Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-19, Luke 2:8-20, Luke 15:11-32, Romans 12:15, Philippians 4:8, James 1:17
Close your eyes and think of one of the best moments of celebration you’ve experienced. Was it winning the regional, state, or national championship with your sports team? Or nailing that tricky note in your solo? Maybe it was the warmth and wonder of family gathered together to sing “Happy Birthday” to a beloved grandparent.
Whatever the celebration, remember those moments of joy.
Joy is a deep and enduring state of contentment that is not contingent on circumstances. Joy is a fruit borne from abiding in the vine of Jesus. Celebration is a practice of joy—a habit of noticing all that is praiseworthy and rejoicing in the beauty, goodness, and truth of God and His creation.
We often hear around Christmas about the “good news of great joy…for all the people” (Luke 2:10). But it is also relevant for us right now because Jesus is with us in every moment. His sacrificial life gives ample reason for rejoicing, a reverent and delighted praise to the God who first loved us.
Celebration doesn’t take much—just a willing and open heart to Him.
I love to see and celebrate small things such as small accomplishments or victories. Life is too precious to wait for specific reasons to celebrate! God’s goodness abounds in everyday blessings, and focusing on the smaller joys makes a difference in our days.
Try making a list throughout the day so that at the end of it you can look back and see God’s presence, be thankful, and rejoice. The curl of steam rising from your coffee mug. The first breath of air in the morning. Sunlight that slants across the hardwood floor. Penning a letter to a friend to let her know she’s been on your mind.
A grateful heart ushers in celebration. And a celebratory heart is a thankful heart. The more we find to be grateful for, the easier it is to make a pattern of thanksgiving and celebration for all the ways we see God around us and for all we have seen Him do.
Celebrate the big things too! A long-awaited answer to prayer. A new job that fits your giftings. A marriage, birth, retirement, and even a memorial. All these moments lead to a significant life saturated in thankfulness to the giver of all good gifts.
Heaven rejoices when a new believer enters the kingdom of God. God Himself delights in His creation. We were made for celebration—at the coming marriage feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19) and at this very moment.
Train your eyes to see the wonder around you, to recognize the people God has placed in front of you, and to receive the grace freely given when you don’t feel worthy of it. We have plenty of reasons to celebrate, especially as followers of Jesus. He is the source of our joy.
His goodness abounds. We are known and loved. With God, there is always something to celebrate.
Written by Sarah Freymuth
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106 thoughts on "Celebration"
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Amen!
Amen
Happy Monday! What a great reminder today. I’m currently trying to plan a wedding and wow I feel like it has been more stressful than fun for me. I thought to myself and I dreamed about this day? lol. I never realized how many opinions I would deal with or trying to please everybody. I am a people pleaser at heart so I just want people to enjoy our day! I have gotten lost in the importance of what is happening trying to please everybody. This is such a minor problem but has been such a weight on my shoulders. Praying it gets easier as the planning goes
Oh friend, I am so happy for you! How beautiful it will be! What is the date?
What an exciting time! Congratulations! Just remember it is YOUR day and you can’t please everyone. Do what you and your fiance want to do and let everyone else get over it. ❤️
Perfect advice! ❤️
Exactly right, Lynne.
Amen ❤️
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I reached out to SRT about the “moderation” stuff. Thought you might like background info too, so here is the email I got today… “Thanks so much for explaining what happened! I’m sorry for the confusion, especially since you’ve experienced this more than once. When a comment shows that it is “awaiting moderation,” it means the comment has been flagged by our moderation system and is waiting to be reviewed; then our team takes a look and approves it or not. There are a number of things that can trigger moderation, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is anything inappropriate or questionable about the comment. I’m sorry that your comments disappeared without being posted. It does sound like there may be something going on with the moderation process, especially since you’ve experienced this multiple times. I’ll pass along what you shared to our team so they’re aware of the issue. Thank you for taking the time to explain everything and for your patience with us!
Grace and peace,”
Thanks for doing that, Adrienne! ❤
Thanks for sharing this. :)
Today, I’m celebrating that my husband and I went to church together yesterday. First time in a very long time. It was a church we’ve never been to before. We liked it, and plan to go again next week. Praying for a new church home.
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Good for you two!
Love this!
That’s wonderful Teresa! So glad you took the step together and it was a good experience! I pray you find a new church home soon.
I am so glad to hear that, Teresa! Praying you find your new church home! ❤
That’s great!! Glad you liked it and pray it will be your home!
Great news! Hope week 2 goes well❤️
Yay! I pray you find a home church soon.
So happy that you were able to both be in church! We all need our fellowship with other believers! Praying that this is the first step to healing from the “church hurt” you have experienced in the past!
Makes me think of one of our memory verses from a few studies back, Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Amen! ❤
Every good and perfect gift …
This day. This life. That God.
