Happy Birthday Jesus!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas! I hope that all of you are enjoying a relaxing day filled with family, friends, and the love of Christ. I had a great time celebrating the reason for the season these last couple of days with my family and friends through dinners, church, dessert, and presents! I am so blessed!

This morning was especially great, not only because it is Christmas, but because I am so blessed to have a family that knows the Lord and the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This morning our family woke up to pray and sing some worship songs before opening any presents. It was great to get centered on God and be filled with Him, instead of the things of this world. In one of the songs we sang the words really hit me and instantly I knew I had to post them on the blog for all of you to read. They once again reminded me in a simple way what today, tomorrow, and the future is really all about...Him. Today is not about the Apple products you received this morning, or the Cinnabon's you ate for breakfast, or Grandma's sugar cookies (well maybe about the sugar cookies :)), but truly about Him. Let's live our lives so that He and others can see the light. Let these words sink in today and really hit you.

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You
All about You, Jesus"

Beautiful One.

"Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words." 2 Corinthians 9:15
On Sunday night, my boyfriend David, a few other couples, and I went to San Francisco for his companies' Christmas ball. It took over an hour from my house to get to the city and another 30+ minutes just to find parking in the pedestrian crazed city. We knew the exact parking garage we wanted to get to, but with all of the traffic and one way streets we couldn't seem to get there. We ended up parking a couple of blocks away from where we needed to be, which was fine--except for the fact that once we got out of the car and started walking we were so confused on where we were, we started walking the complete opposite direction to where we actually needed to be!

This doesn't seem like a huge deal--and to most people it wouldn't be, but to me, on this night, I was frustrated and the whole situation had gotten the best of me. I mean just picture me walking in heels and a dress, in a windy city surrounded by strangers, praying that my hair doesn't go flat! To be quite honest, I was getting ticked that I couldn't figure out where we needed to go--I'm normally so direction savvy! We finally found our way to Union Square when one of the other couples wanted to stop and take a picture in front of the famous SF Christmas tree that was decorated beautifully (this of course only added to my mood--as I wanted to get to where we were going and out of the cold!). As we stopped to take a picture, to the left of us was a larger crowd than normal, and a big group of kids on a stage of cement stairs. The kids were dressed in Santa hats and jackets and we simply thought, "How cute! They are going to sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (and all of those other "holiday jingles" that leave Christmas and Jesus out of the lyrics)."

We were wrong however. As I took an antsy deep breath to calm myself down from the chaos of what was going on around me, the kids started to sing. It was no song about checkin' it twice or jingling bells, but what they sang changed my heart and re-focused me for the night. They began..."Wonderful, so Wonderful, is your unfailing love. Your cross has spoken mercy over me. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, No heart could fully know, How Glorious, How beautiful you are."
(see full lyrics here: http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/jeremy-camp/beautiful-one.html)

Thanks to those kids and one of those God moments, I realized the real reason for the season. We weren't going to this work party to celebrate holiday bonuses or free giveaways (and not to mention an outstanding dessert bar), but instead because we are blessed that God has provided people with jobs so that they can provide for their families. We were there to celebrate the love of friends, the laughter of loved ones, and more importantly the joy of Jesus' birth. I'm so thankful that those joyful children were in the hustle and bustle of Union Square praising the Lord. I'm even more thankful that God sent his one and only son for you and me, so that we can have everlasting life in Him. Let's not be so focused this week on getting our Christmas gifts and other Christmas errands completed on our timeline--you may miss how beautiful and wonderful He really is. Breath in, look around, and you'll see Him right there in front of you...with all of the wonderful gifts He provides daily.

Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE!" Philippians 4:4

What a simple, yet great verse to revel in today. Rejoice! What an awesome way to live your life--being content in ALL circumstances. I will keep this blog short today because I am excited at the task laid in front of me...calling me (and you) to rejoice.

