December is for Wishes

won't you take this cup from me? 

fear has stolen all my sleep. 

if tomorrow means my death, 

pray You'll save their souls with it. 

let the songs I sing bring joy to You. 

let the words I say profess my love. 

let the notes I choose be Your favorite tune. 

Father, let my be after you. 

in this hour I see who I am is not just me.

give me strength to die myself,

so Love can live to tell the tale. 

Father, let my heart be for you. 

(garden - needtobreathe)

The holidays are always an interesting time with my family. Lots of laughter, fake karaoke singing, games, general lack of any sort of polish, and screaming children make for a glorious uproar. As I grow older, I find that the holidays are a great source of joy, while at the same time being a time when I feel very alone and troubled in all the expected ways...wondering why I'm still single, living in the middle of nowhere, feeling disconnected from people that I love, and continually wanting to know when God is going to allow for the 'next step.' At the same time, loving the chance to be around my family to show them the Lord's mercy and love. To share with them the real reason we gather and celebrate. 

[Enter conflict]: I am the least worthy person to carry the message of Christ. I refuse to change. I doubt. I lose words. Fail to explain things the way they should be explained. Show the worst of myself to the people I have known all of my life. I am a miserable example of the grace and mercy that has been extended to me. In a family full of nonbelievers...people I love...I shut down and lose precious opportunities to be Jesus to my family. 

[Enter resolution]: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  -Isaiah 9:6,7 (ESV)

The Christmas message is that there is 

hope for a ruined humanity. 

-Packer

Even before the creation of the world, God was thinking of how desperately I would need him. Before I was close to living, God's plan for my life was put into motion. Though I am the worst of sinners, unworthy of being called a child of God, his love was extended to me through his son.

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity. That hope is that God's word is true. He will do what he says. 

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while he is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive.  -Isaiah 55:6,7

There are some girls I know that like to give each month a theme.

There's MeLissa. 

And Lydia.

And Grace.

It makes me smile because they give their whole heart and belief to that theme. For one month, they commit to that one thing, in hopes of bettering their lives and the lives of others. 

September was for ladies. October was for magic. November was for love. 

December is for wishes. 

My wish: that December would be about faith. That I would dare to commit to a deeper faith...the kind that will stretch and grow me. The kind that will bring about real, life-altering change. The kind that can only be explained by the One I was created to praise.