Letters from Coco: 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 25

This project, The 25 Days of Christ, has been an amazing experience for me this season. I have been touched by many things...

1. How similar all of our feelings are of the Savior...
All the posts that were sent to me conveyed a love for Jesus Christ and a desire to be more like Him. How amazing and powerful is that? At times, in the society we live in, it is easy to feel like the only person that is trying to follow Jesus Christ. This project proved to me that this is not so. There are so many of us that are quietly trying to follow the path He has set for us, and there is power in that.

2. How different, personal, and individualized our experiences are with the Savior...
Every single person had something different to share. Everybody had had a personal experience of feeling the love of the Savior that was entirely theirs. The Savior Jesus Christ works in a very personal way. He is not distantly observing our lives--He is in the details. We can have a personal relationship with Him, and that is something that nobody can take away from us.

3. I purposely didn't list any of the denominations of the posters during the project. Of course, if you really want to go on a sleuthing adventure you could probably figure it out by different context clues, but the reason I wanted to do that was to help us create more understanding and unity in the Christian community. Instead of going into a post thinking, "Oh they are (insert specific denomination here), I am going to disagree with everything in this post," simply because of pre-conceived notions about the denomination, I wanted us to go in just reading each other's experiences and feeling our own faith grow in Jesus Christ. I loved the moments I had reading where I said to myself, "yea. Me too. I have felt that too." I guess what I am trying to say is that horror of horrors--you might have been touched by a post written from the perspective of that particular Christian denomination you just can't stand. Newsflash: this blog is written by a Mormon. Be careful, or you might be touched by something one of those awful Mormons says about Christ :). By keeping people's denominations unknown, I felt it helped us to keep our hearts open to be edified and our judgements subdued. Competition and contempt between Christian sects is quite silly to me. We are all Christians. We all love Christ. We should be able to have a fellowship and open communication in that. We shouldn't feel scared to share these things--but instead more freely share in order to strengthen one another.

4. There were a couple people that I messaged individually asking if they would be willing to post in order to get the ball rolling on this project. I did this, really, by just going through people in my head thinking of people that I knew were great Christian people that would enjoy sharing. After messaging a couple people, I thought to myself, "Wow. I hope I live my life in a way that I would come to somebody's mind as a Christian that would be willing to share." Of course, I only messaged a couple of the wonderful Christian people that I know. And of course a person can not judge the quality of another's life and certainly not their discipleship BUT what a thought that was. I want to live my life in a way that it is always apparent what I believe and base my life off of. I don't want there to ever be a question in that.

5. I loved being allowed to hear the tender parts of peoples' souls. Every person that posted here is a dear friend and somebody that I admire. It felt so wonderful and fresh to hear these things that are most important to us but that we might not always feel comfortable sharing. There is power in sharing. I really do believe that it is through small and simple people that the Lord brings about great and marvelous things. We really can be a light.

I am so so grateful for the people that contributed to this project. Thank you for having the courage to make yourself vulnerable, open up, and share. Thank you for being willing to stand as a witness and share what you know to be true. I love discipleship, and I love these people who have shared the example of their discipleship with me.

I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and I have tried my best to really dedicate this season to Him. This project was one of my main efforts to do that. The more we focus on Him, the happier we are. Period.

I have tried, at times, to fill the cracks in my life with other things to make me happy. There is no replacement for the Savior of the world. We cannot be truly happy without Him.

I choose Him daily, and He heals me daily. I celebrate Him and all that He is.

Merry Christmas.

- Coco

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 24

The 25 Days of Christ is my project this Christmas to collect different thoughts of Christ from different Christians that come from different perspectives. The goal of my project is to unify us in celebrating and praising our Savior Jesus Christ this holiday season. I hope that throughout December we can let all within us praise His holy name!!

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

I remember when my parents dropped me off at the Naval Academy on July 2, 2008. I was excited, but I was also nervous, scared, and intimidated. It was hot, humid, stuffy, and I was surrounded by yelling; thinking back, it still sounds like the cadre were shouting in a foreign language. They shaved my head, took away all of my personal belongings, put me in a uniform, taught me to salute, and told me that I wasn’t special. The next seven weeks were some of the most difficult of my life. My transition from a seventeen year-old civilian to an officer candidate in the United States Navy was not an easy one, and the strain was not just mental and physical. By the end of plebe summer, I felt spiritually dead. I didn’t have time to read my scriptures, I neglected my prayers, and I was way too busy trying to not get in trouble to even think about doing service for others.

