This Christmas Time

  As Christmas time approaches, do you catch yourself wondering where time is going?  It's another Christmas, we're a year older, and what does this past year have to say for itself?  Have you changed?  Has your priorities changed?  Did something crazy happen to you this year that changed your life forever?

     As this Christmas approaches, I see a different girl when I look into the mirror.  So many things have happened this year that has changed my life forever.  I've begun to realize how special family, and the time we have with them is.  How everything, no matter how well planned and thought out, is still in His hands.  I've realized how little control I have over my life, and how I really just need to lay it all at His feet.  This Christmas, I really don't want anything... but I want to know that life's going to be okay, I wanna know my foster brother is ours forever, I wanna know my soon-to-be siblings in Haiti are coming home, I wanna know that we're going to have a more certain coming year.  So many things that I used to wish for, like the iPhone and the newest whatever, have completely lost their sparkle to me.  I wanna know that, someday, there will be no orphans crying from loneliness and hunger, that all our tears and sin will be washed away, that life, as we know it, will no longer have fear and hate.  For the first time in all my life, that's all I want.  In so many ways, He's given me that hope of eternal life, but my human self still feels empty at times.  I read of His promise, His love and His faithfulness... but this Christmas, I want to celebrate all of that for what it is!  I don't want to be excited about good food, or presents, I want to be excited about the gift of Christ's birth, promise and plan!  Why not rejoice because of the Father's faithfulness?  Isn't that what this is all about?  He's the 'reason for the season', so why don't we recognize that?!?  Forget the gifts, forget the pies, and rejoice in all that He has given you... life, family, friends, faith, hope in tomorrow, salvation and peace in knowing it's all in His hands!  That is what I am bursting with this season, so pardon me if I don't get too jacked about presents this year.  There is so much more to life than stuff!  So why do we measure our family's love by the type of present they get us, or how much they put into hosting us?!?  Why don't we rejoice in having a family to love, and spend Christmas getting to know the people we have, in many ways, grown apart from?  Family was God's gift to Jesus, so let us rejoice in receiving such a gift as the Messiah received!  Give thanks for He is good and His mercy endures forever!  Find a way this Christmas to concentrate on the little blessings... you may find the thing you've been searching for since the beginning.  It won't be wrapped, it won't have mouth watering smells drifting from it, but it will fill you up!

Much love and a merry Christmas!

~Clay~

Thankful?

     As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, what are you thankful for this year?  Family, food, friends, indoor plumbing, toys...?   How do our lists compare to those from other countries?
     I visited an orphanage just outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti last May, and as this holiday season approaches, I can't help but think of them.  These kids that sleep three or four to a bed, trade clothes constantly just to try to find something that fits them, who have no mom or dad there to hold and protect them, who have had to grow up WAY too fast because of their circumstances... What are they thankful for this season?  For many of the children who have been placed with a family, they're thankful that there's a hope for tomorrow!  They're thankful for the chance to one day go home to the safe and loving arms of a family that can't wait to hold them.  So many are thankful for the love and protection of Jesus Christ.  They sing their joy and praises for Him every day... "Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump for Jesus!"  Their voices carry through the thin walls of their three story orphanage and they are thankful!  Thankful to be alive when so many of their families were killed; Thankful to have friends so close to them; Thankful for their jump ropes and marbles; Thankful to have each other.  Funny how the things that we pass up as we go through our thankful lists are some of the first things that appear on theirs.  This Thanksgiving, don't forget the simple things, but rejoice and be glad for all that you have!  Try to look a little deeper, to the silent blessings... family, love, hope, forgiveness, sacrifice... and discover something you haven't given much thought to in awhile.  What would our world be like without hope and opportunity?  Without freedom and the ability to speak our minds?  Without the freedom to ask "Why?"?  Without the love and compassion we have for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?  Where would we be?  Or more importantly... WHO would we be without these simple things?  They are our foundation, and they are all gifts from our Heavenly Father.  So... what are you thankful for?