Christmas

It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is over once again. This is my favorite time of year, no doubt. This year, although different than years past, was no exception. I greatly missed being with my family, but we started our own traditions. Roy and I made Christmas cookies and gave them as gifts to friends and others in the area. A few nights before Christmas, we drove up to a big neighborhood in Plano where it is decked out with lights. There were hundreds of cars driving through to see the decorations! We played Christmas music, ate some of our cookies, and enjoyed viewing everyone's houses. We were planning on going to our church's Christmas Eve service, and I was quite excited about it. However, that afternoon, we got a big surprise... SNOW!!! Yes, it was snowing and sticking!!! There hadn't been a white Christmas in Dallas for 83 years! I thoroughly enjoyed the gift that made it feel a bit more like home, even though it meant we were stuck inside. Down here, they don't have salt or anything, so when it snows, you're pretty much stuck. That night, we stayed in, watched a great movie (The Ultimate Gift), ordered pizza, and played/sang carols with Roy's guitar. We were even able to give our pizza guy a box of cookies and a card, which definitely surprised him! The next morning, there was still snow on the ground, although much of it melted by midday. We really enjoyed the morning together, opening gifts and eating a yummy breakfast of baked french toast, hashbrown casserole, and bacon. Later in the day, we celebrated my birthday with dinner and cupcakes! That night, we went to see "The Blind Side." It was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

This Christmas season, a lot was on my mind and heart. The season puts me in awe and wonder of our Savior, coming as a little baby into this world. Fully dependent. God in flesh. Songs, old and new, touched my heart again this season and brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart as I thought about the beauty of Christmas. I've always felt a bit guilty about loving this time of year so much. Shouldn't I be this excited all year long? This year, I came to the realization that it's ok and probably normal to feel the way I do. This time of year does excite me. But in a way, isn't that what it's supposed to do? Remind me. Excite me. Refill me with passion. Why did God set up festivals for His people? For remembrance. For giving thanks. For praising Him. And that is what Christmas helps me to do. It helps me to refocus, to remember, and to give thanks. If my heart's wonder has begun to dim, it rekindles the flame. It again brings me to my knees before my King. The following songs or selections especially touched my heart.

Hail the Heaven born Prince of Peace,
Hail the Son of Righteousness.
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark the herald angels sing!
Glory to the newborn King!


It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

It's still a mystery to me,
How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time
How His ears have heard an angel's symphony,
But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King,
Here with us,
You're here with us.

Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem
A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King,
Here with us,
You're here with us.

Here With Us - Joy Williams


Go to sleep my Son
This manger for your bed
You have a long road before You
Rest Your little head

Can You feel the weight of Your glory?
Do You understand the price?
Or does the Father guard Your heart for now
So You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my Son
Go and chase Your dreams
This world can wait for one more moment
Go and sleep in peace

I believe the glory of Heaven
Is lying in my arms tonight
Lord, I ask that He for just this moment
Simply be my child

Go to sleep my Son
Baby, close Your eyes
Soon enough You'll save the day
But for now, dear Child of mine
Oh my Jesus, sleep tight

Joseph's Lullaby - MercyMe



Cookie baking fun!


Sugar cookies!


Roy was excited about cookies!





One very decked out house in Plano




Our parking lot on Christmas Eve!


Our first Christmas together!

Excerpts from today's devotion - Streams in the Desert

Thankful for the Thorns

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).

The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here It is: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite."

Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him. --A. B. Simpson

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.

"Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."

Lord, help me to be grateful to You in all things. Let me find the value of the thorns You place in my life, that I may see them and respond with a heart of gratitude. May my circumstances never be shared in order to gain mere sympathy, but only in order that I might praise Your name and glorify Your work in my life.

He is faithful...

It's been awhile... it's easy to look back and say that not much has been going on in my life. On the contrary, I can see some pretty amazing things as well. God's hand has been continually moving in my life, and He continues to prove Himself faithful. I know God promises to take care of His children, but never before have I had an opportunity for Him to show me this until now. He provides extra work opportunities. He provides friends who give me their coupons so I can save more money on groceries. He provides brothers and sisters who lovingly give of themselves to provide for our needs. And that is just our monetary needs.

Many days and nights, my heart feels lonely. I'm so grateful to have Roy, and he is the most amazing husband and friend. But I miss my friends in Ohio. I miss all the dialogue about God - what we're learning about Him, what He's doing in our lives, struggles we're facing. I miss the fun and silliness of college life. In some ways, "real life" is easy. But in others, it's quite difficult. God continues to soothe my heart with His presence, even if the ache doesn't completely fade.

One way He does that is through church. when we eventually leave Dallas, Northwest Bible Church is probably going to be the main reason I won't want to go. I love my church. It's not perfect. I know that no church is. But I love it. I love the people. I love the worship. I love the messages. I love the ministries. I love this group of my brothers and sisters!!! Northwest has become a highlight of my week. I love going to church. I leave feeling encouraged, challenged, and hungry for more almost every week.

Last week, Pastor Neil continued on his Advent series. Surprisingly, we're going through Ecclesiastes for Advent. The basis is Eccl. 3.11 -He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. Last week, we were discussing being on the treadmill of life - basically how we find a way to turn everything into a job, even Christmas. I was challenged by his message in which he said, "We have nothing left to prove." I have nothing left to prove. Christ paid it all for me on Calvary. My need for competition can be thrown away. I don't have to be better than you. I don't have to prove something to you. I don't have to make you think highly of me. It's not about me. It's about Him. When I get it that there's nothing left to prove, I can truly enter into His rest. I can hit the stop button on my treadmill, safely dismount, and rest. How wonderful! How not like me at all. This continues to challenge me and I pray that it will continue to do so until it has thoroughly changed my heart and it's need to succeed that others may look at me and pay me compliments.

Lord, humble my heart and make me more like you. Remind me daily that there's nothing left to prove. Make me serve You alone.