We returned Friday morning after driving all night back from our trip to Mississippi where we spent Christmas with Edie's family. We really enjoyed the trip and got to do some really fun things. First, we worshipped Sunday at First Baptist Biloxi where Edie and I met. We even made it to Sunday School. It was great seeing friends from the past. FBC Biloxi has a new pastor, Argile Smith, and I really enjoyed both meeting him and hearing God speak through him. On Christmas Eve, we attended a candlelight service that was just beautiful. God really spoke to my heart there. Christmas day was busy. We got up very early, opened presents with Edie's sister and family, then our kids opened their presents. Also, we paused and I shared a devotion from the Word of God and we all prayed and thanked God for coming to the earth to save us. After opening presents, we made our way to both of Edie's grandmother's houses for more food and presents. Wednesday myself, Josh, and my father-in-law, Frank, played golf at an awesome golf course. The weather was nasty, but that didn't stop us from playing. Josh is getting better. It won't be long until he is beating me, but it wasn't that day. We traveled all night and arrived home about 7:00AM Friday morning exhausted. Saturday Kristen left with a team of 19 from our church to Alaska on a mission trip. I am very excited that God is using her in the area of missions. We had a great Christmas season.

One side note. Kristen was accepted by the IMB to serve as an apprentice to Wales this summer. She will be there for 2 months of service. After that she will probably stay for a week and travel Europe. I always new God would use her in the area of missions. I am very proud of her.

I’ll never forget the year my dad wrapped a huge box and put it under the Christmas tree. He didn’t even put a name on it. Christmas morning came and he handed the box to my mom. She opened the box just to find another box, and then another. With the opening of each box, she found a clue to help her identify the real present. This went on for several minutes, then mom finally got the last box. Inside this box, she found a note instructing her to look between two ornaments on the Christmas tree. There she found her gift. A beautiful diamond ring. You see her gift was on the tree.
Many years ago, the prophet Isaiah prophesied about an incredible Christmas gift. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)] No one had a clue exactly how this prophecy would be fulfilled. No one guessed that the Messiah would come as an innocent baby. They expected a king, not a servant. No one understood the totality of who Jesus really was. His life and His words provided clues. Every person healed, every miracle, every sermon, was like opening a box with a clue inside. At the end of His life, we found our final clue. This clue directed us to a cross between two thieves. You see our gift was on the tree.
During this busy season. Don’t forget that Christmas is about one who was born to die. Have a Spirit-filled Christmas?

This is a picture of the Mclambs. I mentioned them during my previous post. Please add them to your prayer list.

Yesterday during our morning worship I had an amazing moment with the Lord. The words of one of the songs got all over me. The words are: "My heart, my desire, is to see the nations worship you." My mind went about 100 miles per hour and three specific things came to my mind. I want to share those things with you. 1) I recommitted myself to going overseas every year to do short-term mission trips. This is something that has been part of my ministry and I pray always will be. 2) I became deeply aware of the importance of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. One of my favorite things about being Southern Baptist is our commitment to missions. You may or may not know that every penny of the Lottie Moon offering goes directly to missionaries around the world. We must give sacrificially so our missioaries have all the tools they need to reach the nations with the gospel. 3) My mind went to a couple of my dearest friends, John and Jenny McLamb, and their three boys, Caleb, Luke, and Elijah. They are International missionaries currently in language school, but will ultimately be serving in Bolivia. As I listened to the music, my heart was flooded with emotion. I was sad that I can't see them or even talk with them much. I was proud of them for living lives sacrificed to God. I was burdened for their people group. I prayed "God give them Bolivia"

I just wonder how many of us can sing the words "my heart, my desire, is to see the nations worship you," and really mean it. Mean it enough to change our commitment, our giving, and our prayer life.