Big Picture

Christmas is coming, and we are so excited to be able to spend Christmas here in NOLA. 

It's incredible to think that God would leave all of His comforts, and glory to come and be with us.  To be born in a dirty barn, and then put in a cow food bowl--I have thought about this a lot.  (Especially having 3 Newf's at one time in our home...they reminded me of small cows some days) 

It would seem to be realistic that when there was no room for them to stay, that it was probably at the end of the trip, and the animals would have been extra smelly, dirty, hungry, needing to go to the bathroom...

I remember being in the hospital when my kids were born; so little, so fragile, so clean...

What it must have been like for our Heavenly Father to watch His Son be born here.

The sacrifices that God has made, because He loves us so much.  We are so glad to be with Him here in NOLA, to be adopted as His kids, and to share His Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven--to tell the story of what He has done because He loves us.

Is it really a sacrifice to follow Him, to give to Him, to serve Him...

I think it's a privilege, an honor, an adventure. 

God, help us get our eyes off of the small picture, and see Your Big Picture this Christmas

Merry Christmas

Welcome to NOLA

3500 miles, a 24 foot moving truck, 2 separate moving locations, and 5 states later (visited 3 times in 3 days) and  we are finally here, and we are excited!

After months of prayerful preparation, paring down, connecting with friends, and much planning we have finally taken the leap and are in our new place in NOLA.

God has provided a place for us while we are transitioning to NOLA.  God has provided a church body to come alongside us and to minister to us.  God provided many hands to do the moving work, and we are thankful.

I have had a chance to wander Magazine St. and pray, as well as sit in CC's and write a bit.  (The coffee shop a few folks said that I reminded them of when we were seeking God's direction for planting)  That time writing and praying, and talking with Cristina has got me thinking...

Christmas brings not only the gift of hope in Jesus for us this year, but a new set of eyes.  We are grateful for what God has provided, and are seeing how much we really do have--in many ways too much.

I am praying that God would continue to give eyes to see, ears to hear, and an obedient heart to respond to His Holy Spirit's leading.

I am so grateful for the enormous blessings that God has lavished on us, and I realize that the wealth that God gives is neutral in nature and it depends on where our hearts are at.

Yet, with that in mind I wonder if in all the consumerism of Christmas we have missed so much more than we realize?

What do you think?