Christmas Revelation

Wow I haven't updated my blog in a while it’s been a busy December trusting God for finances(which God provided for everything PRAISE THE MASTER!) and with Christmas going on it was kind of crazy around here. Hope you all had a really great Christmas with your family's and all the wonderful food and for some, the freezing yet sparkling snow. I miss the snow and Christmas lights. I have been in YWAM since 2008 so I have missed 3yrs of the winter back over in Minnesota. Speaking of Christmas I had some crazy revelation this year. Even though being away from my family for Christmas can be pretty heart breaking at times I'm learning more of what Christmas focus should be. Sometimes being with family with all the gifts and great food I lose focus of Jesus. Most the time I don't even realize it because I’ve never not been with them until I’ve been partnering with YWAM. When we find ourselves in different circumstances and situations that sometimes seem disappointing God uses it for good. He uses those times so we can experience His character on a deeper level that we wouldn't have had revelation of if we weren't put in that situation. Like when we suffer it really can be hard and hurtful but know that He suffered too so in our suffering we can choose to experience Him on a deeper level of comfort then if we never had suffering come in our lives. I don't believe God wills us to suffer, but I do believe God wills us to experience Him through the pain. My challenge this Christmas was feeling lonely and discontent because I wasn't with my family. In doing this I stripped Jesus of what He did on the cross by bathing in those feelings of rejection and ungratefulness. It’s ok to miss your family and be bummed you can’t be with them but it’s not ok when those feelings move into ungratefulness. Jesus went through loneliness and rejection from everything He loved. Everyone abandoned Him, but He went through it so we wouldn't have to. After getting this revelation I did quite a bit of repenting because He promised to never leave us which means I’m never alone. He promised He fills all our hearts desires and needs. So really it came down to me being ungrateful and believing a lie that I'm alone then bathing in feelings of loneliness. This Christmas I really had revelation what a risk God took in sending His Son for us, trusting a 13yr old girl to carry and protect Jesus. It really shows you the character of God that He was serious when He made us His children and He was serious about adopting us back to Him. What hope Jesus was by coming for us. "O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas songs. It expresses what happened when He came for us and how are hearts respond to Jesus birth when we have revelation of it.

“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!”

Ill have more updates about Evangelism on New Years Eve with testimonies and encouragement. Love you guys. God bless

Briauna