Todays worship service was a labor of love..

This morning we got up and went to Lakeview UMC. It was a great service. I always forget how much I have missed Steve. He is one who can make me laugh and then make me cry! His sermon was just great. I lost at the end when he had said anyone can go the altar and pray and a little girl no older than 8 years old went and knelt at the altar. It just touched me SO much. To have that "Child like Faith!!!" Then after that, the Christmas story was made more real to me. An elderly man walked up to the altar with his STAFF and I PROMISE he looked JUST how I imagine shepherds would have looked. It was like God was giving me a peak into what the nativity scene was like. It was truly unreal and I can't get it off my mind. In the midst of the "HUSTLE and BUSTLE" I got MY Christmas gift early. We all (ME BEING NUMBER 1) get so caught up in making sure we get the best gifts for Christmas. Last week at Cornerstone the lady who lit the advent candle was talking about just that. About how we all get caught up in the "hustle and bustle" and how she was going to STOP that this year and FOCUS on the baby in that manger. I had to stop then and think about. I get so caught up in making sure that I have everyone a gift, that I have forgotten about the REASON for the SEASON. I have a friend who since she has been little has only gotten 3 gifts from Santa. 3 gifts to represent the gifts brought by the Wisemen. I've always thought that was the neatest idea and something I will probably do with my children one day.

Last week my sister sang a song at Lakeview called Labor of Love.
I didn't get to hear her sing it, but I heard it was amazing. It really puts everything into perspective. Every time I hear this song I CRY! Its just not how we all think His birth was, but instead paints a more vivid and real picture as to how it was.

It was not a silent night....