This may be the first day, in what seems like forever (time is uneding in the dark and reality skewed), that I have actually smiled and meant it. Today, December 22, 2016, I smiled!

Depression hits me out of nowhere sometimes and it seems that no matter what I do, I can't shake it, so through the motions, I go.

Today, those motions felt more powerful, today those motions weren't so difficult...today, I smiled and I meant it.

Yesterday, while out on a lunch date with my sweetheart, I received a phone call from a friend who does not often call on the phone. I felt I needed to take it even though I was enjoying some rare time with my busy husband. I answered the call to hear her say that she was just thinking about me and wanted to call.

I took the opportunity to share a prayer request, later followed by a text message telling her I had been struggling and her phone call came at the perfect time. 

As is the case, most times, I find that once I speak the darkness into the light and share with others who will lift me up in prayer, the power it has over me is broken. As I shared, I could already feel the weight lifting. Depression wants to isolate me and too often, I let it.

Yes, going through the motions helped, but ultimately, for me, speaking it out loud to others who come in agreement before for the Lord in the name of Jesus breaks every chain that is bound in me.

Thank you Lord.

Can I encourage you, during this season of Joy, that often times feels anything but, do not be tempted to isolate yourself, but allow others to stand alongside you in prayer. You may find that it eases the load and may allow you to see the light and promise to come.

Joyful Christmas and I love you in the Lord, Mia

Anticipation...that's what the Advent season is all about. In our celebration of Christmas, we know that Jesus has already been born, yet we still choose to celebrate the Advent of our King each year as a reminder (just as I choose to celebrate the entire month of my birth leading up to the actual day.) It's the anticipation of what's to come, anticipation of the celebration.

But what about the times when you are anticipating that which you still do not know, simply an anticipation of a promise. That may get a little more difficult, because that requires patience, that requires trust, that requires FAITH.

In Luke 1, we are told of the birth of John the baptist who would eventually be the voice crying out to others to prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus Christ. John's parents were older and his mother had been barren, so when the angel told Zechariah that his prayers had been answered and that they would have a child, he did not believe it. But even in his unbelief, God remind faithful to His plan and to his promise. And so, months later when his wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to their child, the Bible says that her neighbors rejoiced with her! Her husband too, I would imagine, although, because of his initial unbelief, the angel told him months earlier that he would remain silent and unable to speak until all had taken place.

Oh, how difficult that would be especially at the site of one's firstborn son.

As was customary in those times, the child was circumcised on the eight day, more than a medical procedure this was a religious practice, a sign of their covenant with the Lord as God's chosen people, set apart and called. On this occasion, the child was also to be named and naturally they would have named him after his father, Zechariah, but Elizabeth, the baby's mother as the text reads...

"answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 

And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him."  Luke 1:60-66

I know that there is so much going on before this point, during and so much more to come, but what got me in the gut this day was the question that the neighbors laid up in their hearts. This question.. "What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him." Oh, the anticipation!

​Zechariah's faith in declaring this childs name to be John was the last barrier that allowed God to loose his toungue from his past unbelief. Zechariah beleived! And calling his son, John, against all customs was a testimony to that belief. 

I can only imagine at this point the initial words that the angel shared with him at the announcement of his answered prayer to have a child must have come flooded back to him. These words "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1:14-17

So as Zechariah spoke for the first time in months, his words were a declaration that signified "This I do believe." The anticipation of the proud parents, the anticipation of the neighbors who rejoiced knowing the hand of God was on this child must have been great. Yet all they could do was wait...... wait to see the answer to the question that was pondered up in their hearts of "What then will this child be?" 

As the years went by, did they remain patient, anxious expectant or doubtful? Maybe at times a little bit of each, but there is no denying that faith in the midst of anticipation is much more fruitful than doubt or fear, wondering if God will do what He said he will do.

As you wait.... trust. As you wait, anticipate the fulfillment of what God has promised you. As you wait, prepare. As you wait, get ready for God to use you to turn hearts to Him.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

​I love you in the Lord! Mia

I have said many times "This was the best Christmas ever", but this year, I really mean it. This was the best Christmas ever!!

My husband and I are not big on shopping or getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. We try to take it slow, lay back and try to keep things in perspective. This year turned out much differently than other years in that no one made it to a store to do ANY shopping and the amazing part of it was that none of us felt any pressure to either.

So where does this leave us? Let's see, Christmas Eve we attended church, came home and had a wonderful family dinner and then gathered around the tree where there were a few cards from some extended family members. Now feeling a bit of the pressure, unbeknownst to the others, everyone quietly proceeded to go wrap their "gifts."

Well, it turned out that we all had the same idea...lets sneak into peoples room, find things that belong to them and wrap them up! And that's just what happened.

As the kids began to open there frantically wrapped presents we all quickly realized that each gift was a joke waiting to happen. My daughter laughed as she opened a box with one of her slippers in it, a half eaten candy bar, an empty CD case and some clothes pins.

As the gift giving event went on, each present opening was tuned into an opportunity to laugh, each laugh bigger than the one before.

Being a competitive family, it became a sort of competition to see who gave the best "Worst" gift. Even the gifts that we gave our kids (which was a envelope with some cash) had a used item from their own room and was met with tons of laughter.

I guess what made that Christmas Eve so special, obviously, was not the gifts, but truly the time together laughing and loving each other. While we didn't plan to do a gift-less Christmas, I tell you, it couldn't have gotten much better.

So we already have plans for next year.....The gift giving competition. Find the best worst gift from Goodwill and carry the title for a year of "The Best Worst Giver". Granted, this may not work in most families, but for us, Koehne's, it works just fine!!