For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you! Here’s week 2:
What is the purpose of your purpose? God has created you with a purpose on purpose, but how do find that purpose? I honestly think that when some of you are asking what is my purpose— you are actually asking to be loved, or maybe you are even asking for recognition. There may even be some of you, that like me right now, your just starting out in life and really have no idea what your purpose in life may be. You are just taking one step of faith at a time! You’re striving to step in faith until you achieve your purpose. The definition of purpose is, “The reason for which something is done or created.” I want you to know that your purpose started before you were ever created in your mothers womb. Your purpose started in the heart of God! So let me encourage you that even when you don’t see it, God is working on your behalf— He sees you, He knows you and He loves you!
For the entire month of March I am going to be sharing the motivating thoughts of my youngest daughter, Madison Grace. She has started a page on Instagram @motivate_with madi2. So, if you are on Instagram, check her out! I know that these will bless you, challenge you and encourage you!
Monday does not have to be mundane!! Why do we as a culture label Monday as the worst day of the week? I think it’s deeper than just something we say, but it’s something that we declare… the Bible says that we have the power of life and death in our tongue. I believe that as a culture knowingly or unknowingly we are the ones that have made Monday mundane! So I challenge you to break the cycles of culture, not only just with Monday, but with everyday of your life! Chose to speak life! We are called to stand up and stand out!! So if you want a positive environment and culture, than maybe it needs to start with you.
Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings or of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal. -I Corinthians 13:1
When it comes to communication there are so many attributes that impact what is being said and what is being heard. However, when you speak to others you should intentionally practice being kind, respectful and considerate. You should speak in love! Someone might say, “The truth hurts.” Yes, sometimes it does, but even though, the truth should still be spoken in love. Sometimes the way you talk reveals how you truly feel. You must remember that God is love and you must also remember that we will be known by our love for one another. God loves you with a faithful and steadfast love! Let’s love one another and let’s speak the truth, but let’s speak it in love.
Here Are 10 Ways to Know If You Are Speaking the Truth Out of A Heart of Love:
1. When you want to resolve the issue of conflict more than you want to prove your point.
2. When you want to hear what’s being said more than you want to be heard.
3. When you are more concerned with bringing a resolution to the conflict than you are with being right.
4. When the other person’s need is greater than your ego.
5. When you listen and truly hear what the other person is saying.
6. When you’re wrong and you recognize it.
7. When you’re in the wrong and you admit it.
8. When you stop saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong way, for the wrong reason.
9. When you don’t talk until you have something that is worth hearing.
10. When you consider how the other person feels above how you may be feeling.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
–Phil 3:13-14
“Now Then” is a statement that is used for getting someone’s attention when you are starting to talk about something new. It’s a phrase used to interrupt or redirect what’s being discussed so that you can discuss or consider what is more appropriate or important. “Now Then” is also a statement that can connect the present with the future. Therefore, what you do today will impact tomorrow. What you do now, will determine what happens then. Yesterday is behind you. Today is surrounding you. Your future is in front of you. Ask God for insight, wisdom and clarity and then take a moment now, and reflect upon these scriptures below.
My Lord, you have been our home forever and ever. You were God before the mountains were born, before the earth and the world were made. You have always been and will always be God! You bring people into this world, and you change them into dust again. To you, a thousand years is like yesterday, like a few hours in the night. Our life is like a dream that ends when morning comes. We are like grass that grows and looks so fresh in the morning, but in the evening it is dry and dying. Teach us how short our lives are so that we can become wise. -Psalm 90:1-6, 12
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” -Philippians 3:12-13 TPT
Now is this instance. Then refers to a specific time. It can refer to the past, or it can be referring to the future. The moment you have now, is all about building a brighter future. A future that glorifies God and benefits those with whom you come in to contact with. Learn from the past, but live in the present moment while believing for a brighter future.
There are really only two realms of reality that we live in, or live out of:
Our Past…
Our Future…
The present is never a realized reality, because the moment you realize that it existed, it’s gone! In a split second, it no longer exists. And now is gone the second you say it! However, you must remember, it’s not about minutes; it’s about moments. When you seize the moments that matter, those special moments that are contained in each day, you will help create a better tomorrow, while securing a brighter future. Philippians chapter three and verse thirteen shines some light on how to do this.
3 Things to Consider From This Passage in Philippians 3:13:
(1). Realize. (2). Remember. (3). Reach.
1. Realize You will Never Have it All Figured Out. (The starting place of realization is admission [an act of admitting or the fact or state of being admitted. *Admitting your need, your weakness, your sin, your addiction, or your shortcoming, is the gateway to victory and the doorway to freedom.
7 Things to Admit and to Realize:
I’ve not arrived.