Once the academic year started, things got a little better, but I was still more distant than I had ever been from my Savior. I tried to keep my relationship with Him, but it was so difficult to do in that environment. My shipmates were obsessed with drinking, the stories they told were disgusting, the language they used was abhorrent, and their sense of morality was nowhere near even a semblance of the law of chastity. On top of that, I was beginning to believe the concept that they pounded into me on I-Day: I was not special.

I didn’t feel special. Not at all. I was just another human trying to make it through the hoops of life and not trip too often. I felt alone. I felt unneeded. Sometimes when my friends were all out on liberty, drinking and carrying on, I would stay in the hall by myself, occupy my mind with some mindless video game or movie, and then go to bed early, crying myself to sleep. At first I blamed my unhappiness on my pitiful situation, that it was Academy life that was bringing me down, that the stress of inspections, professional development, formations, academics, workouts, etc. were too much. It was life’s fault, not mine.

But, with the help of a good home teacher, I realized the truth. I felt unhappy because I had distanced myself from Christ. I felt unneeded because He was not the focus of my life. I didn’t feel special because I hadn’t spent enough time with Him to realize how much He loved me. Before then, I knew that the Savior’s Atonement helped us repent of sins and transgressions because I had experience with repentance. But at USNA I began to understand how the Atonement covers all pain, such as my emotional struggles, sadness, and self-doubt. I had been living a pretty clean life up till that moment, but I still felt out of balance spiritually, and it was because I had not yet offered my pain to Him. I hadn’t let Him heal me. And I hadn’t let myself feel of His love because I was prideful and thought I could handle the difficulties of my situation on my own. Once I realized how silly I was being, I resolved to let Him help me, and from then on, my life improved.

And I learned one of the most important truths that any child of God could learn. I was special. He loved ME. He needed ME. My life was important to Him. He cared enough about me to be concerned with my emotional struggles and to take them from me once I gave them to Him. He was there to help. Always. He waited patiently for me to drop my pride and open my heart to Him. He didn’t punish me and He never stopped loving me. And eventually, when I realized that the King of Kings was offering His limitless power to help me, I began to understand the mercy of Jesus Christ.

I know that He lives. I know that He loves me. And I know that He loves you. He cares about YOU. He knows your situation. He knows your emotional, physical, and mental struggles, and He knows how to fix them. You are special to Him. Always. His love for you will never cease, never fade, and never disappoint. If you are feeling unloved, unneeded, not special, alone, or out of balance, go to Him and ask for His help. He will never turn you away, and He will always help you make things better. You are not alone. Pray to the Father and feel the love and Atonement of the Son.

I love Him. He loves me. I know that both of these things are true, and I declare them boldly, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- RBH

Note: The postings from "The 25 Days of Christ" are thoughts shared by guest posters and may not directly reflect the perspective of the blog's main author, Cocoshirley. Any pictures added have been added by Cocoshirley and not by the guest author.

Monday, December 23, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 23

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

I believe the true spirit of Christmas is giving. Like President Monson said in one of his talks, "when you take away the last syllable, Christmas is Christ." So the true spirit of Christmas is giving because "when ye are in the service of our fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

- Darby

Sunday, December 22, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 22

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

There is so much beauty in this special Christmas season, from the colorful lights, to decorated trees, to the time spent with loved ones, it’s a time that brings each year to a close. Aside from all of the beauty in the gatherings and decorations, the most beautiful part of Christmas is in fact the true meaning of that special day. When we all come together to celebrate Christmas we need to be mindful of Christ’s birth, God becoming flesh, on that peaceful and silent night in Bethlehem.

The most precious gift was given to us that day, a gift that any other could never measure up to. Immanuel, God with us, became a reality and all things up until this point had led us here. The Savior was born and he would be the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Everlasting Father, and though the world thought they could defeat him, his kingdom continues to reign.

