CHRISTmas is more than just mistletoe and candy canes

“Advent, formed from a Latin word meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival,’ is about the coming of Christ. It’s the celebration of the first advent of Jesus and the anxious awaiting of His second. The season is a time for remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting, and a time to reflect upon the promises of God and to anticipate the fulfillment of those promises with patience, prayer and preparedness.”

the real meaning of Christmas

I like to listen to instrumental music while i do my quiet time because music tunes out the world around me, but music with words distracts me. so i found a piano version of 'How He Loves' on youtube and was listening to it while doing my quiet time. when it got to the part where it says "He loves us, yeah He loves us" and repeats that, the words were turning in my mind as i reached for an advent Christmas devotion packet i got from Remedy. i didn't even open it before i just sat here in awe of the meaning of Christmas. it's not the delicious food, the fun gifts, or the huge tree in your living room. it's not even about family and friends. it's about how GOD LOVES US enough to let a human give birth to His Son here on earth. Jesus was raised on this earth, grew up in our sinful world, and died on this earth.

the miracle of Christmas...the reason why everyone should be happy during the Christmas season...is for the same reason Jesus was born: God loves us.

GOD LOVES US: all i can do is say these 3 words over and over again, but my voice alone has no power. everyone has to see it for themselves when God reveals it to them. yeah, everyone might "know" in their heads that God loves them, but it wasn't until fairly recently that God REALLY showed me the power in these 3 words...and you don't just realize it in your head: it happens in your whole body. your feet want to run, your arms want to lift toward heaven in praise, you can't stop smiling, your mouth wants to sing His praise nonstop, and your heart wants to shout with joy!!! i can't explain it, but i pray that you can experience it too.

merry CHRISTmas, everybody!!!!

two paths...

I read this on a friend's blog and loved it:

"I believe now that there are two paths in life that you can take:

1.)One path is the one God doesn't say to take and so you go through circumstances that are consequences of disobedience.

2.) The other path is God's will for your life, but instead of facing circumstances that are consequences of disobedience, you face equally difficult circumstances that are God's favor on you preparing you for greater things."

~Anna Joy Wells