“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 ‭NIV‬‬

Today many of you will be taking advantage of great black Friday sales with just five Fridays till Christmas. Today some of you may be putting up and decorating a Christmas tree with just thirty days until Jesus’s birth. In this verse from Luke, the Angel is telling the shepherds of Jesus’s birth. He is bringing news that will cause great joy.

Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year long. They are a symbol of new life, hope, and eternal life. On this faith-filled Friday, I hope we can remember that Jesus is the true source of our everlasting joy. As we go about our day and the coming weeks, let’s look for the simple and ordinary things to remind us of the reason for the season. I encourage us all to worship with Thanks Giver by Crowder. Some of the lyrics sing, “You make joy out of simple and ordinary things. You fill life up with stories I’d never think to dream”. Will you allow God to fill your days with new faith-filled stories?