One of the most overlooked passages in Scripture is just before Jesus’s birth when the angel Gabriel came to visit a young virgin girl by the name of Mary. Most scholars have determined Mary to be about sixteen years of age at the time the angel appeared to her, and while this may seem irrelevant, it plays deeply into the profoundness of her response. When Gabriel told Mary that she would bear a son and that

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

(Lk 1:32-33)

her response is one that I believe would be very difficult for most of us. Where most of us would have several questions and worries about being judged, or having to explain ourselves, Mary’s selfless response is of an attitude we should all strive to achieve this Christmas…or everyday for that matter.

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

(Lk 1:38)

Be it unto me Lord, be it unto me. Wow, the fact that a young girl had the heart and spiritual maturity to know when the Lord was speaking to her and take that call willingly is so incredible to me. For some of us today, it’s hard for us to do a small favor for our family members, let alone listen and respond to God’s will for our lives with such a servant’s heart. It’s truly my prayer that my life model Mary’s response to Gabriel; be it unto me Lord, I am your servant, whatever it is, I say yes.

Let us be a people who don’t count ourselves out of the Lord’s blessings for us. Mary was just a young girl and yet gave birth to the Savior of the world. You are not too young, too unintelligent, too old, too unstylish or hip, too broken, too hurt to receive God’s blessings for your life. He wants so deeply to bless you, all he wants is for you to say yes to him. I wish I could say it is an easy process, but it a daily struggle of saying no to your flesh, to your own desires, that turns into joy in saying yes to God and his will for you life. Which by the way, is so much greater and better than anything you could have ever imagined for yourself. I’m so thankful that I serve a God where my biggest dreams are his smallest for my life. Just wow.

This Christmas, and in this New Year, make it your prayer and your goal to be like Mary and say yes to the Lord. You’ll be surprised at the ways he decides to use and bless you and in the end so full of joy that you did.

I pray that God reveals himself to you in a new way this Christmas season, beware of thinking you know all there is to know about him and that you have nowhere else to grow. He’s not about rules, he’s not about making you suffer to be a do gooder, Jesus Christ is about love, and in order to love you and for you to receive that love you’ve got to enter into a relationship with him. Wow, God loves you so much, and I hope that you can experience his love this season. Many blessings to you! Merry Christmas!

-Vicki

Saturday, December 21, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 21

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

It is amazing what kids can teach you. I don't have my own kids, and at this point I am okay with it, but I do live with three. I can't tell you how excited I get when it is five o'clock and I get to go home. Most nights, M, H, and P are waiting at the door for me, just to welcome me home. They tell me all about their days and what they learned at school. P usually goes "Care Care" and puts his arms up. I pick him up and do a tight squeeze leaving myself completely soaked from his excessive amounts of drool. These are just things I look forward to. The other day I came home from work and Boise had just had its first real snowfall of the year. The sidewalks were barely coated, but the kids suited up to go try out their little shovels. I was not envious, I went straight for the electric fire and sat and waited for them to come back. Let's be honest, I don't love the cold. They came in and were so excited, they had informed me that they had come up with a plan to make money. Like any child, I thought wow these kids are getting to business early in life, they want the finer things in life is what I thought. After hiding in their room for 20 minutes they came out with a cardboard sign that said, "Will shovel side walks for 2$." It was not very legible, and I quickly thought judgmental thoughts of their feeble attempts to make money in a neighborhood like mine. It then occurred to me to ask what they were earning money for. They both replied with the most humbling answer. They explained to me that they wanted to earn enough money to buy their baby brother P (about 1) a Christmas ornament for the tree. They each had one, but he didn't. They explained to me that they didn't want him to feel left out on Christmas morning. I can guarantee you P would not know if there was an object on the tree that was solely for him, he will be too consumed by the wrapping paper, but that's not the point. M and H showed me that they understood the true meaning of Christmas. For that short amount of time they put all of the Legos and Barbies they wanted out of their minds and thought of someone else. They thought about another person, it wasn't because they felt obligated but because they didn't want him to feel left out, they did it out of kindness. That is the true Spirit of Christ.

- Clare

Friday, December 20, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 20

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

Jesus confuses me.

I have a hard time admitting that. He's JESUS, after all! Lord of my life, forgiver of my sins, the one who came to Earth as a tiny baby to bring me into God's family once and for all. And I do love Him.

But when I read His words, I find my boat gets rocked. See, I'm a compulsive rule-follower. I love my "checklist": tell me what to do, and I'll do it. But He says things like this:

"You have heard that it was said to an older generation, 'Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.' But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment."

