Face to Face

I was reading John 20:1-18 about when Jesus comes to Mary Magdalene after he has risen from the dead and I thought about how marvelous it would be to experience Jesus in person, face to face. How I would just be overwhelmed with joy, gladness, thanksgiving and so many more emotions. But then I was so clearly corrected and reminded that I have met this man face to face, I have encountered Him, and I speak with Him daily. The same loving God that suffered for us, conquered the grave, and even walked on water (!) is the same God I know today. It was because of what He did then, that I know Him intimately today.

I think it is so easy to just think about Jesus as a man from the past. Yes we believe in him now and know he is alive, but we so easily forget, because we have not seen his physical body in person. I just cannot grasp my mind around this concept. I KNOW the man who rose into heaven. I have a RELATIONSHIP with the man that conquered my sin; the sin that I so often choose over him. I TALK to the man that experienced death so I wouldn’t have to.

Yes, Jesus, that lived on this earth as a human being for 33 sinless years is PROOF of God’s unfailing love for us. But the cool thing is, that same man is still alive, that same love is experienced everyday. I and so many others have PROOF of it, and we will share it! 

"I'm all toasty inside"

Why I, Caroline, love the holiday season (in no particular order):

-It’s a reminder that I have a Savior!

-A time of year that no matter how old you are it still brings you back to your childhood.

-Christmas morning pictures with your PJ’s on and a nappy head hairdo that somehow seems to captures the essence of everyone’s bad breathe.

-Tricking those “too cool” preteens underneath the mistletoe just so their face will turn red.

-Christmas Trees!

-Christmas music playing everywhere you go rather than typical overplayed radio music like Nickleback and Kesha that are played the other 335 days of the year.

-Long school breaks!

-You get to spend a lot of time family.

-ABC Famly’s 25 Days of Christmas.

-It’s an excuse to have and attend multiple parties.

-Apple Cider

-Rating nativity scenes that you see in, or in front of almost every home. They range anywhere from a plastic hand painted Jesus to crystal angles and donkeys surrounding a crystal manger.

-The 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve day

-A lot of movies come out in theaters!

-Knowing when you dress up for a tacky Christmas sweater party that people still where these things and sometimes with broaches.

-Everything you eat smells like cinnamon.

-Regifting

-You can get away with eating a lot of sweets.

-It's the one time of year that putting random trinkets and candy in a sock is normal. 

-Having a slumber party in my room on Christmas Eve with my sisters!

-Receiving letters from those Leave it to Beaver families that tell us about how Jimmy has a new found love for the chess club and how Sarah’s dream of 3 months to become captian of the cheerleading squad has finally come true, included with a family picture in perfectly matching outfits. And that somehow, despite their Martha Stuart Christmas, and their Pottery Barn perfect house they make us feel better about ourselves.

-Tacky Christmas yard décor.

-How The Grinch Stole Christmas!