...and a Happy New Year!

Well, I had a great time visiting my brother in Susanville this Christmas. We had a lot of fun quoting our favorite Christmas movie lines, like from Elf... "You're not Santa!... You smell like beef and cheese!... You sit on a throne of lies!" Hahaha. Plus it snowed! A real White Christmas!However, it is always so bittersweet. We laugh together and cry together but then we leave, which is the hardest part. Fortunately we got to be together... even if it was just for a few hours.

And now, as I sit on my couch plauged with Strep Throat and a temperature of 103 I am pondering my inevitable "resolutions" for 2011. While I usually tend to focus on the physical (loose 20 pounds, establish a significant savings, get out of debt), I am thinking that this year I would like to look at this from a different angle...

In 2011 I would like to focus on growing in areas of weakness in my life. I resolve to grow in contentment, patience, wisdom and discipline. As I petition the Lord to grow me in the areas, and as I follow His moving in my life, I am anxious to watch Him grow me into a woman more like Him.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5

May you all be blessed in the upcoming year.

A Merry Christmas?

While my mind is flooded and invaded with Christmas to-dos, gift ideas, cookie recipes... I keep having this feeling of apathy. Blah. Why am I not feeling jolly? Where is my Christmas spirit?

After reflection I realized that Christmas to me has become a sad time. Since my brothers terrible accident was in December, this month just leaves me with memories of horror and sadness. Ya, I know, not very elf-like. Over the past few days I have been actively reminding myself what Christmas is really about. As much as Target and Amazon would like for us to think that is about materialism, and as much as the liberal world would like us to think that it is about family and warm snuggles, it isn't. Christmas is about our Lord humbling Himself to become a man. He let go of all of His Heavenly awesomness and lived like a human. In the dirt and heat.

...and the reason why He did this was to accomplish the Father's role for Him here on Earth... To die for the sins of humanity.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

And this is what I find joy in this Christmas. Despite having a brother who will spend this and many Christmas' to come in prison, despite any hardship that I can endure or even imagine, Jesus died for me. He endured this opposition for us... so that I will NOT grow weary or lose heart.

Thank you Father for sending your Son to this Earth. Merry Christmas.