In fact, half of Jesus's famous Sermon on the Mount is made up of statements like that. "You have heard this rule. But I say to you: it's way bigger than that."

He's cutting down the legalistic Pharisees, who walked around with their noses in the air feeling superior. And He does a pretty good job of keeping my ego deflated, too. I want to reduce Jesus's teachings to a list of rules. Do not murder, do not commit adultery, take an eye for an eye. Check, check, check. See how righteous I am? See how together I have it?

But Jesus didn't come to give the rule-followers like me another checklist to complete. He came to show us a new kingdom--a kingdom where the things our societies trample on are the cardinal values: humility, meekness, and mercy. A kingdom where our hearts yearn to please our Heavenly Father, not by keeping a list of rules, but by becoming more and more like His.

He knew we couldn't make it there on our own, so He, the perfect citizen of that new kingdom, made a way for us to get there. He calls me to accept my place in that new order, and it's a place where I have no business feeling any sort of pride. Frankly, that's a tough sell for me. But this Jesus who offers mercy, grace, love, and family so freely--but at great cost to Himself--makes me want to keep figuring this "following" thing out.

And in those moments when I realize how lost I truly am, how small-minded and small-hearted I am, I'm really glad Jesus didn't care about my silly checklist, anyway.

- Rachel M.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 19

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

Let me start by saying that I looooooove Christmas. This has not always been the case, there were some years in which Christmas felt very sad and nostalgic to me. That was until I realized that Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the biggest source of hope and peace in my life, the Savior Jesus Christ. The Young Women in my ward and I have been practicing "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" which is a beautiful primary song.

"I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild

And awed to be the guardian of Mary's sacred child.

Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,

And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph's gentle hands.

And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern's light

And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night."

I love the simplicity of The Savior's birth, such a humble event has brought so much joy to this world.

Today I feel inspired because I just found out that after many years, an Apostle of the Lord was able to visit my native country. There have been so much going on there for the last 16 years, but it is wonderful to know that the saints there are still strong and faithful, and have not let politics and poverty diminish their faith and hope. May The Lord protect the saints in Venezuela and any other place where they may be suffering from persecution and oppression.

I cannot describe in words how much I love my Savior. He has given me everything, even more than I deserve. I'm thankful this year for my husband and daughter, my parents and siblings, and everyone else that has contributed to my happiness this year.

Here's the video!

http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/the-gospel-in-venezuela?cid=HPTU121713268&im=true&lang=eng

Dejenme empezar diciendo que encaaaaaaaanta la Navidad. No siempre ha sido así, por varios años sentí que la Navidad era una temporada triste y nostálgica. Así fue hasta que me di cuenta que la Navidad es un tiempo para celebrar el nacimiento de mi mayor fuente de paz y esperanza, El Salvador Jesucristo. Las mujeres jóvenes de mi barrio y yo hemos estado practicando "Al irse a Belén José" que es un hermoso himno de la primaria.

"Yo pienso que en el mesón su suerte aceptó,

y ser guardián del Cristo de asombro lo llenó.

Habrá acariciado tiernamente al bebé,

y éste habrá sentido el cariño de José.

Y junto al pesebre, apagó la tenue luz,

y en sus brazos, con amor, sostuvo a Jesús."

Me encanta la simplicidad del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador. Este evento tan humilde ha traído tanto gozo a este mundo.

Hoy me siento inspirada porque acabo de enterarme que despues de muchos años, un apóstol del Señor pudo visitar mi país natal. Han pasado tantas cosas allá en los últimos 16 años, pero es maravilloso saber que los santos allá todavía están fuertes y fieles y no han dejado que la política y la pobreza afecten su fe y esperanza. Que el Señor proteja a los santos en Venezuela y el cualquier otro lugar del mundo dónde están sufriendo persecución y opresión.

No puedo describir con palabras cuánto quiero al Salvador. El me ha dado todo, aún más de lo que merezco. Este año estoy agradecida por mi esposo y mi hija, mis padres y mis hermanos, y por todas las personas que han contribuido a mi felicidad este año.

