Ready or not, here it comes!

I don't do hustle and bustle. I don't do packed schedules or really schedules at all for that matter. There is a reason that we have a very laid back household and very few obligations that require us to be to a certain destination at a particular time. We're just that kinda people. This week promises to break me out of that non-routine. For the next seven days straight we've got places to be, people to see, programs to attend, food to eat, presents to open, and a baby to peak in on(yes... again!). On top of that, I don't even have all my shopping done. The monster snowstorm that's had us stranded indoors for the past three days didn't help one bit with getting that done. I just need to grab a few stocking stuffers, though, nothing major.

The hardest thing for me this week is not allowing myself to become overwhelmed with all the goings on. Yes, Christmas has become a holiday associated with family and with stuff, but way way before that, it was the beginning of the rest of eternity and that's what I want to focus my own heart and the hearts of my children on. This is HUGE!! Our very salvation hinges on God the Son coming to earth to atone for our sins. If it weren't for that tiny baby coming to earth, we'd be utterly hopeless!

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

I like what my ESV Study Bible has to say about this passage:

'Became flesh' does not mean the Word ceased being God; rather, the Word, who was God, also took on humanity (cf. Phil. 2:6–7). This is the most amazing event in all of history: the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinitely holy Son of God took on a human nature and lived among humanity as one who was both God and man at the same time, in one person. 'Dwelt among us' means more literally “pitched his tent” (Gk. skēnoō), an allusion to God's dwelling among the Israelites in the tabernacle (cf. Ex. 25:8–9; 33:7). In the past, God had manifested his presence to his people in the tabernacle and the temple. Now God takes up residence among his people in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine)

I am so grateful, beyond words, that God in His unbelievable grace and boundless mercy sent a piece of Himself, His precious Son, for me. It is my prayer for you, that you are able to escape the noise of the season and come before your King with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving for His undeniable love. Join with the angels and shepherds who sang loudly and proclaimed the news(Luke 2:13-18), but also join with Mary who "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."(Luke 2:19)

Have a blessed week!!