Merry Christmas Emmanuel
There is something different about this Christmas. I celebrate my 48th Christmas this year, and I believe this has to be the best I've ever had.
I don't know if it's because I'm having a mid-life crisis. Or maybe it's because I realize I'm closer to the end of my race than I am to the beginning of it; but something is different.
This year has been the greatest year of my entire life; but it's also been the most difficult in some aspects.
I've had to make some difficult decisions this year that affect our ministry. It will affect our family. It will eventually affect some of our relationships. I've had to change some ways I do ministry. I've had to say goodbye to some friends and prayer partners who were very instrumental in our ministry who were promoted to Glory. I've had to say goodbye to others who were led by God to go a totally different direction than we are going in ministry.
I've had the opportunity to have our youngest daughter move closer home and our oldest daughter graduate college! So it's not been all melancholy or dramatic.
But there is something different. I think I'm different. Maybe there is finally the realization, it really is not the amount I give, it's the attitude of my heart. I knew that already, but something shifts when it sinks into your spirit. It's not the miles I've traveled or the sermons I've preached that is important. It's Him. Emmanuel. God. With. Us. The far away God who didn't want to be far away anymore. And because of that tonight (or today whenever you read this) my heart is full.
Full of love. Full of appreciation. Full of thanksgiving. For my family. For my friends. For my partners. For the pastors who allow us to partner with them. For every reader of this blog (that means you!). For all our friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook. For the Kingdom connections God has given us all over the world. And for the lost that will come to know Jesus through our lives in the coming days.
Most of all, I'm thankful and grateful that Jesus is not a baby any more. He's MY KING!
He IS Emmanuel. God. With. Us.
Merry Christmas everybody!