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What great verses and devotional to start a new week and a new day. I love celebrating big and small things and taking the time to reflect on the goodness and blessings from the Lord each day. It such a good habit and practice to intentionally celebrate and give thanks. I know I have shared here before that I keep a daily gratitude journal. It looks very similar to what the devotional writer shared and the beautiful list the Tami shared below – its the simple everyday things that and the big things. When our mindset and hearts are trained for celebration, praise and thanksgiving it becomes our default and especially important when we gave struggles, challenges, heartache, trials and sorrow. We are better able to see how God’s faithfulness, His hand and presence is at work and near when we have lived out celebration.
Have a beautiful day, SRT sisters. May His joy fill your day❤️
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God has been so faithful and we should praise him always! As my wedding/marriage approaches within the next month my heart rejoices all the more.
That is so exciting, Julie!❤️
How exciting!! Congratulations, Julie!
Praise Him in celebrating who He is!! Our Lord and Savior.
Amen! ❤
So thankful for all that God has done for me! We celebrated my brother yesterday on his birthday and it was a fun time of celebration! And my oldest grandson, praying with such fervor for our youth at church yesterday! Made his Nana’s heart glad!
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When reading the passage from Luke… I thought of our prodigals and how I can’t wait to celebrate their return like that father did (and our Father does!) Yesterday, we heard a message at church about finding what was lost. I am so thankful that He found us. We were lost but now are found! Amen to that! ❤️
Amen ❤
I loved this ‘practice’ reading! I was curious so I looked up the definition of celebrate. It’s one of those words that we grow up with and use without thinking – because we know what it means, right?!
I didn’t find anything revelatory. What I am pondering is that celebration is a setting aside to/in honor – someone or something of importance.
Celebration isn’t just a benefit for the person or thing being honored. It bonds the celebrants in a special unity.
In the spiritual sense, we SHES celebrate when we see a prayer answered here. That is such a great example of God’s gift of celebration. It is so important He made it a law for certain days/festivals. Celebration is not something we should take lightly either. Sorry, just rambling today!
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
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SONG SHARE: (TINA- move with me! ☺) Anybody else?!
Forrest Frank – CELEBRATION (Official Audio)
I am moving along with you and Tina!
Sweet, Adrienne! ☺❤
ABSOLUTELY moving with you!!
Absolutely awesome, Foster Mama! ☺❤
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Beautiful devotion to start the week.
Thanks be to God for all the beautiful gifts we receive! May everyone have a blessed Monday!
✨✨ what a beautiful way to start the morning
Amen!!
I love the idea of making a list throughout the day. It is not yet 7am and here is my list for today. Thank you for another day, for the beautiful sunrise this morning, for the calm and peace of the morning as the world wakes up, for my family sleeping soundly, for my job, for the rest given to me this summer so I’m ready for my first day back to school today, and for all of you beautiful women! Now just to continue this as I go throughout my day:) Have a blessed day ladies!
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Love that you have such a great list first thing in the morning!
Mine could be better! :/
Love this Tami! Have a great day back to work❤️
Have a great first day back and school year Tami! ❤️
Happy first day back to school and pray it brings many wonderful blessings, for it is such a hard job and takes lot of heart and dedication!!
GM ladies. Here is our list of prodigals. Add any names in the comments.
Isaiah 43:19 Look, I am about to do something new;
even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert
Alice V – Brian, Rachel
Kim Mullins – Tyler
Tami – Chela, Quentin
Sharon – Nicholas, Jonathan
Rebecca W – Brett, Jake, Joey, Lindsay, Kelly, Abby, Katelyn, Katie
Emma Rageth – Olivia, Ali
