"Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king...do you hear what I hear?"

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYONE!

I'm so excited. :D

Aw, YAY!!!

CHRISTMAS is tomorrow!

(no subject)

Rachel, yes, YOU Rachel...just posted one of the most loveliest journal entries I have ever read, and definitely NEEDED to read this morning. I honestly think that you, Rachel, put into words exactly what has been bothering me for the last week I have been home from college on Christmas break. So, if you don't mind, I am going to quote your journal entry on MY journal. Because we seem to have the same mind sometimes, but I just can't ever put it into words like you can. I know I have done that so much, and if you mind, honestly, comment and I will delete it. But I really would like to share it, if you don't mind. (and, er, rich text isn't working so I cannot italicize this) "I can't sleep with this on my heart.... To the Christian among us, and to those curious: It's this time of year when it seems the whole world is either: A. Scurrying about asking for things, shopping for things, wrapping things, and then exchanging things merrily. or B. Depressed. The reason I always get so blue when the yuletide rears her ugly head, is because I get really lonely. I'm surrounded by friends and family, presents and good food. I'm surrounded by signs that say "Keep Christ in Christmas" and "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." But I don't really put much stock in their effectiveness. I'm not going to start with the cynical Christmas crap, just hear me out on this one. (I will even restrain myself from going on about the Biblical context of the birth of Christ happening in September). Whenever I sing or hum or hear the song Amazing Grace, I weep somewhere inside myself. How can we sing that "I once was lost, but now am found, I was blind but now I see? How can we manage to utter those words when we slander eachother behind our backs, break eachother's hearts, drink ourselves to oblivion and say we're just not legalistic Christians. Amazing Grace happens to be one of those church songs that everybody sorta knows, and no one is going to get extremely offended by when it's played alongside Christmas carrolls *which are getting worse every year as some overpaid teen sensation covers the classics*... But anyway.....when did life stop being about love? Why does it seem that we exist soley to satisfy our desires? Our desires for love, our desires for material goods, our desires for success, our desires for comfort---all completely legit desires--but perverted--so that they then revolve around sex, stuff, salary and food? I do not wish to stray from my original topic, but you know how that goes... I digress to say this: When we see manger scenes in front of every other bank, church, and house... When we see giant Merry Christmas signs on roofs of houses in the suburbs--so big and gaudy that the best view of them are from a 747--when we see all those stupid inflatable snowmen and polar bears that people are putting up this year... We don't feel anything. We probably don't even think about it. Sure the thrill has worn off; your eyes once nearly glazed over seeing that bright red wagon under the tree... Things have changed, sure, yes, it happens... Christmas time ghosts haunt me all the way from Africa, India, Thailand: children unaware of our Western ways...children who would live the next year if they could afford a vaccine that would cost us a mere six bucks. But that's not what I'm going to talk about right now. I have this theory brewing and seething around in my slow-cooker brain. That the reason we get so depressed this time of year, the reason we get so depressed any time of the year......... Is because we're not satisfied. And it will get worse, believe me. Without the LOVE of the Lord in our lives, it's alll downhill from here. In my case...He has taken away my friends. He's removed so many people from my life, that I was upset and bitter for awhile. I was not walking as closely with Him as I am at present... It took me a long time to figure out why He'd allow it to happen. I realized how absolutely jealous of a God He is. He's so jealous for our love, He'll go to the ends of the earth to win our hearts. But we don't see it as that, do we? He said Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you. But how do we even go about doing that? It seems a long time since I had gotten into the habit of reading the Word everyday. Spending time with the Father to rest in His presence, and to thank Him for the precious life He's given me. Interceeding for they who need prayer---so that He may be glorified. It seems tedious, and boring, and out of-the-way for some. It seems it was tedious and out-of-the-way for God to send His precious Son all the way to Earth so that He could be brutally slaughtered on our behalves too doesn't it. Now is always the time for us to love, and tobe loved. He loves us so much. He loves us sooo much. I know that's not going to mean a hill of beans to a lot of people. Because we hear it as often as "Have a Nice Day" or "God Bless You." So yeah, it's Christmas, and we should be thankful for what Christ has done for us--I'm not condoning that we should ignore the poignant message behind Jesus is the Reason for the Season. I just wanted to encourage you. People are going to constantly let you down. Relatives, the best of friends, co-workers: EVERYBODY. And you're going to let yourself down. Because you're just not good enough. But duh--He knew that, otherwise there would have been no reason for a Savoir in the first place.... HE IS FAITHFUL. And boy is He jealous for your love." - by the lovely Rachel.