There are things I don’t know.
There are things I could be better with, and better at.
I don’t know the answer to every question.
I don’t know the solution to very problem.
I can’t understand everything that happens.
I don’t always know the right thing to do or the right thing to say.
*Phil.3:13 (*But this one thing I do) You may not have it all figured out, but you may have one thing that you do know or that you can do.
Learn from the past, but forget the bad times, the sorrow and the regrets of yesterday.
Learn from the past, but break the cycles and patterns of the past that created what you didn’t desire, so they don’t reappear in your future.
Learn from the past, but don’t carry the burdens, sorrows or regrets of the past into the present, or into your future.
2. Remember the Past is the Past. Forget the things that hinder your future progress, or that keep you bound to the past in a negative way; especially the things that bring disappointment and discouragement in regards to your future.
Don’t Allow These Things to Hinder You:
Regrets (what you did or said)
What you did.
What you didn’t do.
You can’t change the past. But, if it has been forgiven, than forget it and trust God for your future.
Don’t allow what you can’t control; to control you!
Unforgiveness(what other people have done or said)
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
It takes faith to give and receive forgiveness.
Not forgiving doesn’t cause harm to the other person, it causes harm to you.
Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the offense, it releases you from the burden of carrying the hurt.
Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender; it brings freedom to the offended.
Jesus said, “Father forgive them, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Not forgiving will keep you tied to the past you’re desiring to forget.
YOU MUST LEARN TO BE:
Thankful
Grateful
Content
Comparing and complaining will keep you from being content!
Live in the present and make the most of every moment.
Don’t take life or yourself too serious.
Always be a work in progress that is always growing and ever learning.
3. Reach for What’s Next and What’s Best.
(But don’t miss what’s right beside you) – I think that Paul is saying that he’s trying to move ahead by reaching for what matters and forgetting what doesn’t.
The last always looks better than it really is, the farther you move away from it. (*The good old days)
When don’t feel like you have anything to look forward to; it’s easy to look back.
When it Comes to Your Future You Have to:
See it! (you have to see it first)
Say it! (say what you see)
Seize it! (take hold of it)
To reach means to: strain, stretch, risk and change.
Stretching will help you reach higher, and go further.
The greater the risk the greater the reward.
Nothing ever changes without change
Stretch yourself and reach higher!
Don’t get distracted with things that don’t matter!
Celebrate small victories along the way. *(God created things “in time”, not in one day, and every time He did He said, “it is good.”)
Enjoy life, glorify God, and love people.
Good intentions won’t get you there.
Intentions are what you intend to do.
Strategy is a clear plan on how to accomplish what you desire.
Your strategy, not your intention, determines your success.
Many people intend to spend more time with their family, to be less scattered at work, to manage their time better, to ensure their top priories get accomplished, but they haven’t found a strategy to get them to that place.
Set goals and prioritize what truly matters.
Stretch yourself and dream big.
Be open minded, but, stay focused on what truly matters.
“Now Then” You Must- Learn from the past – but forget the bad times, sorrow and regrets – You can’t change what has happened up to now, but you can determine what happens from now on. *Admit
“Now Then” You Must- Live in the present – Make the most of every moment, don’t take life or yourself too serious- make as many memories as you can. Always be a work in progress- always growing and ever learning. *Forget
“Now Then You Must- Believe for the Future – Reach for what’s ahead. Set goals and prioritize what truly matters. Stretch yourself, dream big, be open minded, and stay focused on what truly matters. *Reach
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
12 Ways to Live in Freedom:
1. Learn to forgive and realize that you have already been forgiven.
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.” Matt. 6:14-15 MSG
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Col. 3:13 TEV
2. Learn to have constructive conversations.
You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. Instead, a be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. Eph. 4:31 NET
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit– you choose. Prov. 18:21 MSG
3. Learn to encourage others.
The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; He makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do. Is. 50:4 NET
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Rm. 1:12 NLT
So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. 1 Thess. 5:11 CEB
4. Learn the art of not complaining. [especially about the things you permit.]
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Phil. 2:14-15 ESV
5. Learn to keep your word and to be honest.
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Col. 3:9 NLT
A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold. Prov. 22:1 GWT
6. Learn to be kind.
May God pour out His love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. I Thess. 3:12
Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. Eph. 4:29, 31-32 CEB
7. Learn to live out “the golden rule.” [do unto to others, as you would have them do to you.]
Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Rom. 12:10 MSG
“Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you.” Matt. 7:12 CEB
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had toward you. Phil. 2:3-5 ESV
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:10 ESV
8. Learn to NOT argue or to feed an argumentative spirit.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. II Cor. 10:5 ESV
