A Christmas Challenge

I love Christmas time. I love the decorations, the tree, the lights, the holiday candles, the food, the stockings, the candy. I love burning a fire in the fireplace and drinking hot chocolate in my footy pajamas. I love Christmas music. I love spending time with my family and friends while we eat tons of food. (oh wait- I already mentioned the food). And I love presents. I love getting them. I love buying them. I love looking for good deals and how little things cost around Christmas time. But even though I buy things really cheap for Christmas, I still spend a lot of money around the holidays.
The other day I was talking to a good friend of mine about Christmas and how hectic it is and the insane amounts of money everyone spends at Christmas. It got me to thinking and so today I googled "how much Americans spend on Christmas". And then I happened upon this YouTube video.........





It amazed me how much we spend in the United States on Christmas gifts yearly. And then I was even more amazed at what could be done with just a fraction of that money.
So, I sat down with Corey and we decided as a family, we would take a portion of our Christmas budget and spend it on investing in clean water for those around the world that don't have access to clean water.
And this is my challenge to you. If you are reading this blog, will you do it too?

Purpose in Pain

My last blog was pretty heavy. A blog about loss and grief and wondering what God's plan is in the middle of painful times. At the end of it, I focused myself on not the why, but the who. Sometimes all we have is the who. We know who God is and that He is good and that has to be enough in the painful times. But over the past month, I have seen evidence of purpose. I still don't have the answers to my "why's". But I see good in the middle of the bad. I have seen God's fingerprints weaved like a tapestry into times of hurt and pain and loss. I have seen miracles happen. Some little and some HUGE. Today I got to see a HUGE miracle happen in the life of my friend who has experienced tremendous loss. I saw weeping of joy even though it was still tinged with some sadness. I have seen God provide at the exact moment of need, at the very minute that worry had seeped in. I have seen moments of peace when peace couldn't be explained.
I love the line from the song "This is Our God" that says "He returns the wasted years"... Because it is so true! He has promised to take care of us in every single situation. It may not always look like what we had hoped for, what we had planned for. But He has promised to work things out for the good of those who love Him. And I have seen Him doing exactly that. I love watching Him work in the lives of others and in my own life too.
This last month and especially today have shown me how HUGE my God is. How EVIDENT He is! That all you have to do is keep your eyes open and you see glimpses of Him everywhere. He has a purpose always. ALWAYS! That is good enough to repeat. HE HAS A PURPOSE ALWAYS. And He is constantly working to accomplish His purpose. Even in the middle of pain

Isaiah 46:10
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, `My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';