Reflections from the Christmas Season

The past two Christmas Seasons have been completely different than any Christmas we have experienced in our married lives.  As we have walked through life's transitions, we find ourselves viewing the Christmas Season through new lenses.

Previously our Christmas Seasons were so full; often beginning on "Black Friday" with the fun of shopping for deals while listening to Christmas music being played in every store, restaurant, waiting room, elevator, etc.  The Season quickly shifted towards the boys' school Christmas programs, Christmas parades, Christmas parties, Christmas crafts, etc. Weekends were often full of baking cookies, having friends over for parties, Christmas concerts and many more activities.  Once school let out for break, the days were full of traveling to stores to complete shopping, preparing for Christmas programs and special events at church, sending out our family newsletter and a little caroling.  Christmas Eve was filled with family traditions. The night began with homemade pizzas (the boys would make and eat them with their shirts off and drink their soda from special wine glasses). Then there was a special Christmas Eve Service at our church (where 7 years ago Seth asked Jesus to rule in his heart). That was followed by delivering a plate of cookies to all our neighbors. Lastly, we would end the evening with the boys opening one gift (their Christmas PJ's) and them all sleeping in the same room together.  Christmas day was also full of family tradition: waking up to a birthday party for Jesus, one of the boys reading the Christmas story, the boys receiving some gifts, dinner (often with friends) including many food items that were traditional to both Barry's family and mine, playing with our new toys in front of the beautiful Christmas tree, and many other fun activities.

As we have celebrated the past two Christmases, I have found myself reflecting a lot on the traditions that we had and on the "Christmas feeling."  For two years now, it has not FELT like Christmas.  As I have reflected and prayed about this, I believe that my heart has been opened a little (and I still need the Lord to continue opening my heart and eyes).

In the United States it is much easier to find the Christmas spirit in all the activities that lead up to Christmas.  

• Churches are full of decorations, Christmas music, advent celebrations, Christmas programming and more. Our church in Costa Rica didn't decorate until two Sundays before Christmas and even then it was a couple of boxes wrapped in plain paper with three words on them.  We did not sing any Christmas songs (we were unable to attend the Christmas Eve Service where they sang Christmas songs) in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
• Shopping is always full of Christmas sights, songs, etc. Shopping here is completely different.  The malls are all decorated, however their halls are filled with regular music.
• I mentioned above some of the traditions we have had. Many of those we were unable to do either because we had to take a visa renewal trip (which allows us to stay in Costa Rica for 90 more days) or because we were unable to find those things here.

With the change of culture I was unable to "find" the Christmas Spirit.  The more I thought about that, the more I questioned myself and felt the Lord prompting my heart:

• Christy, what is "the Christmas Spirit?"
• Christy, where does "the Christmas Spirit" really come from?
• Christy, whose responsibility is it to create "the Christmas Spirit?"...Is it the church's responsibility to create this "Spirit" or ultimately is it between the Lord and myself?

I began to realize that I have completely allowed the culture I lived in to determine whether or not I felt "the Christmas Spirit."  When culture was screaming: Christmas this, Christmas that, Christmas here, Christmas there, Christmas do, Christmas create, etc. I "felt" a part of the "Christmas Spirit."  However, when culture was not screaming "Christmas"...well I just did not "feel" like it was Christmas.

Ultimately, Christmas is about the birth of a perfect savior. Someone who was in the presence of God and who knew that I needed a Savior to rescue me from myself and from the grasp of sin, hatred, and evil.  So He came down in the most humble form, a baby.  He grew in wisdom and stature, as well as, in relationship with God and with other people (Luke 2:52).  Through His life on earth he left behind a legacy of love, relationships, addressing evil, mentoring, discipling and giving of Himself completely and wholly, ultimately with His life and resurrection.  So, it shouldn't matter what culture you are in or what season of life you are in.  The "Christmas Spirit" comes from relationship with Jesus and pushing into Jesus, Himself.  

Maybe, just maybe, the "Christmas Spirit" can even press into January, or March, possible even May, or even July and maybe this year we will find the "Christmas Spirit" in October. I am pressing in...will you join me?

Life Away

This blog was inspired by Tiffany Ferguson. While eating dinner with her and her family one night before Christmas, she encouraged me to write another blog and so I did (and my dad has finally helped me to publish it).

Some of you may know what it is like living here as a missionary, but others may not. This is a blog for everyone, but especially for the people that don’t know what it is like living here. 

First, the leche (milk in Spanish) comes in a large juice-box-like container. The apple juice and other drinks do also, but not all the drinks. 

This is sort of funny to me; there is a bus stop right outside my house. Ho, ho, ho; whoops, I meant ha, ha, ha. Do ya get it; do ya, do ya, do ya? It is good to have a chuckle every once in awhile; okay, back to business. 

We don’t have a car and almost every thing is pricey. Houses have big gates and people can pay for a day and night guard. 

All these thing are different ,but God has been God. He is still God; He has provided; He has kept me safe; He is still God.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

https://youtu.be/iujkHmmx5Hw

Undeserved and Unmerited

Learning a new language...engaging a new culture...raising a family in a new place...discovering new ways to accomplish even the simplest of tasks (which often take way longer than in the States). I wish this was the list of reasons I could offer as to why I've not written a blog since letting folks know we had arrived in Costa Rica way back near the end of August. However, if I'm being true to you and myself, the reason for my departure from words stems from something a little deeper within.