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom. 12:18 NIV
9. Learn to resolve unresolved issues.
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry– but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Eph. 4:26-27 MSG
10. Learn all the facts before you come to a conclusion.
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Acts 16:27 ESV
11. Learn to build bridges; not walls.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Prov. 3:27 ESV
And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I’m staying right here at my post praying for you and teaching you the good and right way to live. I Sam. 12:23 MSG
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Eph. 4:23 MSG
12. Learn to concentrate on what truly matters.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3 NLT
Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. I Cor. 15:58
You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:14-17
Luke 1:26-44: In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
In this Weekly Word on Wednesdays that happens to fall between Christmas and the New Year, I wanted to talk to you about trust. Trust is not an easy thing. Trust has to be earned. Trust can only be given by permission. Trust is risky. Someone said that trust is the most expensive thing in the world because it can take a lifetime to earn and only seconds to lose. Someone else said that being trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. Trust can bring with it a lifetime friendship or a lifetime lesson. However, trust is something that is at the very foundation of the Christian faith. As a matter of fact, faith is trust. We have to trust that God is and was and is to come. We have to trust that God sees everything, knows all things and we have to trust that He can do anything. Trust is a major part of faith. We have to trust that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us and that through Him we can be born again and be in right standing with God. And at the center of our faith we have to trust that God will work all things for our good.
For me heading in to 2022 there are lots of areas where I will need to trust God to what only He can do. I will need to trust that God will work all things for my good. And I need to trust that He sees what I can’t see. I need to trust the fact that God and His Kingdom are bigger and better than the government, the economy and the world’s kingdoms and that it is greater than cultures way of doing things. I have to trust that God sees me and that He knows what is best for me and my family. I have to trust that even in my foolishness that God is faithful because He can not be anything else- that’s who He is- He is faithful! The beginning of all things is trust! And as Christians we have to believe that God is and that He has always existed and that He created all things. We have to believe that God created mankind in His image. We have to believe that He became flesh and dwelt among us and we must believe that He is God with us! We have to trust that Christ rose from the dead on the third day and we have to trust Him for salvation by grace through faith.
It’s amazing that at the core of the Christian faith we are asked to trust that God has always existed, that He created the world and that He created mankind in His image. And, we have to trust that Jesus was born of of a virgin and that He walked the earth and was tempted in every way like we would be, yet He knew no sin. But, He became sin for us and our belief and faith in Him makes us righteous, which means that our relationship with Him puts is in right standing with God. All of these things are a matter of trust. Every one of these scenarios demands that we believe what we can’t see and that we believe what would otherwise be impossible to believe, except for God! In life when we are faced with impossible situations or things that don’t make sense- we must trust that the same God who has always existed, the one who created the heavens and the earth. The One who made a way where there was no way. The One who can make the crooked places straight and the One who can make streams in the middle of a dessert. The alpha omega, the beginning and the end. The everlasting God and faithful Father. He is faithful and He is all powerful and He can do anything! Therefore, He is God and He can be trusted!
The scripture above found in Luke recounts the story of the birth of Christ. It deals with several scenarios and matters of trust. Below are the people in the story that had to trust God and trust one another. And below that is a list of areas where we can all grow in trust and deepen our faith and then at the bottom of the page there is a prayer that you can pray. I’m believing that 2022 will be your best year yet! God is faithful and you can trust Him!
The People in the account found in Luke that had to trust God and trust one another:
Mary had to trust the Angel of the Lord.
Joseph had to trust the Angel of the Lord.
Joseph had to trust Mary.
Mary had to trust herself.
Their friends and family had to trust them both.
Mary had to trust Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had to trust the impression from the Holy Spirit.
Zacharias and Elizabeth had to trust the angel of the Lord and *the timing of God.
Zacharias and Elizabeth had to trust the angel of the Lord and *the timing of God.
Mary and Joseph had to trust God and His timing. *(the census which led them to Bethlehem the city of David / the flight to Egypt which led them to Nazareth)
Some things to remember when it comes to trust:
An inconvenient interruption could be the intersection for increase… TRUST!
Sometimes everything goes wrong for the right reasons… TRUST!
When things feel like they are falling apart, they could be falling into place… TRUST!
Areas where we need to trust more:
Trust God is who He says He is.
Trust God loves you for who you are.
Trust God for Salvation through Jesus.
Trust God with your future that may be uncertain, difficult, or unknown.
Trust God that He is a God who is with you.
Trust God that He will work all things for your good.
Trust God that He sees everything, knows everything and can do anything.
Trust God when you’re faced with an inconvenience.
Trust God when things don’t make sense.
Trust God when others don’t understand.
Trust God when He shows up unexpectedly and surprises you.
What do you need to trust God with today?
