..Well, this weekend was a very exciting weekend. My birthday was on sunday, Dec. 6th and I turned 20! I can't believe I am not a teen anymore...it does not feel any different but it definitely sounds different, and by that I mean older (but in a cool way :]). My beautiful Mama and my lovely neighbor, Mrs. Dance came to Denton to celebrate my birthday with me. We had a great time. They made dinner friday night then saturday we went to the galleria in Dallas! :] I am so thankful that God has given me 20 years of life to live and serve him.
I guess you are wondering what the title of this particular blog is referring to, so now I am getting to the point! It is Christmas time and I love this time of the year. However, the past few weeks...especially the past few days, I have been extremely convicted about what I am really celebrating. I must admit that I am a huge sucker for Christmas and everything that it involves. I love all the lights and decorations. I love the Christmas trees, the ornaments, and the warmth it brings to decorate the house with family and friends. I love the weather, how it gets cold and gives us hope that we will wake up to snow on Christmas morning. I love the nutcracker ballet and all of the Christmas performances put on by schools and churches. I love love love Christmas music (yes, I am the one to listens to it even before Thanksgiving). I love all the Holiday drinks at starbucks even though I never get them because I am afraid to try something other than my regular, and comfortable, hot chocolate. I love how a Christmas tree looks with all the beautifully wrapped gifts under it and the look on people's faces as they unwrap them. I love the spirit of giving and the joy that it brings to people. I love all of the Christmas movies...especially ELF! I love Santa Clause and everything that comes with him. I love Christ. I love that God sent his son; "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" Colossians 2:9. I love that he was incredibly selfless, loved us so much, that he gave his life for us on the Cross because he wanted us to live a life where we are not tied down by our sin or have to carry the burdens of it; but could live a life in freedom proclaiming God's beautiful and glorious name and loving others. I love that Christ provides for us, that he never forsakes us and keeps his promises when we fail him each and every day. That is what I lose sight in every Christmas because I get wrapped up in the worldly holiday that is centered around selfishness. Yes, there is giving but that only lasts for a month and it is a giving in which we expect something in return. Why can't we give each and every day? Because that is what we should be doing as Christ's disciples. I am convicted because James talks about having a friendship with the world and once we have that with the world than we are becoming an enemy of God. "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4. If I love all the materialistic and worldly things of the Christmas holiday then I am not showing my love for Christ.
I pray that this Christmas we are able to see CHRIST and focus on him and not everything else. I pray that we are excited to spend time with our family, and that we are excited to give to those who actually need things and give it selflessly...not expecting anything in return. I also pray that we don't do these things only once a year but every day strive to live as Christ's disciples, devoting ourselves to others, having a joy that only comes from Christ's Spirit in us, and truly understanding the Christmas story and his life here on earth. :] We are incredibly blessed.
Thank you for reading and letting me share. I hope ya'll have a great week. :]
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