Winter is the time for snuggling under blankets, getting cozy in front of the fire, and . . . awards. Each year, powerful tastemakers in Hollywood celebrate the previous year’s success by staging elaborate award ceremonies.

The star-studded events are glamorous – women shine in (mostly) gorgeous gowns and men are decked out in tuxedos. Average folks like you and me, can’t walk the red carpet or sit in the same room with the swanky set.

However, you can go to Vanity Fair’s After Party for the paltry sum of forty grand.

I gave up watching these shows when they got too political, but I do enjoy looking at the gowns online. The other day I listened to a guy being interviewed on the radio who’s well-known for picking Golden Globe winners.

As I did, a thought popped into my head: I will never ever receive an award like this. No one is nominating me for anything. I’m not particularly talented and I’ll never get a Lifetime Achievement award, unless they start giving them out for laundry. I won’t have a star on my dressing room door and no golden statuettes will sit on my shelves.

But I’m ok with that because I’m a star in God’s eyes, and so are you!

As believers, we have something much more valuable – we have Jesus himself. We’re members of God’s family, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we have eternal salvation through Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 tells us exactly how “gifted” we are: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 

Read that again. In Christ, we have every spiritual blessing available in the heavenly realm and we have direct access to the God of the universe.

How amazing is that?

So as we trudge through the winter months – hiding those few extra pounds underneath bulky sweaters – take some time to meditate on God’s promises.

The glitz and glam splashed across our screens is temporal. God doesn’t tally up our achievements or pick winners from a select group of people. Shiny baubles and swag bags are meaningless objects in the grand scheme of life.

We are already stellar as far as He’s concerned and our reward is stored up for us in heaven.

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, You reward everyone according to what they have done.” Psalm 62:11-12