Mary did you know?

One of my favorite songs during Christmas and in general is the song "Mary did you know?".  As a mother I can so easily relate to Mary.  I remember my labor pains well and I can only imagine what Mary's labor was like.  Her first labor and she was birthing the son of God.  As much as I can relate to Mary I cannot fathom what that must have been like.  As someone who knows what it feels like when the Holy Spirit is present in a real way I can't even begin to imagine how thick the air was that night.  Just she and Joesph as she labored and worked to delivery this baby.

Then i begin to think about her caring for him. There is this line in the song "This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you."  Can you imagine looking at your baby that you delivered and knowing that he will deliver you?

As we enter into Christmas with our families and the trees are surrounded by presents let us remember that a baby boy with a humble beginning came to save this broken world.  Let us remember that as he left earth to sit at the right hand of the LORD he asked us to be his light in this world.  He wants to save the world through us.  Just like Mary we are just ordinary people but God wants to use us to do something extraordinary.  It will take faith.  It means casting aside fears.  It means not caring what other people think when you love radically.

Can you imagine Mary and Joesph this is our son Jesus he is the son of God.  People probably thought they were crazy.  People probably ridiculed them.  Some probably talked about Joesph as the man who took care of another mans child.  They carried on as though they knew they were carrying the light of the world.  

My challenge to you this Christmas season is to remember that Christs light shines through you and that light shines brightest in the dark.

Reflecting on Adoption Day

On Friday November 22nd we adopted our twins.  A boy and a girl named Luke and Ava.

This year we completed two adoptions!  Life is wild when you truly say yes to wherever the LORD leads.  Many people tell us we are blessing these sweet children, but I am here to tell you it is the other way around.  Trevor, Luke, and Ava have brought more joy into our lives then I could have ever dreamed of!  We have gained Aunties and Uncles. Cousins and Grandparents.  Our heart is full with the love that surrounds us.  What has happened through our adoptions is not of this world.  

Adoption is love.  Just as we are adopted as sons and daughters of God because of his great love for us.  To quote a friend adoption takes something broken and makes it whole.

So here we are all 7 Stone's

Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of Joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

Praise our LORD for he trades beauty for ashes!  May all 5 of our children follow him all the days of their lives and may they bring him glory in all they do.