Christmas

I haven't blogged in a week or so, mainly because I've found very little to blog about. A week ago last Friday, I turned 18. Yesterday, my sister celebrated her birthday. 18 and 25 are pretty big milestones, aren't they? 18 is when you can vote, buy a lottery ticket, and a lot of other things that you probably shouldn't do. 25? Well, 25 is a quarter of a century. No, I didn't get a tattoo or buy a lottery ticket as soon as I turned 18; in fact, I did very little besides register to vote to prove that I was 18. I've never really felt the pressure to rebel; I've never really wanted to rebel, if that makes sense. Many preacher's kids go off the deep end when they turn 18, 21, or move out of their parent's house. I hope I stay on the straight and narrow, and that God keeps putting people in my life to keep me there. Yes, I have a responsibility to stay there myself, but every Christian needs another Christian to keep them accountable.

But anywho, Friday was Christmas. I have to say, nobody predicted or expected the snowfall; snowfall in Texas?! P-l-e-a-s-e. Yeah right. Texas only gets ice, not snow. We don't get white Christmases. Thursday, an hour after my sister and brother-in-law arrived at our house, it started snowing. And sleeting. None of us expected the snow to last during the afternoon. We all expected it to melt by 2 or 3 p.m. But it didn't. It just kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing, until finally, we had at least 11 inches to a foot of snow on the ground. In TEXAS of all places! I've seen snow in texas before, but NEVER to the extent that it was Thursday. And you know what? IT STAYED!!!! We ended up having to cancel our Christmas Eve service (something I was disappointed about) becuase of the dangerous road conditions. I finally had the White Christmas that I had waited for for so long, but by Christmas morning, I was wishing it had melted! But the snow still stuck around, and yesterday, my brother-in-law and I built a huge snowman. *picture included* What a crazy week! Wednesday, I believe, it hit 70 degrees. Thursday? it was below freezing. Goodness. Only in Texas will you use your air conditioner and heater in the same day.

But seriously: what is Christmas all about? I've always maintained that because of why we celebrate, people seek to look to other means and other figures. Christmas is about Christ. Yeah, I realize it was begun as a pagan holiday, but Jesus hijacked it. Did you know that? Jesus Christ hijacked a PAGAN holiday with His birth and turned it into the greatest day of all history. Jesus' birth was miraculous; the simple fact that He was conceived by a virgin teenager proves that. But more importantly, the whole timing of His birth in and of itself was miraculous; I believe that Jesus' birth took place when the Roman Empire and a certain language was becoming powerful and the mainstay. I don't remember the language, but the language that was the common tongue helped to spread Jesus' message, especially during the first century. Jesus' birth also fulfilled several prophecies, including the one about where He would be born (in Bethlehem). You know, if Joseph hadn't been loyal to Mary after the angel's visit to him, I doubt the prophecy would have been fulfilled. But I honestly believe that God had selected JOseph for Mary in order that JOseph wouldn't just simply divorce her and leave her in Nazareth. God's perfect plan for salvation wouldn't allow a slip-up like JOseph divorcing Mary. They were a couple for a reason: Joseph was of the house and line of David. Jesus had to come from the line of DAvid. why do you think God put them together? I wonder if they ever looked back on those events and wondered, "What if we hadn't stayed together?"

If you've never seen it, you should watch The Nativity Story; it's a fairly accurate portrayal of Luke's account of the event, with a few historical missteps here and there (the 3 kings, when they worshipped Jesus, and the mistake that there was only one angel who visited the shepherds), but overall, I think it portrays Mary and Joseph correctly and what they might have gone through: shame, criticism, and doubts. It also shows how people were out to get Jesus before He was even born; Herod's constant worrying about the prophecies of a new King drove him to kill all the young boys (2 years and under) in Bethlehem; but God had that worked out too. When God's hand is in or on something, nothing can disrupt it because He plans everything out, and He knows the steps and the problems that will arise.

Sometimes, I think we can oversimplify the story of Jesus' birth. It wasn't simple; it was fairly complicated. But the REASON behind His birth IS simple: He came to bring us salvation and eternal life.

That's all I think you have to really understand about Christmas.

Finally a Break

My first semester of college is now officially over, and I am very proud of my grades. I haven't gotten a report or anything just yet, but in biology, I have a B. A B!!!!!!!!! I never expected to have that kind of a grade, or to even pass. Or if I did pass, it would be just enough to get me by. But I was pleasantly surprised that in Biology, one of the hardest subjects, I'm doing better than I expected. I have an A in Composition, but as for my other 2 classes, I have no idea what my letter grade would be; for Algebra probably a B, for History, probably a C or B. Whatever it is, I'm very excited to get my reports in from the school; whenever that is.

But I'm also ready for this break. I was nearing the point of exhausting myself and wearing myself out worrying over getting things done for school. Next semester will be packed...17 hours worth, in fact, although 1 hour of that is Aerobics, so maybe I won't have homework. Haha. I've already bought my books; and added 4 more to the 3 I already have. Good grief. I was going to get a job next semester, but I don't think I can handle it. Then I considered getting a job for my break, but then I realized: between school and a job, when would I rest? Anyways...it's only a few more days until I'm an "adult", and I'm so excited! Then a few more days after that, my sister and brother-in-law are coming down for Christmas. It'll be the first Christmas we'll have with my brother-in-law, and I'm very excited.

Hopefully I'll post some Advent thoughts this Sunday...nothing Advent-related is on my mind right now.

Advent/Pearl Harbor

Last Sunday (not yesterday) marked the beginning of the advent season. One year, my parents and I decided to do an advent wreath; where you have certain candles you light every week. We only did that one year because it seemed like a hassle. But in my devotional magazine (EC-Essential Connection), they suggested I keep a journal for Advent. So I'll post my thoughts here whenever I have them.

Today I finished watching The Nativity Story. I had actually started it 3 or 5 days ago, and I don't know why I never finished it, but anyway. My dad had preached a little on the Holy Spirit causing Mary to conceive Jesus in her womb while she was still a virgin (his sermon was yesterday). Funny enough, where I picked the movie up was the scene where Mary is met by the angel's news that she would be the mother of the Son of God. I love The Nativity Story; I think it's the most realistic and accurate portrayal of the Holy Family to date. Mary was completely willing to let the Lord lead her wherever He willed. She told the angel "let it be done to me as you have said", meaning that she would do whatever the Lord asked of her, even if it meant facing ridicule for being an unwed pregnant mother. Now technically she was married, but she wasn't allowed to live with Joseph until after their betrothal period (typically a year). I love how the film emphasizes her trust in God. Not just a fair weather trust, but a complete and total trust that He would be with her all the way. Many of us, including me, often lose sight of that. We forget to trust in good times, then when bad times come, we try to trust God and are disappointed if there aren't any immediate results. Mary trusted God 100%, and eventually so did Joseph.

Today also marked the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Many men and women lost their lives during that, and those that were there who have survived are heroes. Every person serving in the military (with the exception of those who have turned on US troops) is a hero, whether they saw combat or not. So thank you to all our World War II veterans; and to any veteran/person who served in the military at one point. We owe you our freedom.