December Update - Becoming Poor

As it is for probably most of you, December is our busiest month of the year.  Ironically, when it should be a time of reflection and slowing down to meditate on the gift of Jesus, Tracey and I usually spend it resenting each overbooked weekend and complaining about too much activity, too much food, too much to get done in too little time...

We become stressed, angry, exhausted, impatient. 

We are distracted by to-do lists, gift-giving, over-celebrating, and trying not to look exhausted in pictures.  

The first day of the month we were supposed to run a half marathon.  8 hours before the race, Tracey got a really nasty stomach virus.  I was soon to follow, and sadly Lil' Man did later on.  We were knocked flat for DAYS, with our biggest weekend of 3 major events soon approaching in 4 short days.  And guess what?  The world moved on.  

Last week, about the time we would be editing our video (yes, this month is supposed to be a video...) our computer crashes.  We both get this look of 50% panic and 50% complete relief, because we know we don't have an option now of not being able to work on some things that just "had to get done..."  And you know what?  The world moved on again.  

While they are seemingly small and insignificant events, I find the timing of them to be anything but coincidental.  God is humorously reminding us to slow down.  He is reminding us of the things that are most important.  He is giving us perspective.

We could tell you of the many events that went on these past 2 months, show you pictures and videos, and we will at some point.  But not this month.

This is a time to slow down, to reflect, to remember what God has already done for us.    

God has been rocking my world on what solidarity with the poor looks like.  If you want to see what I mean by that, read our last blog post.

I just can't get over that Jesus chose to become poor with us.  That he chose to live in our world.  That he chose to give up everything.  And he did all of that for us.

Our prayer is that we would not forget to remember what's really important about Christmas - Not just in this month of December, but each day.  That we would not forget that this is the most extreme love the world has and will ever see.  And that we would not allow culture or consumerism steal this time of true celebration away from us. 

January Prayer Requests

1) To pursue Christ more intentionally  

2) Being wise with making technical/logistical changes to goEnglish 

3) Knowing how to best love people