Till He Appeared

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth."

How many times have I sung that line, and never realized what I was speaking?  The voice of God had been silent for hundreds of years.  Long before that, the Fall... the world no longer as it was created to be.  Brokenness.  Suffering.  Sin.  Shame.  Death.  What would be the end? 

He appeared. 

He came to us.  Left his throne and became a baby.  For us. 

Just let that blow your mind for a minute. 

And not only did He come, but through Him, we become fully alive.  We see a glimpse of what we were really created to be.  The soul felt its worth. 

Wow!

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Since there has been so much of the "sin and error pining" lately, I just want to record some of the times where my soul has felt its worth this season. 

*Lining the streets of my t iny hometown to watch the Christmas parade.  The same parade where I paraded as a girl scout, and marched as a high schooler in the band.  Standing with my mom and dad and my uncle, and realizing the dream of being there with my husband :) and my sister-in-law.  Getting soaked to the bone because it rained through the whole thing.

*Decorating our little apartment with a sparkly tree, red and green fiestaware, stockings, and a homemade wreath.  Delighting in our home.

 

 

*Wearing Christmas aprons and making homemade goodies with my mom.  Introducing her to Marco's pizza, and listening to Christmas music.

 

*Spending our money in a different way this Christmas.  Helping out a family at church who is in a rough patch.  Blessing someone else in the same way that someone blessed us.  Sending a Christmas gift to our Compassion daughter, Molly.  Being able to bless her family with a monetary gift that will hopefully greatly change their family's future.  Being able to write her a letter, and tell her that she is beautiful, loved, and chosen.  Reminding her that we pray for her faithfully.

*Gathering at my Nana's house for an early Christmas dinner so that the whole family could be together.  Holding sleepy cousins and letting them check my pulse with the new doctor kit.  Hugging my Nana and feeling her soft hands holding mine.  Belly laughing with my mom and dad.  Sharing sarcastic comments with uncles.  Welcoming family friends who are practically family.  Watching my Popeye rock little babies to sleep.  Seeing my cousin, who was like a sister to me, blossoming into a wonderful mother.  Talking with my aunt who has treated me like a daughter. And again, realizing the dream of sharing this all with my husband.

 

 

*Planning a new tradition for our little family.  Hearing my husband drop hints about the present he has been planning for me for months.  Delighting in the fact that he is making it himself.  Constantly threatening him if he tries to peak at his gifts.  Wrapping his blu-ray player even though he already knows what it is.  Planning to cook his favorite meal, watch White Christmas, read the Christmas story together, and drink in this time that we have, just the two of us.

*Texting back and forth with my dad (who swore he'd never text).  Realizing that my sense of humor comes from him. 

 

*Planning a Christmas Fiesta for our college group.  Loving that God has given us the chance to disciple these young men and women.  Terrified at the weight of that task.  Rejoicing in their growth.  Praising the Father for His good work.

 

 

 

 

 

*Sending and receiving Christmas cards.  Seeing friends get married, have babies, adopt. 

*Having coffee with two long lost friends from high school.  Loving that after almost 10 years, it's so easy to pick right back up.  Marveling at how these girls I used to have sleepovers with, have grown into Godly women with husbands and houses of their own.  God is good :)

I want to remember these times.  I want to look back on them and smile.  I want to share them with my children one day.






Emmanuel, God with us!