"Merry Christmas"

When I was a child, I could not wait for Christmas! It was always such a special time and I loved everything about it! My mom made Christmas so special! Even with 5 children and finances being extremely tight, Christmas was always exciting and memorable for each of us. I can’t remember the gifts I received from year to year, but the things I remember are the special times that we experienced as a family. I loved waking up on the days preceding Christmas and hearing the Christmas music playing, smelling the wonderful goodies mom had cooking, and seeing my mom on the couch reading her Bible!

There was one Christmas that will forever me embedded in my heart! This was a particularly hard year financially for our family and we were not able to afford a Christmas tree. Well, my mom still made it so special for us as we were preparing to head to Virginia to be with our family. Just a few days before we left, I went to the grocery store with my mom, and as we left we noticed the leftover Christmas trees that were still out front. There was one that was very small and didn’t have many branches. Most people would have laughed at it, but we noticed that it was only $1.99 and my mom said we could get it! We were so excited! We took it home, propped it up on a table and decorated it so special! We still, to this day, call it our “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree”! A very special Christmas!

When I was 9 years old we moved away from Virginia where all of our extended family was, so at Christmas, we would travel back and stay with my grandparents. We would go to my dad’s parent’s house for Christmas Eve with that group and put on shows with singing and acting with my cousins! Then open presents and enjoy that time with them. Then we would stay at my mom’s parent’s house and all 7 of us slept upstairs. It was a little cramped, but they are memories I will never forget! Lol! My parent’s had one bedroom and the other bedroom consisted of all 5 of us kids! Good thing we all liked each other! Haha! My 3 sisters slept in 3 twin beds, my brother on the floor, and me, well, I slept in the baby crib they had in there! Yes, that’s right! Even at 10 years old, I slept, all cramped up in that baby bed! I used to sleep with a watch and a flashlight because I was so excited to get up early! I couldn’t wait to wake up Christmas morning and see what Santa had left for me! When we all got up, the rule was we couldn’t go downstairs until all 7 of us had gone to the bathroom. What torture! Seven people using one bathroom took an eternity!

After we opened our gifts, my Granny would make breakfast and my Granddaddy would read from the Bible! Even through all the chaos of Christmas get-togethers, we all settled down and listened as my Granddaddy read to us about the meaning of Christmas!

As a child, I would get caught up in the materialism of Christmas but foundations were being set by my mom & grandparents of what Christmas really was all about. Not the gift that was wrapped under the tree, but the Gift that came in the form of a baby! That Gift was the Messiah!

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Even before I was born, God knew I needed a Savior and he sent his son!

As an adult, it can be easy to get caught up in the materialism of Christmas. Are there enough presents for everyone?; Did I get what everyone wanted? But, as a parent, I want to set the foundations for my kids as well! I want my children to know what the true meaning of Christmas is!

Oh sweet Lord, forgive me for getting caught up in the chaos! Christmas is all about you! You are the Reason for the season and all glory goes to you and you alone!

My heart is overwhelmed as I sit here this morning and read my Bible! In the quietness of this moment, with the Christmas lights on, I have a love for my Savior that goes beyond any love I could ever have for anyone or anything! He came for me in the form of a baby and walked on this earth and endured death and the cross only for one purpose…for me (and you)!

So on this eve of Christmas, I let go of everything and grasp on to my special Gift…my sweet Savior! He set the standard for giving and receiving and I will focus on him! My prayer for all of you is the same! May you relish this Christmas in the true meaning and find sweet peace in your wonderful Savior!

Merry Christmas!

Allison

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I really love this time of year!  I am one of those people who could listen to Christmas music and enjoy the tree lit up all year long!  The older I get, I still feel like a child at Christmas!  I enjoy the Christmas spirit of those around me and I love spending time with family and friends.  I love giving gifts, having “cookie day” with my mom and sisters, and spending hours watching every Christmas movie that was ever made.  Yes, I really am a sap for those cheesy, romantic, Christmas movies!  I love seeing the joy on my children’s faces as they open their gifts and snuggling with my husband by the beautifully lit tree as we listen to Christmas music. For me, it really is the most wonderful time of year!

But today, I sit here with only two weeks left before Christmas and my mind ponders the question,

What was going on in the minds of Mary and Joseph with only two weeks before the birth of their son, the Savior of the world?

