LET US STRIVE FOR THE DAY OF CHANGE (Happy Boxing Day)

 

Yesterday, December 25th, 2024, was an awesome day with family, friends, and colleagues. The day started as it should: in deep gratitude, reflection, and contemplation of God coming to dwell with men according to Matthew 1:18-25 / Luke 2:1-39 / Matthew 2:1-23 / Luke 2:40. There are many lessons to learn from the first advent of Jesus. Like, mankind did not study the Scriptures with a desire to conform to the will of God at the first advent of Jesus. In parallel, they will not study the Scriptures, with a desire to conform to the will of God at His second advent. Etc. As I reflect on God's goodness today. I can’t help but notice that December has eleven Holidays that the World Celebrates. 

St. Nicholas Day - Also known as the Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dec. 5 or 6).

Immaculate Conception Day - Catholics worldwide celebrate and honor the Virgin Mary (Dec. 8)

Bodhi Day - Also known as Rohatsu, is a Buddhist tradition (Dec. 8)

Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe - This is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration. (Dec. 12)

Hanukkah - This is an eight-day Jewish to promote the Zionist movement. (Dec. 18-26)

Yule - Wiccans and Neo-Pagans celebrate the winter solstice (the darkest day of the year, on Dec. 21) (Dec. 21-Jan.1).

Christmas – This is a Christian celebration. Christmas largely commemorates the birth of Jesus. But the festival has also been adopted as a secular family holiday by people of all faiths which is marked by an exchange of gifts. (Dec. 25)

Boxing Day - A British tradition that occurs the day after Christmas and dates back to the 1800s when Queen Victoria ruled the throne. At the time, it was a day to ensure that upper-class Britons gave servants and workers a day off, in addition to giving them a present. The holiday has since evolved into a more commercial occasion for gift-giving and Gombeys dancing through the streets of Bermuda. Tell the story, teĺl the story of how God seeks to save, but of how mankind still longs to enslaves. (Dec. 26).

Kwanzaa - The week-long holiday of Kwanzaa honors African-American heritage; it’s a cultural holiday as opposed to a religious one. Black nationalist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a way to unite the African-American community following the Watts Rebellion in a predominantly Black Los Angeles neighborhood. An uprising against systemic racism began after a white California highway patrol officer arrested a young Black man for drunken driving. The rebellion led to 34 deaths—two-thirds of which were individuals shot by police or National Guard troops, per the Associated Press. It also resulted in more than 1,000 injuries. Karenga laid out seven key principles for Kwanzaa: unity; self-determination; collective responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity; and faith. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which translates to “first fruits.” Kwanzaa celebrations draw from African musical and storytelling traditions. (Dec. 26-Jan. 1).

Zarathosht Diso – This day honors the death of their prophet (Dec. 26)

New Year’s Eve - This day celebrates the end of the Gregorian calendar year. (Dec. 31)

Today, December 26, 2024, I am thinking about persons and families who have for whatever reason, been away from their family due to work, a change of location, or the loss of a loved one to death. As we remember and reflect on our loved ones, let us take courage because one day, God shall restore and make things new. With this in mind, let us be our brother's keeper, responsible for the souls of those around us. 

While the year races on, let us strive for the day of change, when we shall never perish. Let us strive for one of the crowns of life, that is richer than any crown that ever decked the brow of a monarch.

Soon, a great number of angels will bring from the city of God these glorious crowns, a crown for every saint, with his or her name written on it. 

Soon, Jesus will call for the crowns, and angels will present them to Him. With His right hand, He will place the crowns on the heads of the saints. The angels will also bring golden harps, and Jesus will present them to the saints. 

Soon, all the redeemed saints will raise their voices in grateful and happy praise to God. 

Soon, our sorrows will all be ended, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, shall there be any more pain.

There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of which we now catch glimpses through the microscope; when we look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope; when the blight of sin removed, the whole earth shall appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,”

Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of the surpassing splendor and excellent glory of heaven. One writer wrote, “Oh, what love! what wondrous love!”

If we are going to make it in the kingdom of God. “We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts and the damaging influence of evil thoughts. Let us place our thoughts upon holy things. Let them be pure and true; for the only security for any soul is right-thinking. We are to use every means that God has placed within our reach for the government and cultivation of our thoughts. We are to bring our minds into harmony with Christ's mind. His truth will sanctify us, body, soul, and spirit, and we shall be enabled to rise above temptation.”

So, let us strive to be among that number, with our loved ones who are now resting in him. That on that glorious day, we may all say, Hallelujah, around the throne of God and be with Him forever. 

Until that day, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" is the word of God to all of us today. Revelation 2:10. It is the waiting saints, both those who are sleeping and alive in Jesus, who are to be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. UNTIL THAT DAY, LET US STRIVE FOR THE DAY OF CHANGE WHEN ALL THINGS SHALL BE MADE NEW. On behalf of my family and the Garden Ministry Team, may the hinges of God’s love never rust on you, and may your day be filled with heavenly peace. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY