The Year of Independence

Well, another year has come and gone. 2012 is out and 2013 is in. I have to admit, 2012 was a pretty great year. But 2013 is gonna be better.

Here's something pretty random about me that you probably didn't know about me: I name my years in January. I've done that for the last few years. 2010 was the year of finding God. 2011 was supposed to be the year of restoration, but it turned out to be the year of new beginnings. And 2012 was the year of restoration. I've decided to name the year of 2013 as the year of independence.

This year, I'm determined to figure out who I actually am. Many people who know me seem to think that I'm pretty comfortable with who I am and where I am in life, but the truth is... I don't have a clue. I'm 19 years old and I'm still learning things about myself. I still surprise myself with some of the things I feel. So I want to spend this year figuring out who I am. Who I am as a person, who I am as a woman, who I am as a Christian, who I am in the world. It's gonna be an interesting year...

Today, one of my friends Courtney started a "30 Things" series on her blog. Basically, it's just 30 random questions that you answer in 30 blog posts. I thought it was a really good idea because it fit into the theme of this year and because lately I've been lacking in the knowing-what-to-blog department. So I'm going to do it too! You're supposed to do it in 30 days, but I won't be posting every day for 30 days. I think I'm going to try to answer two questions per week.

So here are the questions I'll be answering in the next few months:

1. List 20 random things about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What's the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe the 3 best books you've ever read and what you like about them.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

I Say: Bah, Humbug!

I used to love Christmas. I used to get a huge adrenaline rush from finding the perfect gift for somebody. I used to be the first one in line to help set up the Christmas. I used to start my Christmas shopping as soon as Halloween was done. I used to start listening to Christmas music as soon as the advent season hit. In fact, I used to love Christmas this much... until last year.

Christmas got ruined for me. Don't worry, ruined in a good way. My idea of what Christmas was about deserved to get ruined... because it was wrong.

This is what Christmas is ACTUALLY about:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life..." Philippians 2:3-16

You must be confused. What? A Christmas passage not from Matthew 1, Luke 2, or Isaiah 9? This is absurd. I think not.

We've turned Christmas into this "yay for Jesus Christ being born, but let's go buy some presents, get some presents and decorate our houses until we get epilepsy from all the flashing lights" holiday. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with presents and decorations in and of themselves, but it's our motives and attitudes that make the difference. All the decorations, all the presents, all the shopping and everything else that the world defines as "Christmas" is robbing people's hearts of what should actually be going on in there.

When I was in the 12th grade, my Sunday School teacher asked us to examine an old Christmas hymn of our choice and find the true meaning behind it. I chose O Holy Night. I think this particular hymn depicts pretty well what Christmas is all about. Jesus Christ is holy. Jesus Christ is Lord.

There's where the passage above comes in. Christmas is about CHRIST. It's not even just about Jesus being born. It's about Jesus in all His fullness. Jesus is GOD. Think about that for even two seconds... All-knowing, all-sufficient, all-powerful, the I Am, sovereign, holy, just, merciful, loving, faithful, deserving of reverence, awesome, almighty, everlasting, worthy of all glory and honor and praise, and anything else you can think of... God. He is limitless. And Jesus gave up His limitlessness to become limited; a human. He humbled Himself. One of the definitions of humbled is "to lower in dignity or importance". Completely independent God to completely dependent human. 

Our only job in life is to proclaim Him. The author of a particular famous Christmas hymn got it right when he wrote: "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere..." Are flashing lights, evergreen trees, perfectly wrapped gifts, stories of Santa and his reindeer, really proclaiming Him to the world?

"Shout it, go on and scream it from the mountains, go on and tell it to the masses, that He is God." - All Sons & Daughters