Think of that one person in your life that just really really loves to celebrate. You know, those people that just go for it on holidays, birthdays and special occasions with costumes, themes, decorations, gifts and suprises….
One of my very best friends is a woman named Ruth. And she is that person for me! I cherish and love her to pieces. She is a free bird, she is strong, she is unique, she is hilarious, she makes light of any situation, she is open and honest and she is herself. But one of the things that I like most about her is her ability to CELEBRATE.
This girl will seriously celebrate anything and everything! She even brought a happy bithday banner on the race and clothes to make sure to be festive for each holiday. It is such a blessing to be out here, but sometimes life on the field can be hard. It can get pretty overwhelming and serious with all of the things we see and are apart of as we travel and live in and out of countries. But with Ruth around she just brings life, love and an atmosphere of joy wherever she goes.
So as I was pondreing Ruth, it led me to thinking about celebrations, which led me to thinking about holidays, which led me to thinking about Christmas. This past year I was in India for Christmas. We celebrated world race style with homemade gifts, cards, some Indian food, drinking coffee and gathering together hanging out singing, dancing and worshiping.
And all of this thinking about Christmas and celebrating led me to remember that today is the halfway mark from Christmas to Christmas. It is Jesus' HALF BIRTHDAY!!
I know it might sound crazy, but I want to challenge you to ask the Lord what He wants from you for His birthday. This past Christmas He told me He wanted my hesitations, my alreadys, my fears and my doubts. Giving these so called 'gifts' to Him brought me into a greater realm of understanding and recieving His grace and mercy, which led to me walking more lighthearted and free with Him. And in the process of giving Him my gifts, He offered to give me one too. He said His most favorite thing is being my Daddy and giving good gifts.
What is your gift to Him? What is His gift to you?
One of my gifts are the offenses that I have been holding in my heart.
His gift to me has been this precious little girl I met on the streets of Ho Chi Minh city named Phoung.
