The Christmas Gift

This is my favorite time of the year. The chilly weather (though not so much in NC, it reached 70 degrees at one point today!), the snow, the Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree, the Christmas songs, that magical feeling that always comes around this time of year. But most importantly, this is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ! Isn't it easy to get caught up in the craziness that sweeps through during Christmas time? I know that I am absolutely guilty. I found myself today worrying so much about Christmas gifts, about how I really won't be able to afford to buy many. I was worrying about who would be angry with me if I didn't get them a gift, and I was stressing myself out so much over how embarrassed and ashamed I would feel to accept a gift from someone whom I could not return the favor. Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving gifts around the holidays, but what I'm coming to realize is that there is something wrong with being so worried about how many gifts you can afford to buy that you let it steal away your joy that the season can bring in the first place.

I started to wonder how Jesus would be if he was on Earth today. Would he celebrate Christmas the way we do? Would he give gifts, and expect them in return? And then it hit me. Jesus did give a gift.. and it is the most amazing gift that we have or will ever receive. And the kicker? It was freely given.. He expects absolutely nothing in return. He gave His LIFE for mine. He made an exchange. His life, for the lives of every person on Earth. And all we have to do is accept it!! That's it, no strings attached. And what do we do? Well, we spend our Christmas season worrying about the gifts that we are going to give and receive, instead of celebrating the one gift worth celebrating.. the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for us!

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is.. I'm done worrying about Christmas gifts, and I'm going to start celebrating THE Christmas Gift. Because that isn't the way God wants me to act. There will be a time in the future when I will be able to afford to buy nice gifts for everyone that I want to buy gifts for. But until then, I will do what I can and buy the gifts that I can, and most importantly, not let it steal my joy.

God, thank You for sending us Your Son. Let us all never take it for granted, and let us always remember the best Christmas Gift of all.. a little baby, born to a virgin mother in a dirty stable, who would someday give His life for the lives of all of us. What a beautiful gift.


Isn’t it amazing?
Just to think such royalty
Would come the way He came
In a dusty little town
Born in such humility upon a bed of hay
Certainly He laid His glory down

Who would think this little child
Would be the Promised One?
Would the Messiah really come this way?
And certainly this was no birthplace
For the Son of God
Isn’t it amazing how He came?

I can’t believe that I would be the reason why He came
I can’t believe He left His mighty throne
He became a pauper so that I could be a king
He denied Himself and then He made my heart His home

Isn’t it amazing the way He came?
No crown, no throne no big parade
There were no fanfares played, no jubilant display
Isn’t it amazing how He came?

like a kite..

' "Let me not become disconnected from You, Lord. Like that red kite, let there be a connecting string between You and me, so that I can fly high and safe as You've created all people to do. With that string, I will go where You want me to go. I'll be what You want me to be. Thank You for Your grace." Somehow I knew that God was working on something significant in our small-town life, and I felt myself seeking something ahead. Still, I prayed to be content with what I had, even if that meant that my political career would end in Wasilla City Hall.'

-Going Rogue

That is a prayer that Sarah Palin wrote in an old journal that she shared in her book. I was really moved by it. Sarah Palin is a shining star in the world of politics. And I don't say that because she is a republican like me, or because she shares pretty much all of my fiscal and social views.. but because she shines with the LIGHT of CHRIST. We are hard-pressed nowadays to find a leader in politics who is truly unashamed to share their love for Christ and their reliance on the Lord. and I think it is AWESOME.

Anyway, that's not why I wrote this blog. I wanted to share that prayer that she wrote because it is something that I've been praying for myself ever since reading it. That string is so important in our lives, that in all we do, we remain connected always to the Lord. And also, what's even more important, is that we are always praying to be content with what we have. That is something that is SO hard to do, and something that I really admire Sarah Palin for praying for. It's hard to find people who are in the spotlight, whether it be politics or Hollywood or wherever, who ask God to help them be content with what they have. Most of them just want more and more and more. And that is something that I am really praying hard for, that I will let God lead me where He wants me, not where I want me, and that I will be completely content with what I have.

Anyway, I so enjoyed my time in Chicago with family. I missed you all so much and I wish our time together could have been longer. Now it's time for you all to come visit me!! ;) But seriously, I have plenty of room and I would absolutely love for all of you to come out here and see North Carolina.

Well, I'm off to read more of Going Rogue. I really can't put it down. It's a must read!! I recommend it to all. I promise a longer blog to come soon. Only one more week of class, a few finals, and it's Christmas break!! 'Yippee Skippee!!' as Garrett's Aunt Cathy says.

xoxo Annie