Christmas Miracles, Christmas Blessings

As I sit here and reflect upon the past few weeks that have gone by, I can't help but acknowledge as Mary did in Luke 1:38: "May it be to me as You have said." The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least... full of surprises, unexpected blessings and miracles, God-moments... all wrapped up in the holiday we celebrate called Christmas!

Let me list a few... each moment unplanned... each moment God's idea!

An unexpected carload of presents... leftover from the dinner our church helped served for families affected with HIV/AIDs... all donated to our church... enabling us to bless 19 more children in our church's immediate target area. That is nineteen more children from the three that we had originally planned to buy presents for! Talk about being reminded of the Bible story of 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

A God-moment... I hear about a few families in my son's class who have been affected by the recent economic downturn... not being able to provide their children with a merry Christmas... an opportunity to slip a few Toys 'R' Us giftcards into my son's teacher's hand so that she can pass them on... definitely what Christmas should be all about!

Downsizing at my workplace announced the week before Christmas... our department reduced to two people, my boss and myself... resulting in more work for me! Not what I had in mind at all... I wanted reduced hours... but all in God's sovereign hand. I am trusting that He knows best and this is what He wants for me at this moment in time.

So... Christmas has come and gone. We are stuffed from eating too much. The kids are overwhelmed by the presents they have received, to say the least! We are truly blessed. For our family, 2008 has been a year of truly seeing and believing God! As we look towards the New Year, I am definitely looking forward to more of the same in 2009... may God grant us more opportunites to join Him where He is at work!

Joshua 24:15 (NIV) --- "...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Family Christmas Photos

The house is decorated... the presents have been bought... still some wrapping to do... the Christmas portraits have been taken... Christmas letters and cards are being stuffed into envelopes... and will soon be on their way.

We're getting ready for Christmas and our home is abuzz!!! It is our favourite time of the year. Here are some of our family Christmas photos selected from the numerous shots we took! Wow, I can't imagine going back to the non-digital camera age.

Luke 1:35, 37-38 (NIV) --- The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God... For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.