Let's read one more verse on what Paul has to say about rejoicing:

"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillippians 4:10-13

Rejoicing in the African Monsoons

Show Me The Money.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

content: satisfied, not wanting anything else

never: not ever, at no time, absolutely not

It's Christmas Season in America. This means a couple things. 1. Greedy, 4am, over-spending shoppers 2. Ridiculously over-sized, bejeweled, Grandma sweaters everywhere (no offense Grandma) 3. More and more people forgetting about the real reason of the season and concentrating more on gifts and spending, than on Jesus. (4. Can't forget the Salvation Army Bell Ringers and Red Buckets--yes I've already put my time in ringing at Nordstrom's last weekend!)

Call me Grinchy, or maybe I'm just fed up with repeatedly getting caught up in our Americanized version of Christmas cheer. I hate the feeling that our society is consumed with money and having more of it. The best Christmas' are the ones where you receive contentment from giving, with no expectation of getting, where more money is spent on others than yourself, and even more of that money is given to a good cause (check out http://www.oxfam.org/ for ideas).

96% of Americans celebrate Christmas, which means a major majority of Americans are scrambling to buy presents, fighting the crowds, and waiting in 12-hour lines for the newest gaming system. It doesn't make sense that 96% of Americans "celebrate" Christmas, yet we have to be overly careful to who we spread Christmas cheer too, that God can't be mentioned in schools without lawsuits, and that guns are being used to shoot others in churches on Sundays. To me it doesn't add up. If this so-called 96% of Americans are celebrating Jesus and His birth wouldn't the focus of this season be a more positive one--focusing more on Jesus and the contentment of His love for us, using our wealth and contentment to help others who truly need it?

Enough of my rants and raves, because despite what our culture turns Christmas into, God is still here. He loves us and forgives us despite our Christmas shortcomings and could care less about the present we get our beloved Christmas-sweater wearing Grandma as long as our intentions are pure. He is here through it all...through your online shopping obsession (yes--Americans spend over $26 billion bones online for x-mas), to watching endless reruns of A Christmas Story with you (I can hear God agreeing with "be careful you'll shoot your eye out!" and disagreeing at the purchase of a leg lamp), and you better believe He is enjoying that tall glass of cold milk and gingerbread cookie right beside you (or should I say tall, non-fat, two pump, extra hot, gingerbread latte? :)). Here to love us, forgive us and to never, ever forsake us (despite our spending habits). ANY OF US.

BE PATIENT LIKE THAT.

"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's arrival. You see farmer's do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do it's slow, but sure work. BE PATIENT LIKE THAT. Stay steady and strong. The master could arrive at any time."

James 5:8 (Msg)

The above picture is a view of Kenya from a road that overlooks this beautiful-God made land. It is hands-down the most lush, green, and mind-blowing scenary I have EVER seen in my entire life--and may ever see. Before my trip to Kenya this summer, I pictured Kenya to be this dry, over-sandy, deserted place filled with dying people living with in-humane conditions. God suprised me--and my wild running imagination was fortunately wrong (thank goodness for the above picture to remind me what it's really like!).

Instead, Kenya was filled with life, happiness, and a culture strongly rooted in richness and openness...not to mention beautiful scenery in most of the places we visited. More than the scenery though, I want to focus on the people there. They are people of patience and faith. They have nothing, yet they have everything, especially if they have God. Many know that God is Master, that He is a provider and protector, and that He is in all things. They stand firm in these promises knowing that the Lord's coming is near, despite their circumstances, living conditions, diseases, etc. Just like their richly developed crops and lush land they have waited so patiently for all year long, their faith also holds patience, trust, perseverance, and is deeply rooted in the one true God.

Before I wrap this up, let me give you a few real life examples of the Kenyan patience that I observed to see how we too can take our daily lives and fill it with a patience and firmness rooted in God.

