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