I LOVE a party! I love planning a party; I love dreaming about a party AND making all the preparations for a party!

I have loved everything to do with a party for as long as I can remember. Before I was  even 16 years old I was helping plan and coordinate weddings. So it might come as no surprise that the photographer at my own wedding said, “This is the best planned wedding I have ever seen!”

My love for planning parties has even led me to organize city wide events. When I asked the city administrator, of the town I was living at, at the time, if I could plan a second event in the same year for our city, he voiced his concern that I would wear myself out. He was shocked when I told him, “This is like breathing air to me! I love it!”  To which he immediately replied, “You are CRAZY!”
All of my children are not like me though. My oldest has never wanted big parties or, frankly, a lot of attention about anything. He is that low-key kind of kid. If he didn’t look just like me, I would have him tested to be assured there was no mix up at the hospital! When he was told he had won a scholarship to his college of choice, he simply said, “Oh! That’s nice,” and walked away, leaving his father and I exasperated that he didn’t show more emotion. He is one of those kids who consciously has to think to smile and act happy when opening up gifts, etc. He is like a rock; solid, steady and dependable, but NOT expressive.
His sister, on the other hand, might be a little more like her momma. We are expressive in everything we do and nothing brings us more joy then planning parties and celebrating with others. We have been known to plan an adult tea party for girls just to celebrate the china we have. After all, if we have it we should use it – and celebrate! Right?
When Amy was told she had a choice: we would buy her a car, or, she could have a party for her 16th birthday, guess what she chose? ……. Yep, that’s right! The Party! – and she participated in every detail of planning it!  I will never forget hurrying around, putting the finishing touches on the party, as my eldest sat in the corner, just watching the hub-bub of it all. When I heard him say, “Mom, you finally got the child you always wanted,” At first, I was taken back, thinking he felt unloved because of the attention his sister was getting.  But he explained it was only because he knows my love for celebrating was being enhanced by Amy’s enthusiasm.
You know, the Bible talks about celebrations. The book of Leviticus is full of celebrations established by God through Moses for the Israelites.  There is the Feast of Weeks, Feast of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles, to name a few. How awesome is it that we have a God who likes to PARTY!
John Orthberg, describes Jesus as the “Joy-bringer” in his book called The Life You’

ve Always Wanted, and I can think of nothing that brings people more joy than a good party! Let me clarify here, when I say “party,” I am not meaning one where you fall out on the floor from getting drunk or so high on drugs you can’t remember what you did. No! That kind of party only provides a momentary hilarity (mostly at your own expense!) that soon fades away and is mercifully forgotten.
When we read 1 Peter 1:8-9(NIV) it says:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
It says that we are filled with joy! JOY! How awesome is that? And not only filled with joy, but filled with joy over the fact that, even though we have not yet seen our Heavenly Father, we are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY! Wow! If we are that excited about Him before we see Him, how are we going to feel once we actually see him face-to-face?
If we have truly received this gift of salvation and are in a relationship with Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we be as excited as a bride is, when she is waiting to see her groom for the first time on the day of her wedding?
Have you ever noticed that when a bride stands at the end of the aisle before walking down to her groom, the whole atmosphere in the place changes? No matter if it is held at a beach or in a chapel. The people around her stand; all eyes are on her; and the groom, waiting at the end of the aisle, looks in awe at his beautiful bride.
Isn’t that the way our lives should be, because of the relationship we have with Christ? We should be full of joy, aware that, when we walk into a room every eye is upon us, and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is watching every step we take as we walk towards Him!

Life should be lived with the same joy we have when we attend a great party. No matter what comes our way, or what distractions Satan tries to throw at us, we can keep our eyes on the groom, walking toward Him with inexpressible, glorious JOY!
I don’t care how many times I have been to a wedding, I have never seen a bride get distracted and stop, or turn around, once she starts heading down that aisle. Her eyes are fixed on her groom, and she is taking one foot and placing it in front of the other, as quickly as is customarily acceptable.
I think this is the way we should live our lives: with inexpressible and glorious joy, realizing this life is just a walk down the aisle! If we keep our eyes on Christ, there is nothing that will distract us; not the bill that comes in the mail, or the person at church who just hurt our feelings or even if our presidential candidate won or lost.  We can’t get distracted about such stuff! We must remember we are “atmosphere changers!”  The minute we walk into a room, it is our job to keep our eyes on Christ and keep walking the life he has laid before us.
I hope you will do that today, and do it with inexpressible, glorious joy! If we keep our eyes on Him, nothing will distract us or cause us to do otherwise.
Let’s Pray:
Oh dear, precious, Heavenly Father above, we ask You today to help us live our life as a party, with the joy you have put inside us. Too often, Lord, we have become distracted by the things of this world and have forgotten to keep our eyes on You. Lord, for that we are sorry and ask You to forgive us and fill us with that inexpressible, glorious joy that You give, again and again.
In Jesus Name we pray,
AMEN