It feels nothing like Christmas time, and it really doesn't even feel like December. A few days ago, I realized why preparing for this Christmas was more challenging for me than the past. This is my first Christmas, that I will not have a month off from school. This is the first time that I am not preparing to come home from college to be with family and see friends. I have been here the whole time. This past week, was just another week. Nothing spectacular about it.
Some may call me Scrooge or Bah Humbug, but maybe its only because Christmas is not the season we are really in. Never in my life, have I understood the season of Advent so clear. Taking all this time to prepare, prepare for what, something that we do every year? But no, this is a time of preparation for Christ Jesus to be born, in a stable, to a woman who was single! This is a time of preparation to see how incredible our Holy Father really is!!
There are some days in my life that believing in God, is just like wearing shoes. We all do it. But then they are some days, that I struggle to understand the concept of not believing in him. How can live be livable without knowing that he is there to take your hand, or catch you by the shoulders when you are about to fall flat on your face?? And then there are days that he is standing there watching the complete awe of the happiness and joy in our world. He is there when we are running around like a washer machine, working to be in all places at once when magnificent things are happening. These are the days, that I must remind myself to praise him, to glorify him, because he is the reason that magnificent days happen!
Every notice how the shipping and handling prices can sometimes be a ridiculous percent of what you are ordering? I recently ordered 16 trunks for LEOS (Lenoir Emergency Outreach Shelter), soon to be opening, from CN&N Everything SummerCamp. When talking to the sales rep about ordering this many at once, I was curious if I could recieve a discount. They decided to offer me free shipping and handling, that was a whole $300.00+. Wow! And then my next order was to American Bedding, where I was ordering 10 sets of bunk beds, 20 xl-twin bed bug proof mattresses, 20 xl-twin bed bug proof mattress covers, and 20 safety rails. When talking to the sales rep, I asked him the same question, and he responded with not sure. Turned out he could get me at 15% discount, but I still had the shipping and handling fee of almost $500. With a little talk, a lot of connections, an amazing company, and God's hand in play...BERNHARDT furniture picked up our shipment and delivered to us, with no shipping cost.
God really is good! It is days like these when I need to remember to get down on my knees, talk to the LORD and say Thank you!
Dear heavenly Father, without you precious guidance, I would be no where close to where I am now. Who knows what I would be doing. You helped me to see my calling and to be lead to where I can do what I am called to do. We only have 5 days left to Advent, and wow I need more time. I feel I need more time. Blessed Father, everything is only possible with you. I want you to lead me, I want to follow you. In Jesus holy name, amen.
