Soak in the Moments

The crisp air brushes against my face and I see the house glowing. Glowing with lights, but also glowing with love. Conversation all around from loving hellos, to big giant bear hugs. The Michael Buble music feels the air and the smell of cinnamon and pine as well.  The tables are set with beautiful dishes and children are talking about their Christmas wishes. It's the special day where family comes together to reflect on the blessings and the greatest one ever which is Jesus.  Moments like this can never be forgotten because God made these moments timeless.

It's Christmas, and I can not get over the fact that another year has past. As I have gotten olden I think back to the moments like the one described above and I am so thankful.  Being a teenager Christmas was a fun time of fun holiday party, a long vacation from school, cool gifts and shopping trips. This might not be your case, but for me I don't know if I truly soaked in the moments. What I mean by this is to  not take for granted the people or the present time.  In high school and my early college years I was in a rush and a lot of the time focused on me.  Now being older I wish I would have paused for a moment and listen to the sounds around me, take mental pictures of the scenes that lay before me, treasure the conversations with my familial, especially my grandparents. But most of all remember that life is truly a blessing and that the relationships in my life are what make life, truly LIFE. God gave us relationships and I pray that this Christmas and this New Year that you value each person in you life.

So girl I challenge you to soak in the moments! Treasure the gifts that God has given you. Show God's love to them. Also have fun, make memories and enjoy the life and the time God has blessed you with!
Also pray for your family that you are rooted in love for Christ. I challenge you to girls to go out of your way to have conversations with your grandparents and seek their advice. They have lived through some crazy times and have a lot of knowledge. I challenge you to forgive the family member that hurt your feelings years ago and forgive them like Christ forgave you.  I challenge you to witness to your family that is not saved.  But more importantly, show them that you find your hope and trust in God. The verses below encourage you to pray that you have strength and that faith in Christ. I pray that you will find these things this Christmas. I pray you are encouraged to make the most of what God has given you!

Ephesians 3: 14- 19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every familya]">[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and soak in the moments that Christ has given us.

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