Happy New Year!

"Come near to God and he will come near to you". James 4:8

May this year bring you peace, love, happiness and most importantly closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year!

A Child Is Born!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is the time of year to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. It's the most wonderful time of the year and my most favorite holiday! I love everything about the season; the decorations, the lights, decorated trees and Christmas carols all put me in a good mood. 

But the reason I love this time of year the most is that (almost) everyone recognizes that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. I have made a conscience effort make this a priority in our family so that we don't lose focus of the real reason for the holiday. One thing we do is make a "happy birthday cake" for Jesus and celebrate his birthday on Christmas Eve. Another way to teach the kids about the birth of Jesus is by having Nativity scenes around the house for them to play with and set up.

I LOVE nativity scenes and have several up around the house. I have some that the kids are allowed to play with and arrange and then I have a few that are breakable and off limits to little hands. 

The kids take turns arranging the sets daily.

My mom gave me this one my first year of marriage.

My dad made this ceramic nativity. It's my favorite!

I hope and pray that you will take some time this Christmas to share the love of Christ with your friends and family. A love so strong that God sent His ONLY son to earth, to be born as a baby and to live a sinless life, then to die in our place and to take the punishment of our sins on His shoulder. 

That is what Christmas is all about! 

Merry Christmas!

Shine Bright!

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

Earlier this week I was talking to my dear friend Joanna about a troubling situation, she said something has stayed on mind all week. Something to the effect of "those in darkness run from the light". That brought clarity to me about the situation I was dealing with and gave me something to think about.

This morning I woke up thinking about being a light for Christ and what all it means. It means that people will think you're weird and different and they will make fun of you. They will try to find ways to upset, hurt and be mean to you. Because they don't like the light. At church this morning we heard a great message talking about the same thing. When you follow Jesus the world will hate you. You may even be persecuted. The dark world hates the light of Christ.

The closer you draw to the Lord, the brighter your light will shine and the brighter you shine for Him the more the world will hate you. Expect it. Pastor Aaron used an analogy that Mark uses with his football players. Mark always tells the guys "don't worry about it when I'm getting on your case (in practice), worry when I don't because I don't waste my time on those who don't play". Pastor Aaron said almost the same thing but in the spiritual sense "don't be upset when the world persecutes (that means you are doing something for the Lord) but worry when they think you're normal".

I have found that the more I seek the Lord and the more I depend on Him during this trial the brighter my light shines for Him. There will those who run and hide from the light because the darkness hates the light. But you never know, they may just come to know the Lord because of your light.

So Shine Bright!