Great

Some places call it "Prayer and Testimony" and no one comes. We call it "Open Mike" and people get excited about the opportunity.

And he was excited as he came up the front of the church that Sunday morning after Christmas.

"This was the best Christmas EVER!" he exclaimed. He then told of not even wanting gifts and instead taking the money he was given and buying candy for the neighbor kids. He talked about how great it was to be looking for ways to help people instead of just wanting more things.

He ended with,"And up until a couple of weeks ago I'd never even been in a church before. This stuff is GREAT!"

He laughed out loud all the way back to his seat and we celebrated by joining him in laughter and applause.

For me it's easy to forget that this stuff is GREAT. The daily grind of preparing for and cleaning up after church activities, the constant pressing needs of the community, the seeming hopelessness of the conditions in the neighborhood, all on top of my own unresolved issues clutters the manger so much that it's sometimes hard to see the Baby.

But when someone comes in and sees Jesus for the first time, the clutter gets pushed out of the way and I, too, can stand in awe of Him and the greatness of His ways.

And when I can, my life again becomes its own "Open Mike" in the world as the Joy, Hope, Love, and Peace of the Gospel are lived out loud.

Lord, let me delight in You always.