Author's Note:
I know what you're wondering, and no, this is not my living room. I WISH. (I found this photo on Pinterest from blogger + designer, Lauren Elizabeth, check her out!) If I could somehow poof this living room into existence for myself, that is what I would call the perfect Christmas gift.
Anyway, who else stressed about gift shopping? My time management skills are really being challenged this year. Store hours are all over the place and working full time makes it impossible to get anything ahead of time. I am juggling between shopping small or buying everything online. I'm not even sure what's more convenient at this point. It's a lot, right? And I still have, like, 5 Christmas movies I need to watch before the big day. First world problems, I know, but sometimes even the fun stuff can seem overwhelming right now.
This last Sunday, my church offered to the congregation wooden ornaments to write on and hang up on this large wall with painted Christmas trees all over it. We were asked to write down what we are rejoicing in the Lord for this Christmas. My step-daughter, showcasing her true childlike spirit, simply wrote down: "I am thankful for church." I was so proud of her in that moment. Because she isn't with my husband and me every weekend, church is the thing she misses most. She cherishes every Sunday she gets to ATTEND church in person, freely, and learn about Jesus and how much he loves her. As an adult, it dawns on me how much we take going to church for granted, especially this year. Despite all of the regulations, there are churches who refuse to let the government dictate how and where they worship. We are the nation who constituted that freedom. Let us not take it granted. Let us rejoice in that freedom!
Jesus died to save us. He died so that we could live. So, what are you going to do with this life? Comply, cower, compromise? Or are you going to be a disciple who makes disciples, as the God's Word tells us to do?
Have faith and rejoice in the One who gives hope!
