Christmas is always special.  This year it was extra special for my wife and I.  Since we are in the process of adopting 2 boys, this was our first Christmas with our kids.  It’s been 4 awesome months since we had them placed in our home.  We had so much fun buying them gifts and spending time with the family.  We also threw a birthday party for Jesus and had cake, etc.  It was truly a wonderful day.  We were also blessed with having a white Christmas.  A very cold but white Christmas.  I think we ended up with at least 7 inches of snow and the snow drifts from the 50mph wind conditions made it even deeper in places.

Last year we flew up to Seattle to my family for Christmas and was stuck in about 18″ of snow.  It started falling a couple hours before we landed and didn’t really stop for a day or two.  So we are blessed to have two white Christmas’ in a row.  In fact if we would have been in Texas this Christmas we would have had a white one as well. (very unusual)

I love the Christmas lights too.  This year we took the boys to a city park with all these lights and it took FOREVER, but we enjoyed them and had fun even though it was a late, late night for all of us.

Christmas – the Birth of Jesus:
Luke 2:8-16 (ESV)

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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.10 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

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Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

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When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

I’m thankful for new life through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Luke 24:1-8

The Resurrection

¹On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸Then they remembered his words.

Good Friday, the Death of Jesus, the Start of Easter weekend and Jesus’ Resurrection!!!

NIV:

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus’ Death
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by.  It seems like yesterday was the spring storm season and now we are about to change our clocks back and get ready for Thanksgiving.  The last two months always seem to just fly by.  Work is usually busy and schedules get filled up pretty quick on the home front.

One thing I really can’t stand however is how early they start the Christmas displays and ad’s.  This year most stores I went into had Christmas decorations up by October 15th.  I’m sorry but I do believe this is way to early.

At least I have seen some of the major gifts being advertised yet, like gaming systems, dollhouses and most major electronics.  I’m sure the ad’s will start appearing soon since Halloween is tomorrow.

Happy Halloween…!!!

Well almost..

My wife and about 13 others from our church are leaving tomorrow for a 1 week church planting mission trip to Xalapa. Mexico.  They are going with next worldwide, and last night they had there last minute meeting and prayer time.  Saturday morning they have to be at the airport at 4:30am, yes you read that right, 4:30 in the MORNING.  And guess who gets to take a few of them to the airport, yes me..!!  he he (it doesn’t bother me)

They have a quick flight to Mexico City and then a 4 hour layover..  (that should be fun, not!) and then a quick hop (less than 1 hour) to there destination.  You know what would be awesome for them.  If they had a private jet charter and it took them on a direct non-stop flight.  Yeah that would be really awesome.

Anyways I really hope and pray that the mission trip will be a success and the other church as well as Next Worldwide and our church all come back safe and healthy.

I heard Louie Speak at Passion Dallas a couple months ago when I volunteered my weekend to help out with this event. It was an amazing time even though I didn’t hear every talk but what I did hear was amazing. This is one of those small parts of one of his speeches that you should listen to.

image by tazdog…