O Holy Night.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

I don't even know where to begin where God has taken me in the last month.
I'm officially in Cedar Falls, which has been incredible.
It has definitely been an adjustment.
Very little is the same as it was before.
There is more responsibility at work.
More responsibility in my heart.
For finances, for family, for myself.
Discipline really is difficult sometimes.

I now live with a dear friend of mine,
Her name is Haley & we met in 2008 when we both lived in the dorms.
We lived across the hall from each other on UNI's campus.

To be perfectly honest, besides that, I don't even know how to describe life.
I am learning a lot about being satisfied with what God has for me.
Which is hard, because it requires sacrifice.

Which is so ridiculous.
Being the fact that Jesus sacrificed his life for me.
& I can't give up my tiny qualms with the details of where my time is spent,
Or where my money goes.

My goodness.

To go back to the song lyrics up top, they are from O Holy Night.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

I don't know about you, But during Christmas, the world doesn't quite seem at peace.
It seems the opposite.
Families fighting over gifts,
People stressing out about how they are going to get by financially.
This Christmas, I'm praying that we can feel his peace.
& that your souls may have rest.
Take 5 minutes out of your day, to meet with the King of Kings.
It will bring you to peace, that's for sure.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

How incredible is these lines?
How many of us have seen what the chains of oppression can do.
Addiction, Anger, Depression.
The list goes on.
Now, how many have seen God's redeeming power at work.
That is the reason Jesus was born into this world.
To save us from our chains.
To set us free.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Lastly, The fact that we owe him so much more then we can give.
He has so much love for us, we can give him all of ourselves,
Which is so much less then he deserves,
& He says he will give us rest.
I want to give my life for that.

I don't know if you know the song the little drummer boy.
But I want that to be my lifesong this Christmas.
Giving all I have to Him.
Even when I feel I have nothing.

Little Baby.
I am a poor boy too.
I have no gift to bring.
That's fit to give the King.

Shall I play for you.
On my drum?

Mary nodded.
The ox and lamb kept time.
I played my drum for Him.
I played my best for Him.

Then He smiled at me,
Me and my drum.

Be blessed this Christmas season.
You are dearly loved.