our talent. Help us remember that we are not decorating for our joy alone... or even our family's joy. We are decorating in tribute to You and all the many blessings You have brought into our lives. The greatest blessing of all is Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate this holy season. Please receive our decorating as an expression of our thanks for Your coming and our joy over Your life in us.