It's Christmastime. A time when joy, peace, love and hope should be in full abundance. For some of us, it's just another Christmas and the same as always--whether joyful or not. I'm the type of person who loves Christmastime and this is my favorite time of year because I love the warmth, peace, happiness, love, hope...the seemingly joyful reign. I love wandering through the neighborhoods to see how families have decorated their houses, the brilliant soft glow of Christmas lights and warm scents such as cinnamon and fresh baked cookies. I love getting a Christmas tree with my dad and the way the house is fragrant with pine for at least a month. I love decorating (though my mom is the best at this--our home is awesome every year thanks to both she and dad's knack for interior/exterior design), surrounding myself with reds, greens and blues and snuggling up with my warmest blanket and snowflake slippers. Normally I start listening to old Christmas/holiday music back in September because there's something about Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra that melt my heart. I love the joy of giving, of seeing happy people and how Starbucks seems sort of like home. I love seeing children happy without a care in the world and full of so much unconditional love. I love the candlelight service on Christmas Eve at my church each year...though Lyme has kept me from enjoying that in person. I love Christmas carols, both Christian and contemporary. I love the spirit of the season and the very point of this season.

This year, however, I'm having trouble feeling all of the "things" that matter to me. That's in part my fault and in part due to my chronic condition. Only God can truly heal Lyme disease, but I myself could stand to make more effort in some areas. I've needed some inspiration and got it this afternoon. It was one of those "Cool, I hear you, God...and thank you for not giving up on me" moments. I truly felt His love and care for me and while I did cry, I felt a spark of joy return.

As mentioned somewhere in a prior blog, I've been following Living Stones Church (Kona, Hawaii). While I'm a few weeks behind, they've just started a new sermon series called "Awaken the Wonder". This morning I watched the sermon titled "God Wants to Give You Joy". I can't begin to express how perfect this particular sermon is...I think it has the ability to touch the lives of many and that's why I'm sharing it here. My hope is that it will resonate with others just as much as it has with me.