Zechariah 14:20 – On that day even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: Holy to the Lord. And the cooking pots in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred as the basins used beside the altar. (NLT)

I love to listen to Evie Tornquist — and I especially love to hear Evie sing "Come on, ring those bells".

For those who do not know this beautiful Christmas song, it portrays all the joy and bliss we should take delight in over the Christmas holiday, as we celebrate the birthday of Him who is the King of kings.

Evie sings beautifully about the fact that everyone loves to set aside this special holiday season, spending time together, enjoying their family, and sharing lots of love and happiness as they light the Christmas tree and "ring those bells", remembering that it is Jesus' birthday.

Christians love this blessed season and many enjoy giving and receiving special gifts, gifts that often provide both giver and receiver with the pleasure of knowing that the gift is just what they wanted. Of course, everyone also loves the thrill of eating too much chocolate, fruit cake, and turkey. It truly is a time to ring those bells.

Yet, what really takes place in our lives after the glitter of the Christmas tree lights disappear, the tinsel loses its glow, and families go their separate ways, returning home to face the bills and disappointments that will be part of their everyday living in the coming year? Are we, as Christians, still able to ring those bells, the very same bells that guided us over the Christmas season, bringing joy and bliss into our lives? Are we, as Christians, now able to face the year ahead because we know that the Babe in the manger now sits on the right hand of God the Father and is there to guide us through the unrest, disappointments, and illnesses that will invade our lives in the coming year? Are we, as Christians, able to say, "On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand" as we endure the unknown, remembering the great event that we celebrated, ringing those bells but a few weeks or months earlier?

This is where our faith in the living God comes in — faith in Him Who thought it not demeaning to be born in a manger and give His life for us all — faith in Him who is there to guide and direct our path, if we but call upon His name in the coming year.

Let us always remember that He promises that He is always, always there, whether it be in happy times when we are ringing those bells, or in sad times when we must lean on the everlasting arms.

Prayer: Lord, may You give all those who read this a very blessed new year, remembering Your wonderful promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. May we continue to ring those bells and live lives "Holy to the Lord" as we enter a new year, and make You the unknown guest in every phase of our lives in this coming year. Amen.

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