1. A Kenyan boy I met wanted an education so bad, that at age 19 he started 1st grade (Not many Americans would do that)!
2. A young woman dying of AIDS, laid patiently in a hospital bed, (with another sick patient sharing the twin bed) telling me that she was a believer and that the Lord would either heal her soon or take her to heaven (I know what it's like to have a bad cold--and I don't even think that--I can't imagine having AIDS and having that great of faith)!
3. We built a goat pen for a large family who literally had nothing except for their faith and a small mud hut (see picture below). As we finished building the pen and put the goat inside the family gathered with us for prayer and thanksgiving. Telling us that the Lord had answered their prayers and that they were so thankful. They too, stood firm, trusting patiently in God and He came and answered them (at that moment, with Kenyans and Americans in tears, worship, and prayer in their native language, with Kenyans telling us that they would see our faces in heaven, I realized how BIG God is---wow)!

"Be patient and stand firm, for the Lord's coming is near." James 5:8

I Will Not Be Silent Anymore!

(My Family At A Christmas Dinner A Few Days Ago)

It's that time of year again. The time of year when non-believing, anti-christian, "holiday" celebrating people complain when people say Merry Christmas. Half of the people who are offended by Christians saying this are the same people who are celebrating Christmas day with gifts and family and are thankful they have a couple free days off of work and an excuse to eat as many cookies as they want.

Seriously though, I'm not sure what irritates me more. These anti-"Merry Christmas-ers" who only want Americans to spread "Happy Holiday" cheer or the Christians who won't stand up for their faith, to be proud and thankful enough to say, "Merry Christmas" in case of offending co-workers, the check out clerk, or a neighbor you see only on Sunday nights taking out the trash.

What happened to the days when it was okay to say Merry Christmas without a fear of others taking offense and politely returning the holiday cheer with a warm smile, genuine thank you, and a merry x-mas to you too?! I must admit that I too had gotten caught up last year in the second guessing of my Christmas expressions, for fear of offending someone, until my pastor mentioned it in a sermon. He clearly and boldly proclaimed that we as Christians and Americans have the RIGHT to voice our faith and let others know the reason for the season is Jesus Christ! AMEN!

So, let's not get caught up in what our Jewish boss may think, how the wal-mart checker may react, or how our ba-hum-bug neighbor may avoid Sunday trash talk for the month of December. You never know when God could be using you to speak to these people and spread joy into their lives! Instead, let's be loud and proud, and not be silent anymore--spread the great news of Jesus' birthday, dance in your candy cane pajamas and slipper socks, sing off-key Christmas carols with joy, put baby Jesus in the manger (family tradition in my house---long story--I'll save it for another blog), and give thanks for the real reason for the season---Baby Jesus!

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent...Oh Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"

Psalm 30:11-12

Beautiful Baby Mollie.

Great news! One of my best friends from high school, Lonnalee, who has been married for almost 2 years now to a wonderful man named David, just had their first bundle of joy on Sunday! They had a little girl and named her Mollie!

How exciting it is to see others lives change and grow, to see blessings and gifts from God given to the people you love. God is SO faithful and his timing is perfect. He knows each and every desire of our heart, and fulfills them in due time. What a great Daddy!!!

Today I'm going to dedicate this blog to Mollie with a verse that to me, reflects God's love for us, gives us a strong sense of comfort, and fills our hearts with peace (just like a newborn baby). A verse that whether you have been walking with the Lord for years, are a new Christian, or are simply just reading this blog out of curiosity, --I think this verse will meet all of us exactly where we are today. Just as little Mollie is resting with her mama, rest in this verse. Read and re-read it a few times to get a full understanding of what it is saying. Take comfort in the biggness and smallness of this verse, see the simplicity and be okay with the complexity, knowing that our God is a mighty, loving daddy who is always with you whether you are sleeping, playing, in the wrong, or ready to do right. He is there to guide Mollie's life and ours with a love deeper than our understanding!

"The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

*The quote below was posted on Lorri's Cancer blog page, and I thought it fit perfectly for today.

To Mollie and You Faithful Readers:
"The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you". - Fredrick Buechner