PRAYER: Lord, give me the courage to step outside of what is safe and comfortable as I trust You to cover me with your all-sufficient grace. Holy Spirit teach me how to grow my capacity to handle life’s challenges from a posture of trust and expectation of good. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me, even when I don’t see it- you are my refuge and my strength and with You, all things are possible! Amen.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. -Luke 1:18-25
The people of God had great hope and expectation for the promised prophecy for a Savior. For God to come and redeem mankind back to Himself. However, in all of their expectation, I can’t help but think that they didn’t expect this promise to be fulfilled in and through the baby Jesus.
God sent an Angel to speak to Mary, the virgin who was engaged to Joseph. She surrendered to the words of the messenger without hesitation, but she still had very little understanding on how this would all be accomplished. Nonetheless, her obedience accomplished God’s plan. The seed form the Holy Spirit was planted and her womb was now alive with the promised possibilities of God and His love for His creation.
Joseph was a righteous man who honored Mary and trusted God. He took in to consideration what would be best for his fiancé, while being obedient to the words of the angel who had appeared to him. The angel told him that what was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit. He told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife.” Joseph named the baby as the angel of the Lord instructed him to do.
Jesus would be His name and He would save His people from their sin. Jesus, born of a virgin would be the Savoir of the world and fulfill God’s redemptive plans for mankind. He is also Emanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” God’s promise was fulfilled. Angels sang, shepherds saw and a Savior was born. God became flesh and we beheld His glory full of grace and truth!
And the Grinch raised his glass and led the Who’s in a toast, “To kindness and love, the things we need most!”
the Grinch *2018
Maybe Christmas is a Little Bit More
Every year in elementary school before our Christmas break they would roll a tv that was strapped to the top of a cart into our classroom and connect it to the small cable box in the corner of the room. We would watch that little square box that was strapped on that stand- intently. We watched Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and my favorite, Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town! And of course, we would watch the Grinch, that’s right, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” However, it was the original cartoon, with little Cindy Lou Who and the animated Grinch himself. This was before Jim Carey did his incredible rendition and before the new animated version that came out in 2018 from Universal. Nonetheless, I have felt like for years that the Grinch has been given a bad rap. As a matter of fact, I actually believe in many aspects that he actually nails the consumerism mentality of humankind. Nonetheless, I also realize that although the story was entitled, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”– he could never truly steal Christmas itself. The Grinch stole the people of Whoville’s stuff, but he never actually could and he never truly did steal Christmas. He stole their stuff, but not Christmas or the spirit that was in their hearts. And, as we all know, Christmas is not about stuff! Therefore, no one could ever actually ever steal Christmas! That’s because it’s about a person, not presents. And, it’s a matter of the heart, not a matter of getting more stuff. It’s about love and hope and giving and sharing and caring! The Grinch took their stuff, but he couldn’t take what was in their hearts. Therefore, the people of Whoville forgave the Grinch for what he had done. And it was their joyful, grateful singing and the spirit of Christmas that made the Grinch’s heart grow that day. He had a change of heart and returned their gifts. He was then invited to dinner by those whom he had done wrong. It was a glorious day of reconciliation and the Grinch’s heart grew and he became a different person, all because of joy, love, forgiveness and generosity. Here’s the truth of the story for us: We’ve all done wrong. We’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yet, God pursues us like Cindy Lou Who pursued the Grinch! He pursues us and He loves us! And, He forgave us through Christ Jesus and by grace through faith He made a way that we could be made right with Him. Then He invites us to the table to sit with him and to be part of the family, just like the people of Whoville invited the Grinch to eat with them on Christmas Day. So with all of that being said, the Grinch couldn’t steal Christmas, he could only steal their stuff. He couldn’t steal what was truly in their hearts and he couldn’t change his own heart, only love and God can do that. The Grinch had a heart problem and in all actuality, it’s always a heart problem when you’re dealing with things like: greed, anger, jealousy, resentment and unforgiveness. A heart that contains these attributes in reality is limited and small. The Good News is- God and His love can change a heart and make it grow! God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. And that’s what Christmas is all about and that’s “Why the Grinch Couldn’t Steal Christmas.” So, I end with the words of the “How the Grinch’s Stole Christmas” narrator’s words: “It came without ribbons- it came without bows. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store- maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.” So, no one could ever actually ever steal Christmas! Not even the Grinch! That’s because it’s about a person, not presents. And, it’s a matter of the heart, not a matter of getting more stuff. It’s about love and hope and giving and sharing and caring! Christmas is about Christ! It’s about God giving us the greatest gift of all, His Love and our salvation through Christ. Maybe Christmas is a little bit more…
*[Below is a link to a message I did back in 2018 after our family went to see the new Universal animated version of the Grinch- click the link if you would like to see the message]