Indiana Elaine – Kent, Shelley
Mari V – Rick, Marta, Toby
Tricia C – David, Allison, Christopher, Lina, Travis, Nicole
Mia Faith – Parker, Isaiah, Alexandra, Griffin, Annalee, Bill
Aleida – Victor
Maddie – Michelle, Julia
Rhonda – Michael
Charlotte Hill – Casey, John, Emma
Deb – Brandon, Angel
Linda J – Matthew
Mollie – Sam
MMD – Ethan, Hayden, Rachel
Carol H – Justin, Ezekiel, Elijah, Andrew
Kari – Rachel, Josh, James, Ayano
Mi Sherry – Kaitlyn, Aaron, Will
Cheryl Read – Renee, Jason, Kayden, Kylee
Wendy B – Amy, Colton, Kirk, Nick
Anne Klinkhammer – Molly
Sue Dalos – Chelsea, Kenny
Bessie – Ben
Annie Hewitt – Annie pls give me name/s:)
Sandy Lynn – Andy
Diane – Jon, Keith, Roger, Mike
Jane K – Leah
B – M, B
Susan B – Tammy, Amy
Carla – Cierra, Stephen
Lisa H – Cora
Kimberk – Megan, Randy
Adrienne – Raelynn, Tyler, Tracy, Micayla
Brandi – Levi, Sarah, Ellen, India
Robin Bailey – Rodney, Brian
Erin L – Emerson, Zoe
Janet – Ryan, Amanda, Matthew, Stephanie
Sheryl – Adam, LaShonda
Maria J – Benjamin, Mike, Mark, Patrick
Maria B – Chris, Tristan, Madeline, Cristal, Shanty, Nicole, Luis
Melani Fryer – Matthew, Dylan, Courtney, Lydia
Therese – Ryan, Brittany, Sydney
Traci Gendron – Kara, Andrew
Jenny Carmichael – Katy
Mercy – boys in social care system
Kerry Rowley – Preston, Parker, Lindsey
Maria S – Joshua, Katie, Zoe
Melissa – Madison, Richard, Liam, Zac, Wesley
Felicia – Brittin, Tyler
Vicki – Ben, Sian
TC – Randi, Michael, Callie
Elizabeth – Trae, Xavier, Reya
Adie – Monica, Shawn, Stephanie
Susan B – Emma
Penni – Les, Jonah, Emily, Garret, Domi, Connor, Grace
Nat – Marissa, Melody
Martha Hix – Claire, Ralph, Tyler, Whitney, Trey
Phobie – Phobie, Greg, Steve, Jessie
Laura – Jordan, Taliah
April L – Molly, Becca
Karen Breaux – Brittany, Justin, Erin, Jordyn
Heather – Jack, Hudson
Cheryl Blow – Sara
Dianne – Ian
Leap – Liz, Teg, Taylor, Alison
Tara B – Clara Paige, Anna
Debra K – Stephen, Meagan, Daniel, Creg
Margaret W. —David, Matthew, Missy, Becca, Marianna
Melzie K- Jake, Cece & Elijah
Shar – K
Leala – Ryan, AJ, Sam
Jennifer – Matthew, Lauren and families
Cat-tee – A & A, K & T
K-Ann – G, T, S
Cathy McVey – Jeremiah, Brayden, Nolan, Ashlyn
Keri – Finley, Rudy, Scout, Nellie, Polly, Dottie, Goldie
Lena- Andrea, Lanie, Eiley, Everly, Schaefer
LaRae – Levi
Julie G – Matt, Katherine, Ray
AML – Jonathan, Jake, Emma, Becca
Kristin G – Brandon, Melissa
Allegra – Lydia, Nick, Micah, Jonah
Karen – Nathan, Bailey
Jazz – Blake, Zoie, Greg, Elizabeth
Gina – Carolyn, Steven
Cindy – Toby, Clarissa, Katie, Samantha
TS Woodruff – Danielle
Tammy H.- Alyssa
Danielle B – Joelle, Adam
Myra – Mitchell
Debby – Kristen
Jenn F – B&E, J&T
K – Alizabeth
Stephanie – Greg
Melanie C – Casey, Corey, Celeste, Kat
Mollie – Haley, Jeff, Rhonda
Margo – Lindsey, Drew, Lauren, Spencer
Meghan – Maddie, Brianne
Susan – Natassia
Donna – Kathy
Lena- Andrea, Lanie, Eiley, Everly, Schaefer
Donna – Linda
Melanie – Jeff, Gary, Drake, Logan, Ryan
KMC – Rachelle, Karah, Joshua
Donna- Sherry
Kelly – Kyla, Brendan
Marie S – Joshua, Carleigh, Zoe, Terry, Edie, Brady
Jenn F – K&L, B&S, J&C
Eileen – Chris
Erin E – Ava
SB – T
Mollie – Stephanie
Thank you for your prayers for our prodigals. Thankful for a phone call connection with our daughter yesterday on her birthday that felt good after we hung up the phone. Celebrating tiny breakthroughs!
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Celebrating this tiny breakthrough with you! We have been working to reestablish our connection with our daughter, too, and are grateful for the many tiny steps forward God has blessed us with over the past year.
Grateful to you Tami, for this prodigal list each week. I pray their individual names at least once a week and pray for them collectively each day. ❤️
That’s wonderful Carol…I start off strong (just like in Matthew’s list!) and then find myself falling off! But if my child was at the bottom wouldn’t that be sad??
I’ve got you covered, Rhonda. I start at the bottom and work up.
Lena’s names are on twice, BTW.
(heart)
Thank you for putting this together!!
Adding Greg, Rico, Leah, Mikey, Logan, Ryan, Stephanie, Dillon , Danae, Julie, and Sean
❤️thank you for this list and for praying
Although not mentioned in our readings for today, I love how God required His people to celebrate by folding in the feasts to their worship calendar. It is something that should be a part of our rhythm of life.
