“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'” (Luke 2:10)

Most of the time, we’re waiting on good news of some kind. We’re checking our inboxes, hoping for the call or the text, and scrolling our social media feeds. Maybe we’re waiting on something monumental, or perhaps just a little happy moment.

What good news are you waiting for?

The announcement of a milestone moment in a loved one’s life? The baby to be born? The job offer or promotion? A notification from the airline that the price dropped and now you can afford that vacation? Amazon to say the package has arrived?

Sometimes we wait for a long time for a particular piece of good news. Other times we don’t realize we were waiting until the moment arrives and we feel realize we’ve switched from anticipation to rejoicing.

When Jesus came, people like Anna and Simeon who had been waiting a long time rejoiced in the promise at last come true. Others, like the Shepherds, were struck with surprise.

But the good news was good for all, and it still is.

Whatever good news we’re waiting for or will simply rejoice in when it’s announced, it’s just a small taste of the good news declared on the first Christmas.

We call good news “good” when it:

• Meets a desire or need
• Changes something for the better
• Gives us hope for the future

Considering the criteria, Jesus is the ultimate good news!

Jesus is the ultimate good news!
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His promises and presence meet our deepest desires and needs. His life, death, and resurrection changed everything for the better, making the way for us to have a personal relationship with God. Jesus gives us such hope for the future that whatever we struggle with today, we can look ahead with courage and anticipation that all will be good in the end.

The good news of Jesus can change how we wait today.

Thinking about some good news I’m hoping and praying for lately, the good news of great joy announced back in Bethlehem changes how I wait. I don’t have to wait cynically, because my greatest needs and desires are already met in Christ. If it seems nothing is changing for the better, I can trust God is making everything new in the everlasting way that matters most. Maybe the future looks scary and challenging to me, but what’s guaranteed in Christ is worth rejoicing in!

How about you? When you consider the good news of Christ, how does the way you wait for other good news change?

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LINKUP is open. Join my friend @bethanymcilrath to rejoice in the good news of Christ and consider how He changes the way you're waiting for other good news this Christmas. Share your blog! #RechargeWednesday
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Born the first day of December, I enjoy celebrating my birthday in the same month as Christmas. Every year my special day proves fun-filled and momentous. And since it’s my birthday, I smile if I want to…smile if I want to…smile if I want to.

But where did the expression “Let’s paint the town red!” originate? And how exactly does one go about it when celebrating?

Painting the Town Red

I found a plethora of answers. Here’s a few:

• From Google, Go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly; celebrate, have a party, live it up, have a ball.
• Go on a drinking bout; get drunk. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire (The Free Dictionary).
• Violence. Dating back to the 1800’s, an article in The Phrase Finder, “The allusion is to the kind of unruly behavior that results in much blood being spilt.”

It’s sad that a phrase of merriment is associated with drunkenness and violence.

Still, there’s no unruly behavior going on when the Friday’s celebrate. For my birthday, keep in mind the glitter and sparkle of painting the town red. Besides the birthday girl, yours truly, the entourage of red painters include: my husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and mother-in-law. No doubt, we’re a wild and crazy bunch.

The Red Blood of the Lamb

A powerful Bible story describes “much blood being spilt” to paint the town red. In Exodus 12, the Israelites put blood from a lamb without blemish on two doorposts and the panel above the door of each house. The Lord’s Passover.

It gave protection from the final plague God brought on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt for refusing to release His people from slavery. Every firstborn male, people and animals, would die.

“When I see the blood I will pass over you and I will not destroy your firstborn children when I smite the land of Egypt” (verse 13, TLB ).

After that fatal night, Pharaoh let the people go. So the Lord instructed His people to celebrate the Passover every year.

Red for Christmas 

Years later, a perfect Lamb without spot or blemish once again provided passover blood. Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. Physical death may strike, but spiritual death cannot touch those in Christ.

Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. @FridayKaren #celebrate #Christ
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“But [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19 AMP).

In December, my birth month, we also celebrate the birth of Jesus. Joy marks the occasion and God, the Father, smiles. Because when we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection.

When we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection. #Christ @FridayKaren
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Let’s join God’s celebration crew; spread the glad tidings of Jesus; share the good news of the gospel, and proclaim that much blood was spilt to give us life.

Let’s celebrate! And let’s paint the town red!

Link up is open! @FridayKaren looks at how to paint the town red at Christmas by joining God's celebration crew, spreading glad tidings, and proclaiming that much blood was spilt to give us life. JOIN us and share your blog.
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