More this Christmas

I was sitting in a worship planning meeting for my church last week I found out the theme for the advent sermon series is "More."

More? I cringed. Christmas starts for our family Thanksgiving weekend & runs until the weekend after Christmas. The influx of toys & holiday calories is already giving me an anxiety attack.

But then I listened. More hope, more peace & most of all more Jesus.

Jesus. The guy who started this whole Christmas thing. Why not focus on Him?

Jesus was a relationship guy. He poured his life into His followers. Why not follow His example? Give gifts like conversation & a helping hand this year instead of toys & neckties. Who knows, maybe we'll start 2013 richer & skinner.

And closer to being like Jesus.

Light in Darkness

Since the middle of October, I start my Wednesday workday with a Morning Meeting. I spend about a half hour in the woods with my Canon Rebel Xti photographing what I see. Rain, fog & gray clouds have joined me on all but one morning. Today I stalled in the truck longer than normal. The gray days have become draining.

Life can become pretty draining too. From the outside it looks like all potential for joy & color have been lost. Much like the minutes before I force myself out of the truck with camera in hand. Then you dig in. You start connecting with your environment. You start building relationships. And suddenly a beautiful story starts to form. Color screams from the grayness. Joy over pours from your soul.

I found vibrant color and an overabundant amount of joy during my Morning Meeting today. Not only in he photos I was taking, but in the promise of Christmas. The promise that Jesus will put His light into my gray & dull life everyday. 

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46

May your Christmas weekend be filled with light, joy & color!

See today's entire Morning Meeting here.