My first ever...

Today my mom checked the mail. She came back with a card in hand addressed to me! Its so funny because usually my sister or myself like to drive to the mailbox just to drive. But I have really been doing it because I have been liking the abundance of mail I have been receiving lately, weather it be mail from SLU concerning school or weather it be mail from Capital One concerning my bank account (it makes me feel more responsible in a way). But today I received my first Christmas card ever addressed to me! I know you might think I am crazy right? I actually have a point, a point about why this is so exciting and why this was so important I just had to tell you about it! Well i have been being kind of a Grinch this Christmas. I guess. I did not want to put the Christmas tree up(not to mention i had to do it twice because mom knocked it over), I did not want to spend my money on Christmas presents just to tell someone i love them or show them how much i care about them or how much i pay attention to the things they actually like. I just did not want to do it! 

I went Christmas shopping with my mom yesterday, and lets just say i was not the happiest about shopping. Usually i like to mingle around stores and really look at everything. Yesterday I was just ready to get home--just to leave again. I really needed something to put me in the Christmas Spirit. To go on yesterday out youth group got together (about 30 of us) and we went to a homeless shelter down in New Orleans to serve. We sang Christmas music with them, we worshiped with them to How He Loves (it made me cry tears of joy) and a few of us shared testimonies. It was so moving, and eye opening. At the end Joel told gave anyone that wanted to the chance to be led in a prayer to surrender their lives to God, to lay everything down to worship their King! He told them if they wanted to--to just repeat the prayer he prayed, and as Joel began to pray the prayer aloud, out of 150 people in this homeless shelter is sounded like all 150 of them were repeating this prayer. In that instance my heart began to shatter into a million pieces. At the end we handed out care bags with toiletries in it--i started to get in the Christmas spirit a little bit, just to see the smiles on the peoples faces, and hearing them say thank you so much with beautiful smiles and yet broken hearts. 

Then i got this card in the mail today. On the inside was written "We thank God for the blessing you are to the Varsity! You are such a beautiful and willing vessel for Jesus! We love you!" and I looked over to read "I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city David a Savior who is Christ the Lord". -Luke2:10-11. Instantly I thought to myself. I said "Georgia its not all about the crabby cashiers at stores, or the money you spend on gifts, or even the overly road raged drivers. You are not remembering the reason for the season." I am so honored to be apart of the Missions Varsity. I know this is where God wants me. I love to serve my King every chance i get. I love knowing at the end of the day, He is the only person that will never give up on me. He is the only one that will ever truly love me unconditionally, and who will ever fully understand what I am going though. He is the only person that will ever fully know me, and why I do what I do. I am here to go where He wants me to go and do what He wants me to do, and no one is going to stop me. I am a servant of Him. I want to walk in His footsteps, and be more of  that "willing vessel" that they see! Thank you Joel and Joye, it really means a lot!

Our precious and beautiful God gave up his life, and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven. Do you remember the silly saying everyone uses around Christmas? "Remember the reason for the season?" Please Please Please remember. Jesus loves each and everyone of us unconditionally, and this Christmas just praise Him and show him the unconditional love that he shows you. Let it be a day of peace, and love one another!

He is the ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY BOY!