Hi Friends!
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, ours was unbelievably fun. One of our pastors did a sermon a few weeks before Christmas, and shared the story of Mary and Martha. Mary sits at Jesus' feet and soaks up his every word, while Martha runs around cleaning, cooking, and fretting about what needs to be done. When Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her he replies that Mary is doing what is right. The main thing I got out of the sermon was that on December 26th I didn't want to feel like I missed the mark. Like we rushed through Christmas focused on presents, parties, and family, and missed out on Jesus. What a great reminder going into Christmas weekend!
So we spent a lot of extra time praying this Christmas weekend, thanking God for all he has done, and for sending his son. At Christmas Eve service I thought one interesting point was that "God sent God." Repeatedly in the Bible it says that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one... but somehow it seems easier to believe that God would send his 'son' not 'himself'... but essentially he did. He endured the joys, pains, and sufferings that come from being human. He has "been here."
The second point I thought was really interesting was the thought that Jesus could have come with fireworks, an army of Angels, and trumpets playing, but instead he was born as a baby. Can you imagine being GOD stuck in a baby body!? I know is that we have a mighty Savior, who truly did humble himself to save us. I really think we hit the mark this Christmas season, celebrating Jesus.
On Christmas Eve this year we went to my grandparents lakehouse with the extended fam, and spent Christmas day with some of John's fam. It is a blessing for us to get to spend time with both sides and still have time for our little family to spend together. Christmas night we let Lyla fall asleep in our bed, and John read the story of Jesus' birth from the book of Luke. He got to the part where the Angel comes to the shepherds and Lyla interjected "Do not be afraid! I bring you good news!" I was one proud mama at that moment, although I have no idea how she knew that! Thank you sunday school teachers or preschool teachers, Lyla is listening! (:
I have also had a heavy heart the past few days for some friends who are hospitalized. Aria, who I have mentioned before, has been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks with respiratory concerns, and headaches. They just can't figure out what's wrong, and her parents are exhausted.
There is also a little boy named Gideon up in Canada whose grandmother has emailed me a few times. She sent me a link to his caring bridge site a few days ago. He has hypophosphatasia like Evie, and has been on a ventilator since birth. His birth didn't go as smoothly as hers did, and they are dealing with complications. Evie was on a vent for 8 days during RSV, and I have to say, it was torture. Not being able to hold her, and just the sheer fear of the look of that big machine breathing for my baby was so incredibly hard. I can't imagine doing it for months.
I was reading Gideon's mom's post on his site a few days ago, and she concluded with this verse:
Romans 8:35-38 (i'm going to post 37-38)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And that is the story of Christmas, friends. Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Amen!
... Oh did I mention Evie's doing great? (this is HER website isn't it!) We have three doctor's appointments next week, orthopedic (bone) surgeon, eye doc, and pediatrician, so I should have some updates. Other than that we are hanging out at home, enjoying the holiday break.
Love you friends. Thanks for loving us.
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