christmas card regret....

what have i done. in an act that (i think) is out of character i opted to NOT do christmas cards this year. i feel ebenezer just writing that. i rationalized saving money, allocating that money elsewhere, being green, being busy, blah blah blah blah blah. then last week came and i remembered just why we send christmas cards. i eagerly have gotten the mail every day over the last 2 weeks SO excited about who's card we would receive. i saw the smiling faces of little ones who i don't get to see very often and loved seeing those i see all of the time. i lingered on short words written by dear friends letting us know how God has blessed them or used them over the year.

i dropped the ball.

i feel like it's a direct parallel to what God is working in my heart right now. the things i desire to do & be aren't fully lining up with my actions. i am not doing anything that wrong, i just can't line up what my heart wants to do (sell everything and be completely used by God as a vagabond) and what my every day looks like- taking care of 2 beauties and making sure they have diapers, food, wipes, and a (somewhat) clean home. full circle: i want to be frugal but wish i would've sent our love and smiles -in the form of a christmas card- to others for christmas. where is that balance... ya dig?

my desire is to keep our family free from the love of THINGS and have our minds consumed with our ultimate mission: sharing the love of God and the good news of the gospel with others. just because we CAN afford something doesn't mean we should buy it. this here is new to me. "we should buy x house because cnn.com mortgage calculator tells us that we can afford it." God blesses us so we can give it right back to Him.

and it's good to thank God for what i have seen Him do firsthand in my own life, overcoming strongholds and sin that He graciously helps me with every single day. but what good is it really if i'm keeping it all to myself? if i'm not encouraging others, especially those close to me and overflowing with the word of God at all times. i need to share not only because God commands us to but because i have seen His mercy, forgiveness and hope.

how can i be a part of a plan that is making disciples who make disciples? what i do know? it is by far our biggest project in life with these two little munchkins. so maybe that's our christmas card. Jesus Christ was born to save the world from sin. He is our Savior. we spent this year thanking Him and asking how we can be used to further His kingdom. excited to see what next year may hold!

merry christmas from the lakes.

in all our bedhead glory!!!