Hot Wheels.

Today, everyone celebrates the coming into the world of the most important man in history. But to be honest, I always feel more as if this were a second thanksgiving. I am never so grateful for my family and the life I have been blessed with than on this day. It's like Christmas opens my eyes to the beauty God has sent us. Over 2000 years ago he sent his Son, and that is fantastic, of over arching importance. A gift to which nothing can compare. But I can't help but notice during the Christmas season all the other small "stocking stuffers" if you will, that He gives us. I am almost brought to tears when I see my family all gathered together and the house and life and amazingly supportive and loving friends that I have been given. Who am I to gain these things when I know a good majority of the world can barely even dream of these things? I feel so overwhelmed with this idea. And it really makes me think: Jesus, the best gift of all, the gift every single person in the world can receive, and this is the hardest one for me to be able to accept. I am not worthy of it. People who have nothing can freely accept him and here I am struggling to fully grasp the basics of Christ. I barely feel like I can accept the gifts God has given me in life, and to let Jesus rule my life? That is so hard. I try and try to let Him but over and over again I fail.

Last night I spent over 2 hours helping my cousin put together this hot wheels track he got. Every time I would get a piece together he would get so excited that the whole operation would end up failing and collapsing. I surprised myself by never growing impatient, I just put it back together and helped him start rebuilding. I cannot tell you how many times I re-assembled those roads. I wonder if this is how God is with us. We get these gifts and we are so excited to use them and because we are human, we mess up. But then God puts the road back together for us, and we try at it again. God smiles at his children so overjoyed they are playing with his gifts. And when I think of this I suddenly am not worried about working in a way in which I prevent God from having to rebuild for me; I know he's going to have to do that anyway. Instead, I feel this deep need to find those gifts he has given me and show him the excitement I have to use them. I think this is really all God asks.

It is Christmas, He has given us the sweetest of gifts, His Son. And from that we are given so many gifts to use for his Kingdom. It is all so wonderful isn't it? Merry Christmas. Share your gifts :)

Isaiah 35

Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower - bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon - a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon - gifts. God's resplendent glory, fully on display. God awesome, God majestic. Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you! Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly. There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It's for God's people exclusively - impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it. No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals - Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it. The people God has ransomed will come back on this road. They'll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.