He Held Them All!

*Update Below*

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This will be my final post of 2008. It is time to reflect and rejoice in the blessings of the year and look ahead to the future by spending time with God and my family. I hope you will have the time to read a few of my December posts about my sweet guys as you await my return.

I love everything about Christmas. From the importance of the nativity (by the way, I collect nativities and have about 80 of them) and the gift of Christ to the shopping, wrapping , baking and even Santa, there is just something rather magical about the Christmas season. But this year I have decided not to do a traditional Christmas post or message. I want to share with you something that God has done in my life in hopes that this Christmas season you will not just meet the Baby Jesus but will meet the living Son of God.

This post will be the most meaningful to those of you who know me well and especially those who walked 'Behind Those Eyes' with me. But my prayer is that for anyone who reads it, you will be blessed and see why I love Jesus so much.

He Held Them All

The dam so carefully constructed of metal, brick, mortar and concrete stood proudly as it held back the waters which flowed from distant places to this one vast collection spot. It was a beautiful dam which was built over time with patience and hard work. Day after day, month after month, year after year, piece by piece, layer upon layer was crafted and precisely positioned to stop the natural flow of waters. When completed the builder of this vast masterpiece beheld it's beauty and marveled in the accomplishment.

Each day the builder would proudly boast of the greatness of what had been built.

However, unbeknownest to the builder, beneath the lapping waters trying desperately to be free, small stress fractures were breaking down the mortar and weakening the dam. Little by little, spot by spot, cracks began to appear. The builder frantically tried to patch every crack but to no avail. Eventually a leak sprung and water began to seep through a tiny spot in the dam. Then another and another. With every crack the builder would carefully and urgently try to stop the water from leaking through the dam.

Finally, it was just too much for the builder to keep up with and the dam came crashing down as the waters broke through never to be held back again. The builder sat in dismay as the creation which took years to make was now in ruins. The builder stared at the waters now flowing freely and was mesmerized. The builder's eyes began to see the waters in a new way, not something that should be held back but something that must be free. The waters seemed to be dancing with joy as they flowed through the valleys and across the obstacles in their path. They rejoiced in their new found freedom.

And so it has been with me. The dam I had built to hold back years of tears cause by hurt, pain, rejection, bitterness, anger, saddness, and even joy has been destroyed by my creator.

With love, grace and mercy, God has day by day, month by month, year by year, piece by piece and layer upon layer removed the dam I created to free up my tears and...

HE HELD THEM ALL.

My creator cares for and carries my burdens. He is real and gentle, loving and forgiving. The Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger whom we celebrate at Christmas is the same Jesus who lives today and cares about every tear we shed. I had built a dam around my tears and my heart. As proud as I was of it's beauty God knew it was not what was best for me so he gently and patiently (very patiently) began to tear down the dam which held not only my tears but everything that cause those tears to be held and now HE Holds Those Tears!!!

I rejoice this Christmas in the freedom God has given me. I rejoice in the love, grace and mercy He has shown me. I rejoice in the Baby and I rejoice in the Crucified and now Living Christ.

It is difficult to grasp the vastness and completeness of God but if you just catch a glimpse of Him this Christmas season, I am absolutely positive He will change your life.

My prayer this Christmas season is that you find and know Jesus in a new way. I pray that your knowledge of Him would become a love for Him and that you would fellowship with Him. We are the reason for the season. If it weren't for us and our sinfilled nature Jesus would not have come to save us. He came for us. He came for me. He came for YOU!! Open your heart to Jesus this Christmas, not just the baby but the Savior!!!

May the peace which is God's be yours today and always!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Considering Everything Joy!!!

Cindy

*I just had to add a couple pictures from Christmas

and a statement that melted my heart*

Christmas Eve Family Photo

This picture was taken when Kori reached over to give her daddy a hug and said:

"Daddy - you are my best Christmas Present Ever"

My Nana heart just couldn't hold back the tears. She melts my heart!!

More after the 1st!!