New Year's Eve Thoughts

What a year 2010 has been! This evening as my family and I sat watching Mr. Bean's Holiday as we do every New Year's Eve I really couldn't believe that a year had passed since I stayed up until midnight playing Who Wants to be a Millionaire with my friends and got my ears blasted by the sound of the fog horn which was promptly sounded at 12:00 A.M. In a few more hours it will be 2011 and a decade of this millenium will be completed-in these closing hours I would encourage you reflect upon this past year and think about what God has done for you. I can see things that Lord has blessed me so much in this passed year and I can't wait to see what is in his plan for next year.

Have a great night and a Happy New Year 2011!!

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Two years and one day of blogging

Sometimes we begin a journey not knowing where it will lead or how far it will take us but we begin anyway and the result is our reward. On December 27, 2008 I began Footprints in the Sand with no expectation of having over 15 followers and little dreaming how much this simple little blog would change my life. It has been so good to have "met" all of you and your comments and thoughts have been very appreciated. The day the first one of you began following my blog I was pretty certain that this wouldn't be a continuing process but clearly, God had other ideas.

As I blogged from the family computer I little suspected that over 200 people would follow my blog and I certainly never expected that some of my post would have over 25 comments. Still, this blog is a small piece life of my but some days it seems bigger than it seems and I can only wonder at what God has planned for my life. I do not know if I'll be blogging for another two years and a day but I do know that whatever happens happened for a purpose.

Thank you for reading, for sharing your heart with me, and thank you for allowing me to share my voice with you from across the miles. For the first time ever I am not blogging from my usual place at the from the family computer but I am blogging from my new laptop which reminds me that changes come. Whether I blog for another year or another decade I will always be glad I did if I have been able to touch one life in one way.

May Christ be magnified in such a simple thing as this.

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Feliz Navidad!

A glistening blanket of snow lay on the roof this morning. I pulled back my bedroom curtains and saw one of the best White Christmases I have seen! Whether or not you have a white Christmas I still want to wish you a Merry Christmas from, "the bottom of my heart."

May the joy of our Savior radiate to you throughout this day and may you remember that he is the reason we celebrate! He is the greatest of all gifts.

With Hope in Christ,

Elizabeth Jackson

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Christmas Eve musings

As most of the world went about their business not knowing that the Messiah was about to be born, I wonder how Mary felt. That day before Christ was born I wonder what her thoughts were about. The ridicule she must have endured and the scorn of others must have weighed on her. People just didn't understand. They didn't believe that Mary had done no wrong and was truly expecting a child because of a miracle that God performed.

Sometimes we think it must have been easy for Joseph and Mary. We think, "really, what could be better than to be expecting Jesus? It must have been pretty amazing." I am sure that it was spectacular to know that the Savior would be born of Mary but at the same time I am sure that this was no ordinary beginning. Imagine what people would say today if they were told that an unmarried woman was expecting a child and that the Child was of God and not of an act of man? You would be mocked-I know Mary and Joseph must have been.

Jesus Christ came so humbly. Perhaps our King was ridiculed even before he was born on earth. I can only try to understand what love was born on that first Christmas day. The love of a Savior who would be born through circumstances that people doubted and yet would endure everything and would forgive everyone sometimes astounds me. There could not be a more humble way to come to earth than the way our Lord came.

Consider the circumstances that proceeded the birth of Jesus and thank him that he was willing to come to save us. He could not have been more humble or looked down upon but yet he chose to live and die this way. We owe him so much and I hope that this Christmas you and I will see this indeed. To God be the glory for wonderful and miraculous things he has done!

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Christmas in Your Dreams

Sometimes Christmas in reality and Christmas the way we want it to be are two completely different things. This year, Christmas is going to be bittersweet for some people that I care about deeply. Often times it is during the holiday season that we most keenly feel the loss of those we love. We wish that they could be here one more time for one more moment. This is Christmas in our dreams.

Perhaps I do not know you personally or know all that you have been through but I do understand that if you have lost a loved one this year; this holiday will be different for you. The homegoing of my great aunt this year and the fact that I can still count on one hand the number of Christmases it's been since my dear great-grandmother went to be with the Lord, remind me of loss. If you are sad this season, you are not alone.

When I consider that I would rather have my loved ones with me this season I am reminded that perhaps they would rather not be here because they are with Jesus. I can only imagine what it will be like in heaven this Christmas. What rejoicing! What hope! What peace! If we were there I doubt we would wish anyone back with us. Knowing that the people I loved are spending Christmas with the Son of God makes me not miss them so much. I'll see them again someday and of course, they'll be "home for Christmas if only in my dreams."

May you find the peace of Christ and feel the hope of seeing again those who were his. Merry Christmas!

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
-1 Thessalonians 4:13

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When It Seems the Magic's Slipped Away...

This year I have shopped in half of the stores in the mall and I still seem to be short on having gifts for everyone. My first batch of Christmas cookies just slid out of the oven this afternoon, truly, I don't know where the time has gone between the summer and Christmas. As I've gotten older it seems as though the holiday season has lost some of its wonder. I don't like that.

