First for some incredibly, adorable baby nephew time. The picture below was captured within the very few minutes when I met him, and as stated the wait was more than worth it. He is the best and I adore him.
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Whoa only a few weeks! Fall is winding down, December has quickly arrived and it's officially the holiday season. In part, I am sad because Fall in Tennessee is beautiful (ask Faith she witnessed it for herself). I enjoyed seeing the hundreds of leaves change colors on warm, breezy afternoons and sitting around the campfire collecting the smell of firewood on chilly nights. Now most trees are bare of their beauty and though the weather is strangely reminiscent of Florida's non-decisive climate, warm afternoons have long departed.
Something that is exciting for this time of year is that I have been able to celebrate the Christmas season with my roommates. Our house though not decked out with lighting from top to bottom (lets be real we are 20 something women in a big house). Our beautiful Christmas tree (my first ever) proudly stands before our front window for all the neighborhood to see.
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Most people show sympathy for me when I tell them that I did not grow up celebrating the "traditional" Christmas. We did not decorate, exchange gifts, or cook a large dinner. For the past couple of years we have been attending a church service on Christmas Eve and going out to watch a movie on Christmas day. This is the most "traditional" we have been since I can remember.
Not being wrapped up in gift giving and jingle bell ringing, has afforded me two great gifts. When I do share this season's traditions with others, I appreciate the smallest of things. Putting up a tree has not lost its excitement nor has sitting down to grand dinner or watching Christmas pageants It has also given me a truer perspective on why we celebrate this holiday.
Not to say that Christmas songs and sales are wrong, but as my roommate and I were discussing, knowing Christ drastically changes the feelings and truth that surround singing songs about His birth. Do you ever stop and really think about the implication that Christ's birth had? Whether the date was December 25, January 6, or during the middle of the summer, Christ birth meant the arrival of a King, a fulfillment of a prophecy that would change the world and bring hope to all nations.
I was so in awe of God when hearing one line in the song "Joy to the World," 'He rules the world with truth and grace.' A king, not one that has come from this Earth, but God Himself made man came as a baby confined to the flesh and helplessness that comes with being so. And when his kingdom is established, how does he decide to rule? With TRUTH & GRACE! When have you ever heard of a high authority in our world ruling with truth? Barely ever, in America our political system is known to be riddled with deceit And grace? Our world functions on the notion of people getting what they deserve (unless it is ourselves, of course). We have warped the idea of justice to fit into our own limited mental capacity, completely destroying true justice, God's.
"Let Earth Receive Her King." That is my prayer this holiday season. Not that those who long for gifts or a physical companion would receive those things, but that those who are lost, and do not know Christ, our true king, will come to know him.
Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
-Love, Steph
Let me allow his cuteness to speak for itself...
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Yes, practically a little man, right? I can't wait to kiss him again in a few weeks!
Whoa only a few weeks! Fall is winding down, December has quickly arrived and it's officially the holiday season. In part, I am sad because Fall in Tennessee is beautiful (ask Faith she witnessed it for herself). I enjoyed seeing the hundreds of leaves change colors on warm, breezy afternoons and sitting around the campfire collecting the smell of firewood on chilly nights. Now most trees are bare of their beauty and though the weather is strangely reminiscent of Florida's non-decisive climate, warm afternoons have long departed.
Something that is exciting for this time of year is that I have been able to celebrate the Christmas season with my roommates. Our house though not decked out with lighting from top to bottom (lets be real we are 20 something women in a big house). Our beautiful Christmas tree (my first ever) proudly stands before our front window for all the neighborhood to see.
Most people show sympathy for me when I tell them that I did not grow up celebrating the "traditional" Christmas. We did not decorate, exchange gifts, or cook a large dinner. For the past couple of years we have been attending a church service on Christmas Eve and going out to watch a movie on Christmas day. This is the most "traditional" we have been since I can remember.
Not being wrapped up in gift giving and jingle bell ringing, has afforded me two great gifts. When I do share this season's traditions with others, I appreciate the smallest of things. Putting up a tree has not lost its excitement nor has sitting down to grand dinner or watching Christmas pageants It has also given me a truer perspective on why we celebrate this holiday.
Not to say that Christmas songs and sales are wrong, but as my roommate and I were discussing, knowing Christ drastically changes the feelings and truth that surround singing songs about His birth. Do you ever stop and really think about the implication that Christ's birth had? Whether the date was December 25, January 6, or during the middle of the summer, Christ birth meant the arrival of a King, a fulfillment of a prophecy that would change the world and bring hope to all nations.
I was so in awe of God when hearing one line in the song "Joy to the World," 'He rules the world with truth and grace.' A king, not one that has come from this Earth, but God Himself made man came as a baby confined to the flesh and helplessness that comes with being so. And when his kingdom is established, how does he decide to rule? With TRUTH & GRACE! When have you ever heard of a high authority in our world ruling with truth? Barely ever, in America our political system is known to be riddled with deceit And grace? Our world functions on the notion of people getting what they deserve (unless it is ourselves, of course). We have warped the idea of justice to fit into our own limited mental capacity, completely destroying true justice, God's.
"Let Earth Receive Her King." That is my prayer this holiday season. Not that those who long for gifts or a physical companion would receive those things, but that those who are lost, and do not know Christ, our true king, will come to know him.
Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
-Love, Steph
