This weekend’s scripture really hit home for me. With Christmas just a few days away, many of us are making those last minute purchases. We’re made to believe that it isn’t Christmas unless we’re exchanging presents. As a child, I definitely remember looking forward to Christmas morning…to running downstairs to see what Santa brought me. I don’t think I was a particularly greedy kid (in comparison to my sister’s never-ending wish list), but I definitely enjoyed receiving gifts.
Now that I’m married, I’m being asked by both my mother and mother-in-law, “what do you want for Christmas.” Visions of new camera bodies, lenses and camera bags danced in my head…but I wouldn’t dare ask for any of that. Truth be told, the presents aren’t nearly as important to me (granted, I still love getting new stuff, but I can just as easily purchase it whenever I need it) as spending time with my family and remembering the magical birth of Jesus Christ.
Now that I’m married, I’m being asked by both my mother and mother-in-law, “what do you want for Christmas.” Visions of new camera bodies, lenses and camera bags danced in my head…but I wouldn’t dare ask for any of that. Truth be told, the presents aren’t nearly as important to me (granted, I still love getting new stuff, but I can just as easily purchase it whenever I need it) as spending time with my family and remembering the magical birth of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:7-11 states: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
God actually wants us to want more. So this year, I am asking God for more…
- Faith. Our minister told a story of a young man (high school student) who called him one night with a situation. He was sharing with a non-believer about his relationship with God. The non-believer’s biggest struggle was the Christmas story…specifically the virgin birth.
- Luke 1:28-38 shares the story of how the angel Gabriel first came to Mary. Mary was troubled with the idea of giving birth to a son as a virgin. Gabriel responds to Mary, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
- So, I certainly don’t know how to explain a miracle, but I do know that through God, anything is possible. In 2011, I want more faith.
- Obedience. On the other side of the Christmas story, Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant through the Holy Spirit. To the public, it would appear as though she is pregnant out of wedlock…which of course would have been a no no (heck, it is still often frowned upon by many). He was prepared to leave her, but an angel of the Lord (I’m assuming Gabriel) comes to him in his dreams in Matthew 1:20-25.
- The angel says to him, “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife…” Matthew 1:24 – “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Joseph continues to do what the Lord commands as he’s told to escape to Egypt and then later when he is told to return to Nazareth.
- I personally struggle with obedience, but I want more of it in 2011.
- Spiritual Gifts. Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” I think this goes back to the first scripture (Matthew 7:7-11) – all we have to do is being in relationship with God and then ask. Galatians 5:16-26 describes Life with the Spirit.
- 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
- I am far from perfect, but I know that I feel empty when I am full of hate, jealousy or envy. In 2011, I want to better receive God’s spiritual gifts for me…and in turn, share those with others.
With all of that said, what do you need or want more of this year? I want to better use my talent to share God’s message. For most of my first year of blogging, I have been a quiet follower of Christ (until I joined Katie Lloyd’s Scripture and a Snapshot). In 2011, I will more actively share the message with you through my photographs. I want you to know that I am Christian by more than just showing you my love.
SOOC = Sigma 105mm EX Macro, ISO 125, f/5.6, 1/100
Processing included clean edit in PSE7, followed by:
- Garden Lights 1, Normal at 62% opacity
- Adjusted Hue/Saturation (pulled down the yellows)
- Garden Lights 1, Hard Light at 20% opacity
- Adjusted Brightness/Contrast
- Garden Lights 2, Overlay at 30% opacity
- Background Copy with High Pass Filter, Soft Light at 50% opacity
- Applied text
- Start by Kim Klassen, Multiply at 20% opacity
- Adjusted Brightness/Contrast again
I think that says it all…for now. For more touch-ups, go to:
By the way, if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to sign up for this year’s newest end-of-year link-up party: Memories, Dreams and Reflections! Click on the button below for more information.
Merry Christmas everyone!
