What is your favorite part of Christmas?

Over the past week or so, I have been asked to share with different groups my favorite part of Christmas. It could be a tradition or what I would choose to cherish if the holiday was reduced to one thing, etc...

As I reflected upon this holiday and the season, I began to think of my favorite moment each year...

It is the moment on Christmas morning when the house is quiet. Everyone else is still in bed. (Our kids do not wake up early to open presents, they actually sleep in. I will explain this tradition in another post.) I go to the area of the house where our tree is set up, I grab a cup of coffee and my Bible. I make sure the Christmas lights are on and occasionally I will also light a candle.

And I sit in the silence...This is it. This is my favorite moment of the Christmas season. It is actually my favorite moment of the year.

For me, this is the first moment of the season when there is nothing pressing. No more services to plan for, no more special events to attend, no more shopping lists, no more presents to wrap, nothing but peace and silence with Jesus.

Each year as I sit in the silence I ask God to reveal something to me through those quiet moments. I read Luke 2: the Christmas story. And each year He shows up and speaks to me.

For example, last year I was a few weeks removed from back surgery; one that did not work, so I was still in pain. Because of my surgery and the pain, I didn't decorate the way I would have liked. I couldn't wrap the presents so Aaron did it. (And he doesn't do it like I do.) And my Christmas tree had a strand or two of lights that had stopped working. Needless to say it was a bit discouraging to sit in the silence last Christmas morning. In fact, I was crying before even opening my Bible. But as I read the story of Christ's birth, I heard God speak to my heart, "I came". "I came for you. Not for lights and perfectly wrapped gifts, not for the decorations, I came for you."

This year, we are in the process of moving. Since I have been sharing my favorite moment recently, I began to worry about this year. Would I have a tree? Would I be able to find the decorations? Would the shopping get done? Would I have my moment? And then it hit me: Worry robs us of peace! And that is really what my moment is each year. It is peace. And peace is ultimately found in the fact that Jesus came. So no matter what the surroundings, I know my moment is going to happen. And it doesn't have to be just a moment. It can be the reality of everyday.

Day of Blessings (12-4-15)

About 5 1/2 years ago, God called our family to a new place. He asked us to follow Him in obedience and move away from our family and friends. While He did not ask us to move to another country or to move to a place where life would be drastically different culturally, He did ask us to make a difficult move. And we obeyed.

After moving it took an additional two years for our home to sell, thus creating a new dynamic for our family: long term renting. Over the past five years we have lived in three different rental houses. We have never really settled into a home because we knew that even if it were for a few years, it was temporary.

Well, God has provided and allowed us the privilege of buying a home. Tomorrow we close on the house and we anticipate the freedom to make it fully ours. Our prayer is that God will allow this structure to be a place of safety and blessing to our immediate family but to many others as well. We want to give this house back to Him so that He might be brought glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15

Would you please join us in prayer tomorrow? We ask that you please set aside some time to make tomorrow (12-4-15) a day of blessings for our new house. While we do pray that the closing will go smoothly; we would ask that you pray that as we establish more permanent roots in our community, that God will be made known in and through our family. Pray that we have opportunities (and act on them) to talk about our amazing God. Pray that our home is one that offers safety and hope. Pray for whatever God lays on your heart...

And thank you!!