Thank you, God, for Freedom!  Our nation was founded on several principles of freedom that align with the gospel that gives us Freedom in Christ.  The truth is that all humans were created with value, & all are precious in God's sight, so all of us should have freedom of speech & religion & the pursuit of happiness. 

This week at the Center where I work, we are focusing on the theme found in the Bible in John 15.  Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches.  Remain in me, & I will remain in you."  He encourages us to live fruitful lives by remaining IN HIM.  I have experienced days in this last week when I lived with my mind fixed on Him, & my spirit striving to obey Him.  These were fruitful, God-honoring days that proved my obedience to Him.  We show God we love Him in all kinds of ways, but one way is through obedience to His Word, His principles, & His promptings--doing the things we feel deep down that we should do, even when they may not seem to make sense.

Remaining is not a one time, wake up in the morning & speed read through the Bible or quickly utter a prayer.  Remaining requires self-discipline, realistic goals, self-denial, pleasure-denial.  Remaining requires time.  Jesus wants our days. 

"Take my moments & my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.  Take myself & I will be ever, only, all for Thee.  Ever   Only   All for Thee."  Apart from Christ, we can do Nothing...

Check out the firework video that celebrates the Freedoms we have as a nation, & rejoice & use the freedoms we have in Christ to further His Name, His Message, His Gospel of Love!  (Emily, this video has dialogue especially for you!)

On this early Christmas Morning...also known as a late late Christmas Eve, I am at home curled up in my fleece outfit in the same room with my sister & mom.  We have the classic "A Christmas Story" movie on in the background that is now on it's 24 hour Christmas rotation.  My mom is baking for our big family Christmas lunch tomorrow at my aunt's in Indianapolis.  My sister is wrapping all the gifts she brought back from her year of living in Venezuela, and she keeps reminding us, 'Don't look over here!'  This is a wonderful start to the birthday of The King.

The last month & a half since I wrote has been RICH with blessings & changes.  A new apartment, preparation for Emily's visit in the middle of her 2 year mission experience overseas, directing a church choir Christmas program, choreographing 2 liturgical worship dances for Christmas Eve services (a dream of mine come to life!), spending time with friends & my new boyfriend, Dan, & trying to get enough sleep to maintain the Christmas schedule of events at the Center where we get to be involved in SO many lives each day. 

The Center Food Pantry continues to serve hundreds each month, our wonderful kitchen staff faithfully fixes meals & snacks for the kids each day, and in November & December, the volunteers and donations literally POUR into this building that is located in the midst of a run down part of town.  But inside the walls it is anything but lifeless.  Each room of children is teeming with life, giggles, games, hugs, safety, and God's Love that overflows to children who often get lost in the shuffle of life & it's problems.  Along with the daily stability we grant to kids who live in unstable home environments, we provided many things on top of that, Thanks be to God!  A few of the things we have been up to are as follows:

OUTREACH EVENTS:  All regular attending kids invite their families to a Thanksgiving Family Dinner.  This year's served over 250 people a warm, sit-down meal including dessert!  Each table was served by a youth group, Old Navy staff member, or another volunteer from the community!  Following dinner, the multitudes filed into the Sanctuary for a program of singing by our kids. I had the honor of handing off the 'music director' duties to a music education staff member who teaches sign language in our chapel sessions.  She is really excelling in her field through this hands-on kid experience!  I still got to be involved, though, as the MC & by accompanying a song on the piano.  A highlight of this night occured before we dismissed families to receive their Thanksgiving food basket.  A mom of 8 kids came up to the stage as whispered to me that next program should not be something we at the Center organize and plan, but that the parents of children who come should step up to tell others how the Center impacts them.  She then shared about how she could not make it without us...WOW!  She was outwardly, openly grateful!  These moments are at times few & far between!

Well, on top of this, I had an outreach opportunity just a day or 2 before this dinner at my mom's school in her very own classroom.  I was in there for a Campus Life meeting early on a Wednesday morning before school.  (3 kids came to Christ at this meeting last week!  Talk about seeing some Fruit!).  So, I stayed during the first hour to check my email there, and pretty soon I see a few kids come in the room.  One of them I recognize as one of our former Center Kids, one that has had a VERY trying life and has risen up and overcome many things.  He is in 6th grade but is still very small, and he RAN to me to hug me and ask me about the Center.  I happened to have a flier with me about the upcoming events, and so I gave it to him and invited him back.  The look on his face was pure delight.  Elation.  He missed us so much, and I could tell how much the Center had come to mean to him.  After he left the room to go to class, he RAN all the way back to tell me 2 more things and to get anothe flier for his friend.  I haven't seen him since, but I sure am fond of that special time.  Pray for this boy as he continues to deal with change and past wounds.  Pray that he'll come back to the Center too.

I could write all night, but I need rest.  So I hope to continue to do some catch up work this coming week.  Feel free to CHECK OUT my dance on video, one of the liturgical ones I did at the Church services tonight for Christmas Eve.

Peace.  Love.  JOY to YOU!