- Andreina

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 18

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

My name is Chase, I’m 23 and live in Salt Lake City. I grew up in the ‘bible belt’ of eastern New Mexico. My family folk were very frequent church goers while I was growing up, so the concept of God was something always familiar to me. Early in my youth we spent our Sundays at an Assembly of God church, and then we kind of transitioned into going to different kinds of churches. We spent a lot of time in churches that would probably be uncomfortable for a great deal of people, ‘speaking in tongues’ and ‘being slain in the spirit’ type things. I remember being fairly confused at that age about the whole church experience. But there was one evening where I was really sick, and my mom had some kind of anointing oil that the church had given out to whoever wanted some, and she wiped some of that on my forehead and said a prayer. It was a pretty bizarre experience, but one of the first moments I remember being pretty wowed by a supernatural type thing because I didn’t feel sick anymore, and I remember playing a baseball game the next day feeling one hundred percent. Whenever I got into high school we went to a different part of New Mexico, up near the four corners and my parents started going to a more conservative type non-denominational church.

When I got my first car, I went to a church that was a little less about the mystical side of Christianity and more about the teaching of the bible and learning about the life of Jesus and the whole concept of creation all together. I think this is where I first started to experience life from a perspective of fellowship and what it might mean to be a follower of Christ. My prayers began to be less about fear of missing the rapture and not being good enough, and more about being thankful about the grace that God has extended to the people on earth and asking Him how I could be a better servant to Him.

Nowadays I go to a couple different churches in Salt Lake City and I’m very humbled at how good God has been to me. I think one of the themes that I have been pondering in my experience with God is how consistent and faithful He is in bringing us all back to Him. I think a lot about the idea of our human experience and how we kind of have this puzzle somewhere in the DNA of our souls that is searching for something or missing something. We try to fit in a lot of different pieces that never quite complete us or make us want we want to be whether that is money, or vanity, or status or some other factor x that makes us feel complete and validated. I think that missing puzzle got lost through Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God and instead took actions that broke our connection to the Creator.

From that moment on it was inevitable that everything would die and be disconnected. In the time following that, humanity began to try and figure out how to mend that leaking gap of the absence of life. People created their own gods and fought defending those gods, they built temples up to appease those gods. Even today, we are still fighting and destroying ourselves in pursuit of trying to fix that thing missing in our spiritual DNA.

About two thousand years ago however, we received that missing link through Jesus. He came to our earth in a humble fashion born to poor people in a rough part of town. He grew up and astounded religious leaders and was infinitely graceful to people who had fallen short of doing things the right way. He lived a sinless life and traveled around with a bunch of guys telling the world who He was. And, at the end of His life, He was murdered, and by some mysterious way His death took the place of what we would otherwise be put under.

It’s difficult to try and sum up the gospel in such a short writing, but I guess what makes Jesus real to me is that I feel like somebody is listening when I pray. The way the church spread following His death is pretty wild. This one person has influenced the world over the course of a millennium. Even our structure of time is centered on when He was here. I think God is present with us in every moment, and He is continuously bringing His creation back to Himself and His glory.

I’m very thankful to God and His infinite love that He has for us that is demonstrated through grace and the faith He gives us that there is something much better after all of this. Every one of us has messed up in some way or another but we are forgiven through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I think it’s something very beautiful and something very real.

- Chase

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 17

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

Lord of All: Even Christmas

When I was 12 years old I first began to understand that Jesus died for me. I grew up going to church sporadically but then, once it became inconvenient, rarely. I had never once thought about having a relationship with The Lord. That idea was introduced to me when God met me on a junior high church retreat that I begrudgingly signed up for. Jesus came alive to me when the speaker spoke, scripture was spoken, and when listening to the lyrics.

Since that day over 15 years ago, every day I am still learning how big, how wonderful, how glorious Jesus is. I will forever be indebted to Him for what He did on the cross for me and for you. I want to live every day for Him. I want my marriage to be about serving each other like Christ did and serving others together like Christ did. When we begin to understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we realize that the clear response is complete and utter humility for we are so so undeserving of his passionate, all-consuming love.

We are now approaching Christmas, a season that I wish I looked forward to more. Sadly, I am torn between truly wanting to be one of the few voices that try to point back to Christ as the whole and true reason why Christmas exists and being overwhelmed with the secular (and unfortunately also some Christian) voices who highlight Santa and a holiday-induced-kindness-to-all. But we, as Christians, must become the louder voice. Let's highlight Jesus during this season and truly every season. Do we celebrate this week because some fictional character drops off too many presents at homes that already suffer from too much? Or do we celebrate because the Savior of the World, The Lord Jesus, has been born to save us from our sins? Let's celebrate. Let's bring out the birthday candles. Let's get into God's Word. Let's bask in the love of Christ together.

