We are anticipating our return to our home for Christmas to be with family and friends.  This time next week we'll be deep into food and family love.  *sigh* I can hardly wait!!!  All these years it is easy to take for granted the same old routine but then, life steps in and things change, we can then see how wonderful the "same ol, same ol" really is!  Bring on the family!!  Even if we get a little crazy!  There's no place like home!

It will be quite the drive though.  That I am not looking forward to.  bleck.  If only airfare wasn't so expensive!  It is so we are driving.  Dh and I will take turns so we can arrive alive!  The boys will snooze most of the way as we will be driving through the night.  This is good as otherwise it gets REALLY long and boring.  Our butts will be permanently molded to the car's seats no doubt.   Then with all the rich foods we're sure to come back with a more "pear" shape.  That's awesome!  What a blessing!

I hope that in the midst of the festivities though, we will manage to keep a perspective.  The food, the fun, the gifts, these are all outward expressions (and sometimes worldly) of the greater good, the greater blessings in life.  To remember that Christ came into this world (though not on this exact date) to redeem us.  He came and GAVE to us a gift that never wears, never goes out of fashion, never breaks or needs new batteries or upgrades.  It's a one size fits ALL for certain.  No need to return or exchange.  It's always the right fit and it does even more!  This gift is LIVING!  It doesn't grow with us, it helps us to grow.  This gift is what gives us the very thing we lack~LIFE!  It is an all encompassing gift.  It meets all needs we could ever have, want or think of.  No, it can't grind the wheat or make pancakes but it can fill us to overflowing.  Abundant overflowing joy!  This kind of filling is what we so yearn for even though we may not admit it.  We spend a lot of time trying to fill this with other things.  We try to fill it with the things we'll find under our trees next week, sometimes we try with work, careers, credentials, civic groups, clubs, activities, bars, friends, music, TV, and even things that are destructive to ourselves.  We have all sorts of reasons and excuses for not accepting the GIFT.  Yes, we think we can do it on our own.  Even when we receive it we think we can manage it without the Manual.  We play at christianity wondering why we don't get anywhere.

I don't know, there are many things to write about in this topic but for now, this year, I am grateful to have received this free and wonderful gift from God.  I am thankful that when I opened it, it didn't need batteries (usually not included!) and it wasn't written in a language I can't follow.  It didn't have directions that go on and on and on and you need a degree in physics or engineering to even figure out step one.  No, this gift is not easy but it isn't something I have to worry about.  This gift is a person.  Jesus.  He told me to believe and take on His yoke.  That's it.  Heck, I don't even know how to put a yoke on (though I have worn many that have been heavy and hard) He promises to do it all.  How simple is that?  All I have to do is rest.  REST!!!! Can you believe it!?  I'm not there yet.  I do believe, but I don't know how to rest.  That is a topic for another post but let me ask, will you receive His gift this year?  You don't even have to wait until Christmas!  There are no bags with sirens on them and it's already available to you.  If you don't know how to receive this gift, ask me.  I'll tell you what He says, "whomsoever shall believe in me shall not perish but have everlasting life."  That's it.  That's all.  Nothing else to it.   Then, rest.  Let Him work His work and Himself into you.  That's what He wants to do.  You will grow faster and fuller and stronger if you read the Bible and pray.  Without these two, you will starve.  See, that's the only catch, you have to feed.  You gotta eat!  So how?  No, not pizza, though I wish it were that easy, no you have to read the Word.  Don't worry if it 's all weird at first, He is there and He will sort it out with you.  If you have questions, there are many believers around who will help.  Remember though, He is your first source.

Ok, so that's my thoughts for today.  Merry CHRIST mas.  May He evermore increase!!!