I vividly remember the very first book of the Bible that I read all the way through (practically in one sitting). It was the book of Job, and I was 14-years-old. I was going through a very difficult time in my life due to family circumstances out of my control. I feel God led me to that book, because He wanted to show me things really could be worse than they were, and He was right! He also wanted me to trust Him and only Him. I remember reading and being amazed at the faith Job had when all but his life was taken from him. I remember thinking I could never be that way – or maybe I could. As a teenager, I felt I could endure anything and come out unscathed. So – if Job could deal with that kind of pain, then so could I. Or so I thought. Things got worse – not better. I was miserable. However, during those darkest days, I witnessed the LIGHT of Christ in ways I had never seen up to that point. It was then I learned to trust Him.

Fast forward several years, and I was once again thrust into a terrible situation – the worst kind of rejection you can imagine. The pain was unbearable, and I did the only thing I knew to do – read the book of Job again. My old faithful friend Job showed me once again that somewhere, somehow my situation wasn’t as bad as it could be. Somebody was hurting even more than me, but that didn’t feel possible at the time. Those dark days turned into years, but once again I witnessed the LIGHT of Christ in ways I had not seen to that point. It was then I continued to trust Him.

Oswald Chambers once said, “Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him?” I wish I could say that were true, but I’m still the same imperfect, miserable person that fails terribly when bad things happen to me. I want to say “take it all Lord” if it means knowing and trusting Him more, but there’s something still within me that screams, “no wait!”. Honestly, it will probably be a lifetime lesson that I will never fully learn, but I’m certainly willing to try. How about you?

I love Christmas! I really do. No, not the emphasis on gifts, but the emphasis on THE GIFT that was given to us in the form of a baby around 2000 years ago. Because of that, I love to participate in things or attend events that focus on that element of CHRISTmas.

My husband, daughter, and I are all participating in our the annual Christmas program that our church puts on each year. I’ve done it once before, but it’s been several years. And…truth be told…I forgot how hard it is. This is not just some simple Christmas program. It’s one that has a cast and crew of around 800, takes months and months of planning, lots of rehearsal, and then will take place over 8 performances. Tonight was dress rehearsal, and going into it – I was worn out. I’ve actually picked up a little bug that I’ve been fighting too. So, between being tired and being sick – I really didn’t want to be there. I actually started questioning why I signed up for this in the first place and quietly scolded myself for always biting off more than I can chew. The program has two parts – one that is primarily secular and one that is biblical. I’m in the secular segment and haven’t really stayed around for many of the biblical rehearsals, because I didn’t have to. But, tonight…I stayed and watched the whole thing! I was moved – yet again – by the simple, but very profound message of CHRISTmas.

I was ashamed of myself for allowing thoughts of dread and regret to fill my head. So what if takes a little sacrifice on my part? It’s worth it if even one person that comes to see the program is changed by that message! Sacrifice…that brought a familiar passage to mind:

“But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.” 2 Samuel 24:24

Sacrifice. Is it really considered sacrifice if it costs you nothing? Maybe this week might cost me a little sleep and might cause me to fill a little run down. But, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. In the grand scheme of things – it’s nothing in comparison to THE sacrifice that God made for us in the gift of that little baby over 2000 years ago.