Christmas is over, the tree, the lights, the decorations are being boxed up and stored away for another year. The Christmas spirit gives way to the daily grind, the stress of paying bills and meeting deadlines. The spirit of love, hope, and joy that we’ve experienced over the past month begins to fade.
This year I intentionally put some Christmas decor in my office to bring some holiday cheer to a place void of hope (I may be over exaggerating a little). My small gesture grew into a Christmas village that encompassed a 6 foot table in my office. 
This week I began to box up the Christmas village. As I did, it was a sad time. The village was therapeutic and relaxing as I watched the train go round and gazed at the lights twinkling in the buildings and street lamps. As I packed it up, I wondered what I could focus on in my office when things got rough and I needed something to brighten my day. It got me thinking about how people seem to package up the hope, love, and joy of the season along with the decorations.
As we begin the second half of the Awana year, many will lose focus of the hope and joy that we have in Jesus. They will focus on the trials of life, that disruptive clubber, the long nights, etc. It will be like they packed the holiday spirit, and Jesus, up with the Christmas decorations.
My prayer for you as we enter 2018 is Romans 15:13…
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
As I sit in my office, I need to remember the hope that I have in Jesus. It isn’t the train, the fake snow, or the lights that I packed up, it is Jesus; and He said that He would be with me always.
When the trials come, remember the hope, the love, and the joy of the Holiday season, because they come from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
