Merry Christmas!!!
Feliz Navidad!!!
There are many things I'm looking forward to about the World Race. I say that in almost every blog post, haha.
Today I'm excited about holidays! I know without a doubt that when the time comes, I will be missing my family, our Christmas tree, the yummy yummy food and so much more, but I'm done going through the motions. I read through the Christmas story (the birth of Jesus) today. I'd like to share it with you.
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others–the armies of heaven–praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, 'Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said about the child. All who heard the shepherds story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Luke 2:8-20
"Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:6-11
I'm tired of going through the motions. I can't wait to spend next Christmas just like the shepherds in the first Christmas. I can't imagine their excitement. They met their king, their Savior. And they ran back to their flocks. To their families and friends to tell them about the baby they saw and how this baby would grow up to save the world.
I can't wait to do that. I can't wait to celebrate the birth of my Savior in Cambodia (or wherever I'll be) with my squad and loving the world the same way Jesus did on the cross.
Ahh, I can't wait.