I always loved twirling in the snow as is circled down from the heavens, I anticipated frosting Christmas cookies, and sipping hot chocolate by the Christmas tree were some of my favorite holiday pastimes. Perhaps as we get older we begin to overlook the simple things that meant so much to us. Perhaps we get dragged along in the commercialism of Christmas along with everyone else and the magic of Christmas seems to slip away with each last minute shopping trip. The beauty and magic of this season is not found in presents under the tree or Christmas music but is found in a much simpler way.

The wonder of Christmas comes from within us. Wrapped in the most humble wrapping paper ever, swaddling clothes, and laid in a feed trough; the King of Christmas came down to earth. That's where you find the magic of Christmas; It was lying in the manger waiting for the day when It could rescue us all. This Greatest Gift was Jesus! He holds the key that unlocks the beauty of this season.

If we don't feel the "Christmas spirit" I think it is because we have overlooked the One who truly brings it. We wouldn't have Christmas without him; this is Christ the King. Lay down your scissors, forget about the cookies until the timer goes off, and be still and listen to the voice from long ago. Heaven and nature sing his praises and the earth is filled with his glory. Christmas is celebrated to remember the coming of Jesus so what are you waiting for? The cookies won't burn and the presents won't jump out of their boxes in the time it takes to reflect on who Christmas is all about.

Now I feel the magic of Christmas dancing and flickering around me like the lights that glow on the Christmas tree. Remember the Reason we celebrate and may His light shine in your heart for now and forever.

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Peppermint hot chocolate, I love you

The weather outside was frightful and the Panera Bread fireplaces were so delightful and since we had been to a show, this is where we decided to go. I love that hot cocoa!

What's better than a fun shopping and movie watching outing with your best friends? I think it is a shopping and movie outing during which you discover the new chocolaty goodness of Panera Bread's peppermint hot chocolate. If you were wondering, no, Panera Bread hasn't paid me to advertise for them. Of course, if they offered I might consider doing so if my payment included free hot chocolate.

The simple things in life make me happy. There is something soothing about breezing in from the winter wonderland outside and wrapping your hand around a mug of something hot. Now that I've admitted that I really do love peppermint hot chocolate, I think it's fair that you share with me your favorite winter tea or hot chocolate tea or recipe. Drop a comment and I let you know if I try out what you suggested! My suggestion to you is that you make your way to Panera sometime when it super cold and grab a hot cup of cocoa and think about this blogger when your happily sipping a cup full of joy.

Let me share words of wisdom.: winter is too short for you to not drink peppermint hot chocolate.

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The most momentous mailing

Mail is my friend. These days I usually get mail more often then I use to though I will admit that most of the time its college flyer's or my bank account information. I recall the times when I would ship a gift package to one of my friends and I would imagine their reaction when they opened up the present that I had sent to them. Mail is memories.

As I stuffed my high school transcript, two essays, and several other documents into the mailer and sealed it shut I thought about what I was doing. This was one of those big but little moments in my life, yes, I know that statement was contradictory. Those papers and that transcript were the proof of four years of high school and when I realized that this was one of the moments you dream about, I had to pause. I had done it-I was applying to college!

Snow drifted down that Saturday morning as I drove to the post office with my prized possession. I walked up to the shipping counter and mailed that package. This time I wondered what the admissions committee would think about my application and I hoped that they would feel that I was a good student for their amazing school. As the post office door closed behind me I prayed that no matter what decision the admissions committee made about me, I was going to remember the day mailed my first (and I hope the last) college application.

Two and half months lie between me and my getting the most life changing letter I have will have received. I know my heart will skip a beat or two when I see that college logo so please pray that God will give me the grace to accept whatever that letter will say. Thanks so much! Oh, and hope that I don't chew my fingernails to bits my February the 15. =)

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The Dawn of December

As I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes this morning and looked out the window I saw that December had come. Swirling white tufts of snow flew around outside and the wind shook the bare maple tree outside my window. The dawn of December has come. It seems as though it were only yesterday when I was basking in the sunlight of June.

December marks the end of a year and the promise of new one. I have been thinking about what my life has been like this last year and I have seen so much good and tasted sadness as well. I enjoy wondering what each new year will bring. Where will I be a year from now? What will I be doing? I ask these questions and the answer is always the same: no matter where I am or what I am doing, God is with me.

With dawn of December comes the realization that each daybreak of a new year holds promise for even greater things than the year that has just set. Have you thought about what you might do in the year ahead? Have you considered what wonderful things our Lord may have in store? Think about it. I happen to be somewhat of a visionary. I dream big and look at the scope of things. As 2010 begins to draw to a close I am praying that next year will be an even better one than this year. Whatever life may hold for me I pray that I will be more like Christ with every passing week, month, and year.

Begin thinking about next year. Start seeing the things that God would have you see and trust him wholly in the year and years ahead.

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