In a spirit of transparency, I honestly felt as if I didn't have any words worth sharing with you. The last year and a half, before arriving in Costa Rica, was by far the most difficult season of life I've ever been through. And the irony of it is that it was not the result of running away from God, but rather as we were running straight into the middle of what He's called us to. Exasperated; desperate; tired; overwhelmed. While there are definitely some positive adjectives to describe our incredible and miraculous journey to this point, those few words describe the core of who I was upon arriving here. I was wore out; my emotions were spent; I felt I had nothing left to give - nothing to give to my family and nothing left to give to you or those around me.

And yet in the midst of that struggle, God in His grace and love spoke life and hope and purpose right into the core of my existence and being. A month or so ago, I had been asked to allow my name to stand for the position of Chaplain here at language school. At first I was a little hesitant given our "primary purpose" is to learn language and culture. I didn't want to allow anything to get in the way of that, yet after much prayer, I conceded and trusted the Lord to open or close this door as He saw fit. It's my honor and privilege to share with you that, along with one other student, I have been entrusted (through the election process) to serve in this capacity for the January-April trimester.

It wasn't until this past Tuesday, the first opportunity I've had to share in chapel (note picture above), that I realized the magnitude of what the Lord has allowed to unfold in my life. In the midst of our obedience to follow Jesus to another part of the world, God has chosen to restore unto me the joy of proclaiming His Word. The beauty of the situation is the following realization: 17 months ago I gave the pastorate over to God (at least physically speaking with my resignation); about 10 months ago I gave the pastorate over to God (spiritually and emotionally), and now God has seen fit to allow me to serve in a similar context in this new and beautiful place.

So, do I deserve it; have I somehow earned it? Does God owe it to me for being obedient? Absolutely not! And therein lies the beauty of it - I am the recipient of the undeserved and unmerited grace of God! But here's what I love about God; I'm not the only one on the receiving end. Take a look around your life. Where and how are you presently receiving the unmerited and undeserved grace of God? Once you discover that answer, like me today, and every day, be sure to thank Him for it!

He (God) Still Parts the Waves

What a whirlwind the past week has been. We drove to Atlanta last Friday for Christy's weekend speaking engagement; from there the boys and I drove on to Mobile, AL. We reunited Sunday evening in Atlanta in order to fly out Monday morning (special kudos to Christy's dad and step mom for all they did to help us in that adventure). We arrived to Costa Rica around noon on Monday and haven't stopped since. Parent orientation for the boys started Tuesday morning and our own orientation has been the rest of this week. The boys start school Monday and us on Tuesday following one more day of orientation. Phew, are you tired yet?

In all of that, I wanted to share these words with you in the 30 minutes of internet time I have left (we still haven't been able to get it set up at the house and we have 2 more meetings coming up still today).

As you know, thanks to God and His people, we saw 44% of our budget raised in the final 41 (of 45) days that we were in Virginia. It previously had taken us over 16 months to raise the first 56%. There are many specific things e can point to as to why we believe it was finally God's timing for our family (and perhaps we will in a separate blog). For now, I just want to remind us all of this simple, Biblical truth - God still parts the waves.

If you're familiar with the Exodus story, you know the mighty miracle God performed for the Israelites as they fled the Egyptians. While I'm no Moses and we're not the Israelites, this is very much the same miracle we just witnessed in our own lives.

There we were, on the way to the Promised Land (our mission in Central America). All around us we were surrounded and hemmed in. In front of us were the finances (or lack thereof - only 56% July 7th). Behind us were the comforts/trappings of our former life beckoning us "home." To the left and right were the mountains of fear, doubt, and uncertainty. And in the midst of that storm and trial God uttered these words to our hearts, the very same ones he uttered to Moses, found in Exodus 14:14 -The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Wow! The Lord will fight for us! We continued being faithful to the task before us, but all of a sudden the pressure to perform; the pressure to make our budget by August 24th had been broken from our shoulders. This was God's battle and His to perform. And boy, did he ever fight for us.

As I've already pointed out, you know the financial miracle he provided in order to ensure that I could be writing this right now from San Jose, Costa Rica as we're preparing for a year of language school to be followed by several more years in our field of service.

On that Tuesday evening (I think it was) when we knew we surpassed 100%, it was as if we had literally and finally crossed that sea on dry ground and as we turned around, the enemies we once saw we never saw again. It was as if, God split our financial sea, for us to cross and caused it to come crashing down on our fear and on our doubt and on our uncertainty; as well, never again would we return to our former life.

We're so excited to be here in Costa Rica. The transition has been an extremely steep learning curve. We have lots of stories already so just ask (Wi-Fi, taxi cab, Price Smart, etc). Yet, we'd have it no other way than to be here, directly where the Lord has placed us, exactly in His timetable. We're thankful for His continued provision and for your continued partnership and prayers!

Look forward to hearing more from us once we get this whole Wi-Fi thing figured out. Until then, know we're thinking of you and thankful for you!

We love you,
Barry