Our day started with just the two of us, with bed-head, opening presents next to a cozy fire and sipping coffee. We had friends over for brunch and all watched Elf with full bellies of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and Stumptown Coffee.
Later, we all went sledding and then Chase & I went on a "backcountry" cross country skiing excursion. After chatting with our families on the telephone, we made a delicious dinner of steak, baked potatoes, and asparagus. We finished up the evening with a hot chocolate, watching Miracle on 34th Street. I was overwhelmed with joy, Christmas cheer (seriously), and an overflowing heart of thankfulness.
This was my first Christmas away from "home" in Texas. My first ever Christmas eve not spent at Memaw and Grandy's. I kept praying that God would comfort me when I might wish I wasn't spending Christmas in Boulder. That He'd remind me that Love never fails and knowing that I adore my family and they love me would be enough. I prayed for the gospel to be enough and for the gospel to be the premise of this holiday that has become mostly about materialism. Chase & I made several new traditions this year including Christmas eve Chinese food, Target stocking stuffer sprees, taking advantage of the white christmas and playing in the snow, etc.
I feel spoiled rotten this year, from gifts to friendships & family to my job and my community. I live in a beautiful place and God is pouring His blessings in us daily.
During Christmas eve and Christmas day, I kept finding myself sitting back and shaking my head. Shaking my head in disbelief because I dont deserve any of this. I don't deserve a family that sends extravagant gifts. I don't deserve the incredible material things that I will likely forget about in a few months. I don't deserve the iPad that I'm writing this post from. I don't deserve the new dress that Chase bought me that I'll likely be wearing at work today. I don't deserve the cross country skis that He also surprised me with.
I'm a sinner. I'm selfish. I'm often a brat. I'm prideful. I surely don't deserve a God that loves me, pursues me, forgives me, and blesses the junk out of me. I simply don't deserve it.
But isn't that how God works?
He sent His Son to be born a humble birth, knowing that He would later die for all of mankind, on a cross for all of our sins. Grace. An undeserved gift. To all that would receive it and call Him "Lord."
Amazing.
I want to dwell on that and be MORE excited about the gospel and MORE thankful for salvation than any Fossil bag or Apple product. I want to be overwhelmed by God's grace and let that play out in my life every single day. I want my heart to yearn for people to know Jesus more than my heart yearns for a new pair of Tory Burch flats.
I hope your Christmas was wonderful. I hope you cherished time with family & friends. If you got awesome gifts, enjoy them. Thank God for them. Bless others with them. My prayer for myself and Chase is that we would never be more excited about material things than about the gospel. I pray that the gospel would transform our lives so that we would use everything we have to honor Him.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
((matthew 5:14-16))
love.
