Don't Let the Busyness of the Season Blind You

Cleaned from the live recording. Lightly edited for reading.

Pepper pot before Christmas

You may have your seat, and put your hands together for yourself.

(He thanks the men who worked on the building up front.) I said to Elder Jermaine and Elder Washington, please try to finish it before December, because once we enter December, the first week, the wives start making demands and the husbands get scarce in the building. I understand that, because we all go through it as husbands.

It's a pleasure being here this morning. I was surprised when I looked at the date yesterday and realized it was the 20th. I said to myself, wow, five more days to Christmas. I didn't realize it was so close. So I said to my wife this morning, I want to eat pepper pot before Christmas morning. Normally when August reaches I start feeling like eating pepper pot, but because of time and different reasons this year I had to wait until closer to the season. So I'm excited. Excited to eat, but not to decorate.

Tell somebody next to you good morning. No, somebody who's not from your household.

I noticed Elder Esther put me on at 10:00 on the dot, and I smiled, because I know what's happening. She needs to go home too and continue where she left off. So I'll make sure I'm very brief this morning.

Clueless shepherds

Let us turn to Luke chapter 2, verse 8. In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-11).

A few verses before that, you see the Son of God was born. And you notice that in the midst of it happening, there were shepherds who were clueless to the plans of God. They were in the vicinity where God was doing something extraordinary, but they were not aware of what was happening.

I want to say to you, as we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, in all that we do, the black cake and the sponge cake, the pepper pot and the garlic pork... I know, I mentioned garlic pork in church. Some people start to think about paganism, that we eat pork. If you don't, just pray for us. As you prepare the ginger beer and the other things, as you decorate, sometimes we get so caught up that we fail to see the great things God is doing in our midst.

Move past the infighting

So I want to encourage you this season: celebrate. And for those who still think the celebration of Christmas is a pagan holiday, pray for us. But if you pass by my house and see a Christmas tree, I wouldn't chastise you.

I think as Christians we should move past those frivolous infightings. It has nothing to do with salvation. Sometimes we waste time beating down our brothers and sisters about who celebrates, why a Christmas tree, why celebrations. And we miss the greatest story.

While the shepherds were concentrating on their work, their sheep, their income, our heavenly Father was aware of what was happening. He was so invested in it that he planned a long time to give mankind a great gift, and he tracked that gift throughout eternity. The angels watched, and they were able to say to the shepherds, right in your vicinity a child is born, a son is given (Isaiah 9:6). God did something extraordinary that will bless the entire earth.

Busy and still listening

I want to challenge you, because sometimes we wait for the Old Year's Night message to hear from God. But as you eat, as you drink, as you clean, as you celebrate, as you tire yourself out, and nothing is wrong with that, I want you to be vigilant in the spirit. Inquire of the Lord in all that's going on. Lord, what are you doing? What have you planned for me? I know your thoughts toward me are always good (Jeremiah 29:11). You're always looking to bless me. You have a great future for me. I don't want to miss it.

Tell your neighbor: you can be busy and still be blessed. The shepherds were busy, but God did not overlook them. You can be busy but still listening. The angels spoke, and the shepherds heard. The angels appeared, and they were aware.

In this whole season, as you clean, you can say, Lord, what are you saying? As you set up the lights, you can say, Lord, you brought light to the world. Bring light to my life. Bring light to my family. There's somebody experiencing darkness at this time. Maybe death, maybe sickness, maybe the loss of a job. Lord, bring some joy. Bring some light to their life. You can make it fun. You can be cleaning and still be in the spirit.

You can be tasting black cake and thinking, Lord, I'm enjoying this now, because next year when I start to fast... or in the latter part of the year when I start to fast. I thank you for being good to me in all seasons. Eat, drink, be merry. Don't kill yourself, though. Don't overdo it. But be merry.

Don't be guilty

When you're enjoying yourself, remember the scriptures. He came. God sent his only Son, and he announced him with fanfare. Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.

Don't be guilty. As you eat, don't be guilty, but have a heart of gratitude, a heart of thanksgiving. As your taste buds celebrate, let your spirit join in too. I'm not just enjoying food. I'm enjoying this because God did something extraordinary for me. I'm celebrating.

My mother fed the neighbors

Celebrate. Remember friends. Remember family. Remember me. You could send me a piece of cake. I love black cake.

I remember when my mother was alive, on Christmas Day when she cooked she always made sure the neighbors got something. She'd send something here and something there. She didn't just cook for the family. She made sure she shared what was prepared in the house.

When my wife bakes, she sends for my father. I know he looks forward to that. It's a great blessing to have a wife like that, because sometimes I don't care whether it's Christmas Day or a normal day. It doesn't really matter to me. So when you have a wife, a family like that, who can help you cherish and celebrate these days, it's a blessing.

