Thursday we ate lunch at Mama's, Friday we ate lunch at Mimi's, and Saturday everyone came to my house to watch the ballgames. Today- I took a well-deserved nap between two church services and almost finished decorating.
Tonight~ my children are decorating a gingerbread house that their elves brought them last night... I love that they giggle when we talk about the elves... it's okay though... they know how much I love them!
And this is what Christmas is all about... love... I'm so glad we are at an age that they know when to act like they have sense. All those hundreds of candies and they are trying so hard to make this elf house precious.
*I'm just rambling about religion on this next part... maybe they will look back one day and know that I prayed for them every day and wanted big things for them!
Today at church we looked at Matthew 1. I have read Matthew several times, but as our preacher stated... we usually skip over the first verses. It's all about genealogy. Verses 2-16 are all names listed from Abraham to Jesus. Jesus really is a miracle... but God knew it from the beginning. Tripp also pointed out that many of the people in the lineage were not good people. I wrote in my Bible that saving grace isn't passed down because of your family name. It's all about my decision... I can't make my children's decision for them, but living in a way that is pleasing to God and being a good example is a good way to start. Life sure is easy when God is the only person you have to please.
Tonight we looked at the birth of Jesus... it was a controversial situation~ we know we would be the same way with Mary... "yeah, right... you are a virgin and you are pregnant... shame on you"... Mary had faith... she believed and relied on God to get her through the situation. We should all have that much faith. This fall I read a great book called The Women of Christmas... it is fabulous. I've been in the Christmas spirit since I opened it. Mary went through a lot... so did Joseph for staying with her. I think they are perfect examples of a man and a woman who stuck with each other through thick and thin... which brings me to the miraculous part of the story... the birth... no science can explain... prophets told of the story from the beginning of time... and it came true. All the stories match up... while some are hard to believe, we only need to rely on our faith to understand and explain. I can't fathom everything that happened long ago, but I do know the spirit living in me gives me a peace and comfort like no other. I hate that it took so long to truly know this.
I'm reading a book now called Lazarus Awakening, One part of the book talks about when God talks to us. I'm not sure that I can ever say God has spoken where I heard a voice, but I do know that I have feelings that I think God leads me in directions to think about. A few weeks ago, our pastor made a statement at the end of church. He told us to pray for those people we weren't exactly excited about seeing at church the next week. I kind of giggled, but each morning that week, I wrote down names of people in my journal who got on my nerves. My list was from work,family, and church. My list was extremely long, and I decided that if anyone ever got my journal I would tell them I just felt led to pray for them... but in reality, I looked at each of those names and found that I was holding bitter feelings toward them. And it was only hurting me... I prayed for my heart to get over those feelings... and to smile... be nice... and find comfort in also praying for them each day.... it was fun by the end of the week! I think God told me to do it... He knew I was struggling with that. I had also been writing in my prayer journal about a work situation... one morning I was very specific with my prayer and the next day I got my answer as clear as I could. The entire time the person was talking to me all I could think was~ "God... are you serious... you just answered me and I didn't even think you were listening... I was just whining... and you answered!"...
I needed that little boost of energy from God... I'm being even more specific in my prayer requests to God now... and just like Mary was told in Luke 1:37~ For nothing is impossible with God! So those children decorating elves in the kitchen without fighting, and the husband who has helped me decorate for Christmas this year, and the daddy who is getting better each day... I know that God hears me... I know that he loves me... and I know that this Christmas is going to be great! My hope is that no matter what gifts are given, or what parties are held, or what food is prepared that each day of this season is filled with a thanksgiving for a little baby born who gives me a peace, comfort, and joy like nothing else in the world.
Katie Britt and Ben~ I want you to love Christmas for the real reason... I want you to hear the story over and over each year... and I want you to find something new each year in that story. It amazes me that at 44, I am still listening to the same story and finding new peace, comfort, and joy from it each day.
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