christmas time.

I've been reading Luke 2 over and over again this week. The chapter itself isn't that big. Its size certainly doesn't give credit to the impact its events have had on humanity and our eternity. With Christmas just being two days away and the possibility of being stuck in Des Moines instead of traveling home to see my family and friends, the story in Luke has given me a very content feeling about the whole situation. Mostly because Christmas isn't actually about what we make it. It's about the birth of our savior. And I think what blows my mind the most is that it's not just a story.....but reality. Jesus was born. He was born with a purpose. And he was born for all. It says:

"But the angel of the Lord said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I bring you the good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a savior as has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." LUKE 2:10-11

Its actually pretty nuts if you really think about it. I could sit at my desk all day and think of all the people I know who I don't think deserve salvation because they are selfish, or always lying, or just not nice, or have hurt someone intentionally, or always have something unkind to say. I myself would certainly fall into each of those categories. I think we all would. But Christ was born for each one of us and suffered for our sins so we can spend an eternity in Heaven. And not because he had to. Because he loved us and chose to do so....in spite of the fact that we are all sometimes selfish, or liars, or unkind. It's pretty humbling when you realize how powerless and unworthy you are before the Lord. But in a good way.

I am thankful for the birth of Christ. I am thankful for His grace. And I am thankful for you!

Merry Christmas.

Thursday night our furnace broke. My bedroom was 51 degrees when I woke up and the seven blankets I had on my bed did seemed paper thin as I layed there shivering and thinking about how horrifying it was going to be to step onto the icy hardwood floors and shower in the frigid bathroom, and how many layers of clothing I was going to need to put on to keep from dying. As I battled my flesh to get up, complaining to myself about how much I hate winter, snow and everything that comes along with it....I remembered that I should be thankful that this was the first time in 25 years of living that I have been in a home without heat. I started thanking God that I have a home, I have clothes to put on, I have warm coffee to drink and food to eat, I have a job to go to and I have a car to get me there. I also thanked God that I have friends that would let me stay at their house until the furnace got fixed.

I am thankful that God uses small things like a broken furnace to build our faith, character and remind us what he has done for us.

Also, big thanks to Swilson, Haley and Lauren for letting me move in for the weekend! :)