Hey everyone! We have been having a great time here in the Philippines and we are all safe happy and healthy (minus a few coughs and colds here and there). We got to hand out about 600 shoebox presents from a couple rotary clubs in the states and it was incredible to be on the other side of that amazing ministry. We have also been spending time in the surrounding communities taking food and Christmas gifts. We even experienced a small typhoon (which was of no comparison to the major one named Yolanda that hit 2 years ago…). It’s been a great month. One of my favorites by far, but it is definitely hard to be away from home this time of year during the holiday season.
When we talk about Christmas, it’s usually about the Gifts. The gifts we give, the gifts we receive, the color of paper we used to wrap them, the wrapping skills (or lack thereof…) of our family members, the gifts we really REALLY want, and the ones we will re-gift at our earliest convenience. These days it isn’t PC to talk about the best gift that mankind has ever received, but it was also one of the hardest gifts to give. God had to give up his own son. He had to trade His life for our eternal lives. The best kind of gift is to be generous and sacrificial. God spent way enough of both to qualify his son as the greatest gift of all, but it was also the greatest sacrifice of all.
These past few months I have learned a lot about sacrifice. I sacrificed the ability to choose my own meals, choose a place to sleep, and choose the company I keep. I sacrificed the ability to spend special days, such as birthdays and holidays, with my family. I sacrificed a little (a lot) of pride to ask people I respect to support me this year. I sacrificed reliable Wi-Fi, my cell phone, and about 90% of my wardrobe. I sacrificed the promise of a hot shower at the end of the day… or the promise of a shower at all. I sacrificed the promise of a toilet that you can (and even want) to sit down on. I sacrificed my skin to a barrage of new scars from all of the bug bites I have received. All of these things are things of this world that we can make idols of… and none of these sacrifices even come close to a shred of what Christ had to sacrifice for my salvation. For your salvation.
As I sat on our porch here in the Philippines on Christmas night all upset that I was missing out on family traditions, gift exchanges, ragging on my sister for her less than stellar wrapping skills (sorry but you know it’s true…) throwing myself a little pity party, God gently whispered to me.
“Think of all you have given up just to spend time with me, and then think of all I gave up just to spend time with you. It is all worth it my child. I promise”
In Matthew 16:24 it says: Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
I now know a little of what this means and to walk out daily. I have denied myself all of those things that only have earthly meaning to be able to pick up my cross and follow Him towards eternity.
I think it will pay off. Big time.