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Praying that with all you are dealing with today, you can celebrate at least one thing.
Yep, in a not a very good day yesterday, I am gonna count my blessings today.
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His goodness abounds. We are known and loved. With God, there is always something to celebrate…
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You know, God is so wonderfully amazing! I probably don’t have to tell you that, but I will tell of His goodness daily..
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Yesterday I was absolutely blessed to celebrate another year round the sun with 17 members of my family some had travelled 120 miles, left home early so they would spend my waking moments with me! Half i didnt know we’re coming!
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I totally celebrate that!
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I absolutely understand this devotional, I lived it yesterday! And then some!
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BUT GOD..
Doesn’t or hasn’t allowed me to experience this joy, this celebration for just yesterday, He has given me a memory full plus VAT at 67×100%, to look back on daily..
Ya’ll know my stories, yes, I have known great upset, great sadness, great despair, but with each downcast moment, I have also known joy. I have celebrated breathing, and still standing in the face of upset,
I have celebrated with absolute joy as we remembered and celebrated Julee, every year following her passing, because she lived, she loved, she WAS here!
I have celebrated when that despair, turned into a great moment of triumph.. not through anything I had done..
BUT GOD..
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He promised never to be far from me, whether the days are good or whether the days are bad, indifferent or confusing..
I hold that promise in my heart from my waking moment till the sun goes down, I truly have something, no matter how small, to celebrate and be thankful for, each day..
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Thank you Father God for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ who gave that we might see the gift of life in all it’s facets, shapes and form, and to ,I’ve it to the fullest, in celebration, joy and gratitude.. Thank you Lord God, Thank you..
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AMEN.
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Sharing and celebrating my joy of another year around the sun with you all..
Every blessing you beauties covered in love and gratitude for you..❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Happy Belated Birthday!
How wonderful❣️
Happy Birthday Tina!!
So glad to hear you were well celebrated and appreciated by your family – that’s a special blessing for sure.
Happy birthday Tina!
Happy Birthday sweet Tina! I’m happy to hear of the wonderful family time you had celebrating!
I appreciate your reminder in all circumstances our joy can be God is near!
Dear Tina, what a wonderful day of celebration! Wishing you a joyful year❣️
Happy (belated) Birthday Tina! We are blessed to “have” you amongst us. You are a special blessing.
Happy birthday !!
Here’s to another trip around the sun,and may there be many more in the hands of God!
Happy Birthday, Tina!
Joining you in your celebration! May it continue through the year.
Happy birthday, dear Tina! So glad you were loved and celebrated on your special day.❤️
Happy Birthday, Tina❤️✨❤️
Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet sister!!! What a powerful testament to love – your family’s to you and yours for the Lord! May you find more golden joy today! ❤❤❤
Happy Birthday dear Tina! ❤️ so happy you had lots of love and celebration!
Happy happy birthday, Tina! Glad your day was filled with family and sweet celebration!
Happy belated birthday, Tina! sounds like it was a very blessed one!
Happy birthday, yesterday! ❤️
Happy Birthday, precious Tina ❤️✝️ !!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Tina! Wishing you many abundant blessings as you move into the year ahead. May God’s faithful presence and leading be evident in your days, His love shine bright in all you do. ❤️
Happy birthday, Tina. Sending you love today
Celebrating your wonderful surprise & birthday ❤️
Happy Birthday Tina!!
I am thankful your birthday was full of joy and celebrating with your family!! ❤️❤️❤️
Abundant Joy & Beautiful Blessings,
dear Tina!
Throughout the days of your life!
So happy you had an amazing birthday celebration yesterday Tina! May God shower you with blessings big and small this upcoming year! ❤️
What a wonderful surprise! Happy Birthday Tina!!
Happy Birthday Sweet Tina!
Once, sometimes twice a year, we have a “Night of Celebration” at church where both campuses gather with most of the musicians and spend an hour or so singing praise to the Lord. It’s always such an uplifing time (even if it can be a bit loud:) to remind ourselves of who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus. I love the reminder by our devotion writer to look for the small things and be grateful during the day. God is all around us and His blessings come in a wonderful variety of means – don’t miss the chance to celebrate them!
We incorporated Praise and Worship nights once a month at our church! Something I would LOVE to do but don’t go because nights are hard to stand and praise with back pain..but I do enough Praising and singing all day long I suppose with my music playing nonstop! lol.
Happy Birthday, Tina!!! I don’t know how I missed it! Hope your day was at least half as fabulous as you! ❤️
Thank you dear Lynne.. it truly was a day of celebration! I was up till gone 1am, and not a drop passed my lips.. do I need it, when the joy of the lord is my strength., Amen.❤️