I’ve written these blogs from a plethora of places this year. Starting out on the floor of an airport in Florida to the backseat of a speeding bus in Ethiopia, these blogs have been written from some of the strangest places. However, I am thrilled to inform you that I am currently nestled into a mound of pillows on a cozy leather couch! There’s a carefully decorated Christmas tree in the corner, and my feet are kicked up on a coffee table. How crazy is that???
(I don’t have a pic with my feet kicked up on the coffee table, but I have this one of both of us from a few days ago)
Needless to say, Katherine and I are so happy to be back in America. This Christmas season it has been wonderful to be back home visiting with family and friends, sharing stories of all that God has done in our lives throughout the past eleven months.
But I’m tired.
We both are tired.
As it turns out, visiting three different states within a 3-week period in order to see both of our families and every friend and acquaintance imaginable has not made for the most restful month.
Seeing so many of our friends and family members in such a short amount of time has been rewarding, but it has also been quite exhausting.
I don’t say all that to complain about how this month has been. Yes, I’m tired, but what else can you do when you have so many people you’ve missed all year and such a short amount of time to catch up with them? The reason I am being transparent about how tired and worn out we are is because it reminds me of this really interesting thing about the Christmas season. Let me explain.
Okay, so I know Christmas is technically over, but I am sure that over the past few weeks you have heard somebody, somewhere read the Christmas story from the Bible. Maybe the pastor read it from the pulpit, you heard it on the radio, or you have a really awesome dad that reads the Christmas story with your family every Christmas morning. Whatever the case may be, you have probably heard about the baby in the manager. You’ve probably heard baby Jesus referred to as Immanuel.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name ‘Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”
Matthew 1:23
God with us—what an interesting concept.
As international missionaries, Katherine and I have a heart for those around the world that need to know about Jesus. Disciples of Christ that have yet to be made. We are in the business of loving people in the name of Jesus and making disciples of all nations. That’s the goal.
Church people call that the “Great Commission”. Guess where that’s found? It’s found at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, which is 27 chapters after the verse above.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
These are Christ’s last words to his disciples: “I am with you always.”
The same message that came with Christ’s arrival as a baby—Emmanuel, God with us—is the departing message Christ leaves for his disciples.
You see, throughout this past year around the world—on the hard days, on the easy days, and even amidst the exhaustion we have faced these past few weeks—GOD IS WITH US.
No matter what life throws at us, this Christmas season I am reminded of the message of Immanuel that beautifully bookends the Gospel story. Jesus Christ, the baby in the manger, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is with us. Always. And that is something that will lift your spirits no matter what situation you’re in!
– Kaydan
We hope you have enjoyed keeping up with us through this blog. God has been so faithful to us. He has been with us since the start of this thing and will be with us in the next steps of the journey as well. In just nine short days we will be back in Africa, on the field leading the next squad of missionaries.
Please keep us in prayer and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’d like. Leave a comment below if you have any Scripture to share or encouraging words to speak. Each time we hear from you means more than you know.
Sincerely,
Kaydan & Katherine