- Emily

Monday, December 16, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 16

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

Over 2000 years ago, Jehovah left the side of his eternal Father and descended from that perfect habitation and took unto him the small shell of a mortal body. The babe lay in his Mother's arms just as any infant would, yearning for physical nutrition as any natural baby would, and his Mother lovingly provided the natural nourishment his new physical body required. The Savior would grow into that mortal Frame as you and I have and are growing into ours but never forgetting where he came from or his divine lineage. He would practice steadily the spiritual habits that would aid him in mastering the weak flesh he received as a consequence of Adam's fall, always remembering what his life was for, A sacrifice for all. Though we don't know the details of his adolescent life or into his teen years, I imagine him having friends and playing and running and laughing and studying, just as you and I do everyday. I try to place myself into the moments when he was in his teen years, in the moments he was in deepest communion with his Father, reflecting and conversing over the governments and glories of heaven (you and I) and retaining the motivation we have him. You see he was and still is completely motivated outward. He is simple in taste and calm in composition. He is simply graceful. He laughs, he weeps, he hopes, he dreams. He is alive. He is patient, So patient, calm and kind. He loves me, his actions proved that. I love him and my actions will prove that, therefore, I will keep his commandments to love our joint Father. I will love myself so that I can love my neighbors as myself. Be heroic, be creative and most importantly be honest and in love. Jesus is my brother and I believe him. These truths I swear my life on his name, JESUS THE ANOINTED ONE, amen.

- Andrew

Sunday, December 15, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 15

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

Lord my rock, my strength. Lord my home, my song. Lord my hope, my peace. Lord my soul, my love. Lord who is all things and whom through all things are possible.

Our precious Savior, we celebrate in this time of rejoicing for you were born to save us. Lord you came for the salvation of the children your heart breaks for and longs to have at your right hand. God this season brings such thanksgiving and reflection to my life. It takes me outside of myself and my circumstances to reflect on the truth that you came for me, for us.

I think something The Lord has continued to teach me this past year is the many facets we have in our relationship. He loves as a bridegroom. He provides as a Father. He protects as a loyal friend. Through the understanding of these different facets oh how my love for Him has grown...
How I have fallen more in love with Him as the days pass. How I have become more appreciative for the way He provides and for His perfect provision and timing. And how I have cherished our intimate time together as such a dear friend.

I continue to stand in awe over our Savior and how He loves us. The sweet babe in a manger that came to save. To have a relationship with us. To call us by name to follow Him into eternity. I stand here humbled and overwhelmed by the greatness of His presence as I reflect over His grace and power--the one through whom all blessings flow.

We rejoice in this Christmas season over the King of Kings, Wonderful Counselor, who is mighty to save and does! Lord we rejoice over you and thank you for the gift of yourself. For there is no greater gift or act of love. Oh Father, for how great is your love.

"This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me." --John 17:3, 23

- Rachel C.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 14

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

When our children were young we baked a cake each Christmas and sang happy birthday to Jesus to signify that God gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son. We raised our children with the understanding that our Christmas gifts to each other are an expression of God's true love for us. He sent His Son to die on the cross for us so that we may have eternal life with Him. Colossians 1:15-20 captures the essence of Jesus' divine nature and emphasize the truths that make Christmas truly wonderful. It says,
"He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For . . . all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first born from the dead; so that He himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross."
The Christmas season brings with it traditions, sights, aromas, events, family, friends, and fellowship. There is a certain lightness and joyfulness that accompanies this time of year. The most significant for me as a Christian is celebrating the truth that the Child of Christmas is God. Christmas is not about the Savior's infancy, it is about God being born into this world. Jesus was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. An yet, He was also fully God, all wise and powerful.
It is truly the most wonderful time of year, the celebration of the first born, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He knows every hair on my head, He has counted my days and He guides and protects me each step of every day. My worship and conversations start with Him each morning before I rise out of bed. Every act of my day is a form of worship and every day He gives me is a blessing and a gift. He is my best friend, He knows the best and worst of me and yet loves me, because I am His and He is my Savior and Redeemer.
Christmas is a miraculous and special season of worship and gratitude for God's gift to us. John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Merry Christmas!

