December 25. 2014 CHRISTMAS!!!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Luke 2:29-32 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
I wanted to start out the blog by mentioning that this is the 100 year anniversary of the 1914 World War 1 Christmas Truce! It is one of my favorite moments in history (It’s a long list 
but it is on it!). A very heartwarming, yet bittersweet moment. I even took an entire class time in History to teach about the event.
I just read four articles on it today, some questioning the validity of the story. But after reading them, I found out that historians don’t doubt that the truce actually happened all along the Western Front, that carols were sung in different languages, the dead were allowed to be buried, that many enemy soldiers exchanged gifts and letters, a combined Christmas service was administered, or that someone got out a soccer ball and many of the soldiers decided to kick it around—historians only debate whether an actual “soccer match took place.” If that is the only questionable detail they debate, I’m satisfied. It doesn’t take away the fact that the truce happened, that enemies saw each other as human beings, and even fellow brothers in Christ. I won’t get into all the details, but there are plenty of letters from soldiers that detail the event and even what happened after when they had to continue fighting.
I was watching It’s a Wonderful Life with my whole family, and besides acknowledging, yet again, the awesomeness of the film, I was struck by a couple things anew.
1) There is a moment where Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey, is faced with a challenge, and not knowing what to do, he turns to his late father’s picture. Underneath the portrait is a quote that says,
“All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.”
This quote brings to mind another saying by Jim Elliot:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot take to gain what he cannot lose.”
We forget that God calls us to love, love, love! That if we do not love, we are nothing! As I’m preparing for this trip, I am asking that God would work in me so that I will be more generous with my time, money, and possessions, and that Jesus would fill me so much that I nearly drown in His love, and that my only recourse would be to spill it on everyone around me. It would be an honor for anyone to have these quotes written about them after they have left this earth.
2) “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
The entire movie is about someone who has had to give up his dreams, and for most of the film you wince when George gives up traveling, gives up college, gives up a good job, gives up a honeymoon, and you understand him completely when his discouragement is almost overwhelming. And that is why at the end of the movie, when he finds out how his life is meaningful, and in fact “wonderful,” you rejoice!
I’ve heard a few sermons lately about Joseph and Mary, and how when God chose them for this awesome task of being the parents to the Messiah, it wasn’t easy. It cost them their comfort, good names, and dreams. Both strove to be honorable and faithful to God, and I‘m sure they had dreams of having a family, and serving God in unique ways in their town. These things were decimated when God gave them Jesus, and their journey was a rough one! But every one of us has received the reward of the new dream God gave them in Jesus Christ!
There are times discouragement will come to me in the form of lies. While I was teaching, I also heard a lot of these phrases: I am inadequate. I’m worthless. Unloved and unlovable. If I wasn’t around, who would care? Am I doing anything worthwhile? I feel like I am doing nothing. But we don’t see the whole picture, the intricate, delicate threads that God is weaving that binds us together in little moments and in eternity. I know we all hear that a lot, and it’s really hard to remember at times, but it’s the truth. Take courage and encouragement: Your life is meaningful because God writes your story—and He is the ultimate author!
3) “Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.”
If it’s only a few or a crowd, pour your heart, loyalty, time, and prayer into your friends and your life will be richer than most.
4) “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”
Another Jimmy Stewart movie that I saw recently was The Mortal Storm. The movie takes place in WW 2 and recounts the rising of the Aryan propaganda. This is the last line of the movie, and it lingered with me. As I stand at the gate of this new year, getting ready for the World Race, I am getting more and more excited, but I also I find the “boy scout” part of me is fighting stress: I cannot be fully prepared for this year! There are no clear plans, no heads up on what we will face, or even specifically where we will go. I sometimes find myself getting apprehensive/defensive when people ask me about it.
“So what will you be doing? 
“I don’t know exactly what ministries…”
“Where will you be in this month?”
“Probably here but it could change…”
“Do you have enough medicine for the trip?”
“I’m trying to save up, but I think I will be able to get more on the trip.”
“How?”
“Not 100% sure, but I know that I am contacting the World Race leaders who will try and help me.”
“How often will you contact home?
“I don’t know. Depends on the internet.”
“Well, you should really research that. Call or email ahead to the places you will stay at and get the layout of the land.”
“I can’t do that. I don’t know specifically where in the country that I’m going. And we will be sleeping in a tent.”
“What team will you be on?
“I don’t know.”
“When will you know?”
“Not sure exactly. But I’m guessing at the end of training week.”
And so on.
But being a missionary means being flexible and not knowing. Being a follower of Jesus means going on a blind adventure and using faith rather than a map. Knowing where you are going is not nearly as important as knowing who is going with you. So I’m holding out my hand to His this next year, and pray that I remember to focus on Him and not security.
I’m going on an adventure! 
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
~Tori
“There are no ‘ifs’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety – let us pray that we may always know it!” ~ Corrie Ten Boom.
