A long-awaited update..

     It's been a while since I have posted. It was a very busy last semester of undergraduate classes at college. I had my nursing capstone class which was when I got work alongside a nurse and get a feel for my upcoming career. It was all very exciting. No finals this semster as I only had one other class. Another thing that happened was a new friendship with a wonderful young lady who is a child of God as well. It has been such a blessing to me.

     Since the first of December I have been doing a devotional that was written by Ann Voskamp (and in case you don't know who that is, just look her up by clicking here).  It has been a lovely study and such a joy to unwrap God's greatest gift for us.  The tree is up and decorated. We light delicious smelling candles up every night, all around the house.  It has been a great start to the Christmas/Advent season.

A last-minute Christmas post..

      This past Christmas I found myself thinking a lot about Mary.  She was younger than me when she had a firstborn child. Just thinking about that makes me wonder what it must have been like to the young teenager. She was given a task that surpassed any burden we would want to carry.  It was almost impossible to comprehend and scary to face.  She was a virgin, and a poor one at that.  What would people say?  What would they think?  She could be labeled insane or even stoned to death for adultery.

      The angel explained that nothing was impossible with God (the birth had to happen, so she had to be living).  So I wonder, did she know that she would not be accused of adultery and be stoned?  Did she have courage that someone would believe her?  When the angel left and she had traveled to her cousin Elizabeth's house she was filled with JOY and PRAISE. She was glad for this opportunity.

May we be humbled this Christmas season at the incredible humility and joy of Mary's response.  The calling of God is a gift and we see a meaningful example of that in the story of Mary. Merry Christmas to all (and sorry for posting this so late).

Then Mary said, "I am the Lords servant. Let it be to me just as you have said." 

Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38 CEB) 

The Christmas Glow..

the glittering white snow,

the snow covered trees,

the crisp biting wind,

the peace, the joy, the laughter,

the simple story of the first Christmas

that is the Christmas glow. 

An Act of Courage...for Christ!

Courage..it can tear your life apart and build you up, all at the same time. I never knew what it meant to have courage, until I read "The Pastor's Wife" by Sabrina Wumbrand. Twelve years ago she passed away, but her story still lives on and is very inspiring. There is one specific story that I will always remember:
     Her and her husband, Richard, agreed to go to the parliament building (where there was a meeting called the Congress of Cults) to speak out against the Romanian government who wanted to make it a "religiously free" country.  4,000 people of all different religions watched as ministers, rabbis, pastors, and priests came up to speak. Most of them shared how happy they were that the church was coming under one roof. Some shared how scared they were, but then would end up agreeing, with sayings of flattery. 

                  "It was if they spat in Christ's face. I could feel that Richard was boiling. 

                   So, I told him what was already in his heart and said, "Will you not wash

                   this shame from the face of Christ?" Richard knew what would happen:

                   "If I speak , you will lose a husband." 

She replied to that, "I don't need a coward for a husband." Silence fell upon the crowd as he stood to speak and as he spoke the whole atmosphere changed. The audience began to applaud and soon the Minister of Cults cut the wires for that microphone. But the applauding continued for many minutes and during that time Richard and Sabina were able to exist from the building. They had feared arrest after the meeting, but God had his hand on them. Instead of arrest, they had crowds gather in the streets for quick, but moving street meetings. 

I highly recommend reading this book, along with Richard Wumbrands book: "Tortured for Christ."

God's Beauty...

I went to a friend of a friends blog (http://jeremyparish.blogspot.com/2013/02/picture-post.html) and saw these beautiful photos. They captivated me right away, so I combined my favorites to make my own picture/background for my computer screen. 

Have a very Merry Christmas!

The hustle and bustle throughout the streets..the candles shinning in windows..the music flowing through the house...the smell of christmas dinner being cooked on the stove..the warm fire to lay/sit near..the laughter and smiles being passed around the room..the glittering snow that covers the trees outside..

All those things are nice and probably light up the whole house with a warm, homey glow. It makes everyone feel right at home. But, that is not the reason why we celebrate christmas every single year with all our families. JESUS is the true reason we celebrate Christmas. It's his birth into a lowly manger so that he could die for our sins; that's the real reason. Sometimes with all the things going on we forget that...and I don't want that happeneing this year. And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to forget that either. May God bless you and your families this year! 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

~ Isaiah 9:6