- Sue

Friday, December 13, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 13

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ--the spotless Lamb of God who took upon Himself the sins of the world--I consider not only His birthday, but also my second birth that occurred in October 1985 after I turned 30. That was the day that I came to the shocking and room shaking revelation that the Bible was speaking directly to me.
Reading a tract that was put into my hands by the mother of a dear friend, I was shaken to my core and realized that I was a sinner. I had hurt God's feelings! This Bible that had always been so distant to me, suddenly came to life as I fell on the floor, repenting and crying before my Lord. I could not see for the cloud that had filled the room. I began tearing up books from my bookcase like a mad woman, determined to remove anything that was remotely offensive to my Lord who was filling me with His Holy Spirit.

It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance, and on that day in 1985, He was very, very good to me. He brought me into new life, and my spirit was born anew. Through faith in His grace, I have grown in Him--just like a child--feeding on His word and being lead by the Holy Spirit--my teacher, counselor, and comforter.
He has changed me from the inside out, taking away my desire to sin and supernaturally changing my attitudes and opinions. A dear friend once said, "What we behold, we become like." And the more we behold Jesus, the more we die to our old selves and become more like Him.

So, this Christmas as we look upon the images of baby Jesus lying in a manger, consider for a moment the new birth awaiting all of us who will call upon His Name. He is "no respecter of persons." The invitation is open to all who desire to know Him.

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:12-13)

- Stephanie

Thursday, December 12, 2013

25 Days of Christmas - Day 12

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

For a few years on my birthday, a family friend would send me roses. A couple of years ago, I wondered if the tradition would continue, since I haven't seen this beloved friend in years. No flowers came from him that day. I wasn't broken up over it by any means, but I did notice. Later on that day, I came downstairs to find a pink rose on the table. It was from my neighbor's garden, and I quickly asked my parents if they had told my neighbor about the tradition. Nope. But Jesus knew.

This has happened to me a couple of other times as well: once with a friend bringing me Christmas lights for my dorm room as a present without me requesting it, and once with my parents buying me cupcakes for my birthday without knowing I wanted them. For me, it was not the gifts that mattered so much as knowing God sees and loves me. I know he sees and loves you too, and I know that every good and perfect gift comes from him, big and small. (James 1:17) I hope you'll believe that this holiday, because I do.

- Carmen

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

25 Days of Christ - Day 11

Photo by Mark Mabry (http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/index.php)

I know that Jesus Christ my Savior and Redeemer. It is He who has molded me into the man that I am. It is He who gives me the hope that I can become so much more. These things I know and feel, especially during this time of year that we celebrate His birth.

When I say I feel it, it isn't the same as feeling cold or feeling under the weather, it's so much more than physically feeling anything. It's an emotion, it's something you experience inside of you. To me the world "feel" and "know" are directly related. To truly know, you must feel, and not only do I know that Christ lives through experiences and prayer, but I can feel it. It's the warm dedication and sincere commitment that I experience in the purpose of my heart, that is what I feel when I think of Christ and my relationship with Him. During this Christmas season the word "feel" becomes real. Many times we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth, but we never fail to notice that feeling. That feeling is Christ's love. It's the feeling that He lives and knows each of us. We dont always recognize what those feelings are, but I promise that as we ponder on that wonderful feeling we always seem to experience this time of year, we will recognize that it comes from Him. I am forever grateful for my Savior and His love. I feel and see His influence in my life daily, and this is Christmas, I promise to share and show that feeling to all those around me. Isn't that what Christmas cheer is?

Christmas poem by anonymous:

Though Christ a thousand times,

In Bethlehem be born,

If He's not born in you,

Your soul is still forlorn.

Ah, would your heart but be

A manger for His birth,

Once more would God now come,

With peace upon the Earth

- Alex

"And all the time the joke is that the word 'mine' in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about anything. In the long run either our Father or the Enemy will say 'mine' of each thing that exists, and specifically of each man. They will find out in the end, never fear, to whom their time, their souls, and their bodies really belong - certainly not to them, whatever happens"

- C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

"The clouds above us join and separate,

the breeze in the courtyard leaves and returns.

Life is like that, so why not relax?

Who can stop us from celebrating?"

-Lu Yu