Josie's Jericho: The Hope of Glory

Howdy Ho, Ho, Ho and the Merriest of Merry Christmases!

As I write this you may picture me sipping hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music. In all actuality I'm listening to Skillet's song Monster and munching on Pretzel M&M's :-) After all, Monster was my favorite thing today. Erin and I decided that for the entire month of December we would post our favorite things on Broken but Priceless Ministries' Facebook Page. We're sharing our favorite books, video clips, pictures, songs, etc... Anything that encourages us or makes us laugh and helps us get through those difficult days are fare game to share. I'm having a blast sharing our favorite things! Feel free to visit our page and check out some of our favorite things :-)

I can't tell you how much God blessed me a couple of weeks ago. After Thanksgiving two of my roommates and their families came to visit me. I asked you to pray for this and God answered your prayers in no uncertain terms! I was very tired while they were here, but my body did not crash, even after they left. I was able to take several days to rest after they left and that was enough to keep by body from entering the downward spiral. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had and what a special time it was. The first night, after supper and some time letting the kids play in the pool, the husbands stayed with the kids and us girls pretended we were back in college. We went to Perkins and talked and laughed the night away; I didn't get home until almost 1:00 in the morning (hush now, that's super late for me)! It was such a blessing to get to spend time with their kids and get to know them as moms. I got to be auntie Jo I can't tell you how much I miss those sweet little faces and little kid hands in mine. I feel so blessed and loved! While Elizabeth and her family were here Elizabeth taught a silk painting class. I now have a silk scarf that I made and every time I wear it I will remember that week. Sometimes God's blessings seem like too much to take in!

I told Elizabeth that I would cry when I saw her again and I did. She was so surprised and said that I really have changed. Chronic illness will do that to a person! I have indeed changed. Quite a lot I suspect. Elizabeth and I lived together for four years in college and one summer in China; if I remember correctly she has only seen me cry two other times. Pain, suffering and trials tend to soften a person's heart. God uses suffering to break a cold heart of stone and turn it into a heart that is like His. It's a horrible thing to go through, but I'm so glad that God loves me enough to take the time to turn me into someone that He can use for His glory.

Is it just me or is it much easier to see God working in the lives of other people? It can be difficult to see how He is working in your own life. Lately God has given me the opportunity to observe how He is at work in the lives of others and I am so encouraged by that. It's like He slapped me upside the head and said "Josie, look around! I'm doing that in your life too!" So I'm looking. I'm seeing ways that He's working and I'm starting to see how things that He started so long ago have brought me to the point I am at now and it blows my mind to think that something He did 20 years ago in my life very well could have been setting me up for what He wants me to do now. It reminds me of how AWESOME God is, how He has a plan for each of our lives and how He is working all things together for the purpose of His glory. He's so big, yet He cares enough to work out the seemingly insignificant details of our lives to bring us to the place that He wants us to be so that we can do what He wants us to do so that we can honor and glorify Him. It's all too much to even comprehend.

As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, we see that in this too, He had a plan that was in the works from the very beginning. Even from Genesis - the fall - the first time man sinned, God had a plan for the redemption of mankind. God sent his Son Jesus to live a perfect life and die for sins that He didn't commit. Yet God's plan continued. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave. He conquered sin and death once and for all. Yet, there's more to come. Jesus is coming back again! As we remember and celebrate His birth, we look forward with great anticipation to His second coming.

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” -Luke 21:25-28, ESV

When we know Jesus we don't have to faint with fear and foreboding at what is to come. We place our confidence in Christ and are sure of our futures. In a world full of fear what better gift to share this Christmas than the gift of Jesus, who came to earth to purchase our lives at the price of His own. That my friends, could never be bought in a department store clearance section.

I pray that 2013 is filled with the joy of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Merry Christmas!
-Josie

Some pictures from our college roommate reunion...