Wow!  They didn’t have the comfortable surroundings that most of us had before the births of our children.  They were on bumpy, uncomfortable roads traveling around 70 miles by donkey to a town to pay taxes.  For me, at nine months pregnant, I wasn’t traveling 70 miles anywhere by luxury car much less on a donkey.  But here they were, on the roads alone and I wonder what the conversation was like.  Were they talking about what color to paint the baby’s room or where they were going to send him to preschool?  These are the questions most of us new parents were discussing, right?  Oh no, I cannot even imagine the conversation.  Knowing that they were about to become parents of the Messiah had to be a somewhat overwhelming and humbling experience.  Their thoughts were probably making sure that they were following God’s plan.  Knowing that they were about to give birth to the One that would eventually die for them and all mankind.  What a beautiful lesson in faith and trust!  They weren’t concerned with having the perfect gifts for everyone or were there enough lights on the Christmas tree or that they attended every Christmas party they were invited to. No! They were concerned with carrying out the will of God and making sure that the precious Gift had a place to enter this world and carry out the will of his Father.

I don’t know about you, but this sure puts things in perspective for me!  

Luke 2:1-7

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

The Messiah made his entrance to this world in a lowly stable surrounded by animals in a non-hygienic manger.  He didn’t have the royal entrance that he deserved but he came in humble surroundings and lived an amazing life serving his purpose that ultimately led him to Calvary nailed to a cross dying for you and me.  But the best part of this story is that he rose again and is preparing a place for us in glory with him!

So, I ask you,

 With only two weeks till Christmas, where will you put your focus?

For me, making sure everything is perfect is not an option.  It is about making sure that Christ is glorified and honored in the way he deserves.  It is about remembering what happened that glorious day that Jesus was born and all he did for me following his birth.  He came for me, he died for me, and he is coming back for me!  Hallelujah!  My thoughts are of making sure that I carry out the will of my Father, to have the faith and trust as Mary and Joseph, and that the real meaning of Christmas is shared with those around me!

The greatest story ever told is right here for us! May we take this beautiful story of love and share with those around us that they may have the hope that we do!  This Christmas, make it your heart’s desire to focus on the real meaning of Christmas.  That when Jesus came, there was hope and everything changed!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Luke 2:11

A Depleted 'Mom' Tank and A Teachable Moment

There are times as a parent when I am just spent! I'm sure all you parents reading this can understand where I'm coming from. 

During one of those particular weeks not too long ago, God showed me just how blessed I am by those precious children he entrusted me with! The schedule of the week had us home late every night running from activity to activity and, of course, it was a week when my husband was working out of town (or out of the country, I don’t remember. Lol!). But, its just LIFE and you do it! 

Well, one morning as we were about to leave for school I had a “moment”…. a moment where God allows you to see that even in those draining instances of parenthood, everything will be okay.

Caleb had been having tough time that year. School had been very challenging for him and he was becoming more of a daddy's boy, which made it even harder because his dad had been traveling quite a bit. During our bedtime routine the evening before, he was a little weepy because he was missing his dad a little more than normal. Well, me being "mother of the year" kissed him goodnight and told him to go to sleep. It was one of those days when, as a mom, I was completely drained. I had nothing else for the day and I was ready to get in my king-sized bed and go to sleep. My compassion tank was empty!

When we were about to leave for school the next morning, Ben came downstairs looking very tired. I hugged him and asked if he was all right and he just said he was sore and didn't sleep very well. I assumed it was from playing so hard in his game the night before but what he told me next brought me to tears.

He proceeded to tell me that after I left their room that night, Caleb was still crying so he just took his pillow and slept on the floor beside Caleb's bed to comfort him. Wow! Talk about a dagger through my uncompassionate heart! My 6 ft. tall, teenage son, after a long day of school, ball games, and homework, slept on the floor in the tiny space between his bed and his little brother’s bed so he could console him. I was touched by his selfless act of compassion.

God reminded me in that moment what a blessing Ben is! I was so proud and humbled by him and his tender heart! It was a glimpse of the man he is becoming and how God is using him in a mighty way. God used my depleted tank to show me that He will provide the needs of each one of us! He is using my children in mighty ways and I am incredibly blessed by their compassion for others and their obedience to the Holy Spirit's prompting in their lives!

What an amazing God! 

"Don't you see that children are God 's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

Psalm 127:3-5 (MSG)

First Sunday of Advent

Last night we began celebrating this season of Advent! We read scriptures aloud and talked about the first Advent, which was the birth of Christ and we are also anticipating Christ's glorious return in the Second Advent. Callie and Caleb led us in prayer that we will keep our focus on what is truly important this Christmas season and that God will change our hearts as we seek him more.

We lit the first purple candle, the prophet's candle or the candle of hope, as we anticipate his return. Just as God revealed to the prophets about the first coming of the Christ child, we know that He is faithful and will fulfill his promise of the second coming of the Messiah!

Lord, we worship you! We praise you for sending your Son and with hearts of expectation; we look forward to your glorious return! Amen!

Jeremiah 33:14-16, Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 21:25-36, Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 1:18-24, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13