You'll miss the noise

Enjoy the fireworks. Enjoy the noise. I can tell you, as you grow older and mature, you miss the noise when the children aren't there, when the family isn't there. So sometimes when I hear noise at 12, 1, 2 o'clock in my house now, I say to my wife, leave them. Let them have fun. You cherish these moments, because you know what it's like when it's silent. You put on the TV just for noise, for company. Cherish your family in this season. Cherish friendship.

One thing I'm realizing more and more: there's nothing like family. Something got me vexed this morning, and I put it out of my spirit very quickly. I said to myself, wow, boy, you're maturing. This is the way it should be. Why dwell on unnecessary things? Look around at your family and tell them, why dwell on unnecessary things? I know all the children will say it loudly to the parents. You have permission this morning.

God celebrated his Son

It's interesting that God sent his angel to announce, to declare: I've released someone into the earth realm who will bring the earth joy and excitement. God celebrated his Son. We can celebrate our family too.

Look at them and tell them, no matter how crazy you make me sometimes, you're my blood, my family. I love you. You're the best. We wouldn't trade you for anybody else.

God celebrated his Son. The angels celebrated the birth of Christ. We need to learn to celebrate one another. Learn to applaud one another.

Notice, when the angels came, they did not say to the shepherds, God sent his precious Son to the earth, but we know you'll kill him. We know he'll suffer. Sometimes in family we focus on the negatives. But this Christmas season I want you to do like our heavenly Father and like the angels. Focus on the positive. Focus on what brings joy. And I hope this will be a message for the whole new year. Focus on what brings joy in the family.

The missing apple

So even if you go to the fridge and the grapes have disappeared, and the one apple you tucked away in the corner, because they ate everything else out, is missing too: celebrate the positive. Find something to cheer about.

My wife would normally say, when you fret because you go and don't find something, allow them to enjoy it. Allow them to eat. If they're sick, they can't eat. I would normally fret, because I'm the type of person who doesn't remember food. If I put something down and say I'll eat it later, sometimes a week after I remember, oh, I put this thing in the fridge. And when I go to it, I hear, Daddy, I thought you didn't want it anymore. It would have spoiled.

Pick up the phone

I'm saying this for the persons who have hurt you. Nothing cuts as deep as a best friend, a good friend, or family hurting you. Pick up the phone this season and give them a call. Let it go. Forgive. Just let it go.

Announcements and pronouncements

When the angel came, he brought glad tidings of great joy. That's what God will be doing for you in this season. You'll experience joy. That's what I declare over your life. His glory shone around them. You'll experience the glory of God. You'll experience the goodness of God.

Just as the angels and the Father were paying attention to his Son, God is paying attention to you. He knows exactly where you're located. And there are announcements and pronouncements he is making over your life in this season that will favor you, bring you joy, bring you good news.

I'm looking out this season for pronouncements of good news. Declarations over my life that bring joy. Visitations of angels. Visitations of God that will transform my life. Like the shepherds, there's something I'm looking forward to next year, and the Lord will announce it before the year starts. Say, announce it, Lord. Announce my package.

There's nothing like Christmastime when somebody who hasn't called you in a long time calls. Some good uncle or auntie calls. Or you look outside and see a vehicle pulling up, and you know they're carrying cargo. You're going to hear announcements from heaven that will make your heart glad. Whether it's healing, joy, freedom, deliverance, whatever it is, there's a package God has planned for you and will deliver to you in this season. It's time to receive it.

So when you eat and drink, do it with thanksgiving and celebration of something wonderful the Lord is doing in your life. He gave his angels charge over us (Psalm 91:11). He set them as ministering spirits to help the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). One thing I know: God is always concerned about our well-being. I thank him for bringing me joy. I thank him for angelic visitation.

Some of you are going to give to strangers this season, and you'll be surprised that those you thought were strangers were actually angels you entertained unawares (Hebrews 13:2).

Declaration

Let us stand. Everything the Lord has planned for you in this season, I declare you will receive it. You'll access it. I declare this Christmas, this holiday, will be one of joy. You will not enter the new year with disappointment. You will not enter the new year with bad news. You'll enter the new year with pronouncements of joy and favor, and the glory of God shining on you. It doesn't matter what's happening in other places. The glory of the Lord will arise and shine on you (Isaiah 60:1). You'll be a people of favor, a people of glory, a people who enter the new year with bounty and with joy. I declare your January will be one of the most favorable, fruitful and prosperous months for you, in Jesus' name.

It has been amazing for us. I don't know if it's the fasting, I don't know what it is. But in February our fridge is normally full. The things we intended to use up in December are still there in February. And it's not that we short ourselves or hold back. So when people talk about January being a guava month, it will be your most productive. God will set the tone for you in January. A month of favor, a month of breakthrough, a month of open doors. When people are struggling, people will be blessing you. People will be finding ways to give to you, in Jesus' name. God bless you.