joy to the world

December is already flying by! This is definitely the busiest month of the year for us in East Asia.  Even though I would normally love lots of relaxation, I don't mind staying busy while I'm missing Christmas festivities in America.  It's easier to keep my mind off of it. We decorated our apartment and I wanted to share some pictures!

fake, yet awesome, Christmas tree

my mom sent some stockings for my roommates and me

Maddox in front of the tree in his monkey hat!

missing him and the rest of my family

The Lord has already emphasized "hope" over and over to me during this Christmas season.  I am asking myself,"what do I really put my hope in?" 

Today we listened to a sermon by Paul David Tripp about Isaiah 59. He said that human beings are hope-centered beings.  Every joy or sadness comes from the hope we place in a person, situation, etc. Tripp also said in the Old Testament, writers often refer to "the Lord's arm" which is always a foretelling of Jesus' coming to earth.  It's neat to see how many times the Old Testament gives signs of one day when Jesus would save his people.

"Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.  The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice...So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him."

Isaiah 59:15

Tripp said "the doorway to hope is hopelessness."  When I first heard this I was a little confused but now it makes complete sense.  Only when I am truly hopeless, do I realize the true meaning of hope...only found in the gospel.  I am so thankful that our God is a just god. He punishes people for their sin, yet gives us enough grace for every single day. 

I'm thankful for a Christmas in Asia.  I'm experiencing this holiday with a close-knit, Christ-centered community.  I'm sharing the true meaning of Christmas with people who have never heard. It's a year like none other!

"In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him."
Isaiah 59:19