{"id":1011,"date":"2025-12-05T00:08:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T08:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2025-12-01T20:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T04:24:11","slug":"dec-5-christmas-countdown-day-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-5-christmas-countdown-day-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Dec.5-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 5"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em><u>BEAUTY<br \/>\n<\/u><\/em><\/strong><em>He has made everything beautiful in its time<\/em>. Ecclesiastes 3:11<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Today&#8217;s Thought:<br \/>\n<\/u><\/strong>Beauty is all around us, we just need to take the time to stop and look for it.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cNever lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God&#8217;s handwriting &#8211; a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.&#8221;\u00a0 &#8212;<\/em>Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Today\u2019s Action: Stop&#8211;Look&#8211;Listen<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\nLook for the beautiful things God has placed in your world today. Sometimes they may just be small things, like the laughter of a child, a tiny flower, a bird singing, a sunrise or sunset, a friend&#8217;s smile, or a piece of art. If you take time to stop and observe, you will surely see or hear something beautiful, then, when you do rejoice that you have experienced them.\u00a0 Appreciate and enjoy them, giving God thanks for creating beauty.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>LOOK FOR BEAUTY:<\/strong> Keep your eyes open today for one beautiful thing God wants to show you.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>APPRECIATE BEAUTY<\/strong>: Appreciate and give God thanks for the beautiful things He has created and placed in your path today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>ENJOY BEAUTY:<\/strong> Enjoy the beauty whatever it may be&#8211;a sunset, a rainbow, a child&#8217;s smile, a flower, whatever God gives you today&#8211;enjoy it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Only 20 days left until Christmas!\u00a0 Make each one count!<\/p>\n<p>Advent has begun!<br \/>\nVisit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilegodlovesyou.org\/advent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Advent Blog <\/strong><\/a>to celebrate it with daily scriptures this Christmas season.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9SGLY Ministry www.smilegodlovesyou.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BEAUTY He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 Today&#8217;s Thought: Beauty is all around us, we just need to take the time to stop and look for it. \u201cNever lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God&#8217;s handwriting &#8211; a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1652],"tags":[1701,1699,1661,3,3311,1698,1703,1700,1702,1706,1705,30,32,1704],"class_list":["post-1011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christmas-countdown","tag-beautiful-things","tag-beauty","tag-christmas-countdown","tag-daily-devotionals","tag-december-2025","tag-ecclesiastes-311","tag-emerson-quote","tag-gods-creation","tag-gods-handwriting","tag-listen","tag-look","tag-sgly-ministry","tag-smile-god-loves-you","tag-stop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Beauty-Eccl.3.11.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1016,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-6-christmas-countdown-day-6\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":0},"title":"Dec.6-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 6","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"BEHOLD! Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!\u00a0 \u00a01 John 3:1 Today's Thought: If you are a believer in Christ, remind yourself today that you are a child of God! For God's word says: But as many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Behold--1John-3.1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Behold-1John-3.1.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1052,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-17-christmas-countdown-day-17\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":1},"title":"Dec.17-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 17","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"GIFT For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of\u00a0God, Ephesians\u00a02:8 Today's Thought: God's Gift of Salvation is the best gift we will ever receive! Let's rejoice and give thanks for this Gift and be sure to tell others about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Gift-2Cor-9.15","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Gift-2Cor-9.15.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1066,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-21-christmas-countdown-day-21\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":2},"title":"Dec.21-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 21","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"KNOW Be still and know that I am God.\u00a0 Psalm 46:10 Today's Thought: Be still and know... Take some time today to be still and feel His presence in amongst all the Holiday preparations. As you rush about today dealing with last minute plans and errands take some time to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Know-Psalm-46.10","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Know-Psalm-46.10.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1076,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-24-christmas-countdown-day-24\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":3},"title":"Dec.24-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 24","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"LOVE God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Today's Thought: THE GIFT OF LOVE: 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Love--Matthew-1.23","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Love-Matthew-1.23.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1019,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-7-christmas-countdown-day-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":4},"title":"Dec.7-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 7","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"BELIEVE! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be able to stand firm. 2 Chronicles 20:20 Today's Thought: 'Tis the season the world says \"Believe!\" But we believers \"Believe\" and stand firm in our belief all the time, in season and out of season. We believe that Jesus\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-Believe--John-3.16.17","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Believe-John-3.16.17.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1027,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/dec-9-christmas-countdown-day-9\/","url_meta":{"origin":1011,"position":5},"title":"Dec.9-Christmas Countdown\u2014Day 9","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"December 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"COME TO HIM Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. --Jesus\u00a0 Matthew 11:28 Today's Thought: Jesus says: \"Come\" so,...stop all the shopping and baking and come...spend some time with Him. Unburden your heart. Rest in His arms. Enjoy His peace. For,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Countdown&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Countdown","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/christmas-countdown\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CC-ComeToHim--Matthew-11.28","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ComeToHim-Matthew-11.28.jpg?fit=375%2C326&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1011"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1872,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1011\/revisions\/1872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}