LEX

2008 Was Great

it was my first full calendar year back in the country. that means that this year i can't write about the contrasts of third world living versus the luxuries of the US. oh, but wait, i did visit the DR. and how good that was for sure.

yet in the midst of this "economic crisis" (which, honestly, hasn't affected me much at all, except at Valero and HEB), i feel like it's a bit of the minimalist way of living forcing itself on culture around me. problem is, people here are complaining about it, rather than realizing what a blessing it could be.

and i find myself also in the middle of the tension between wanting more and needing less, of taking more and giving less, and striving to give more and take less. and though my vocation will never allow me to have a lot in the eyes of american culture, i have way more than i could ever ask. and while this year wasn't full of those explicit reminders of the material wealth i do possess, it was full of vivid blessing from the Lord that i didn't even know i was lacking. i've been struck this past year by how much better the Lord knows our needs than we know it ourselves. so many things to which he led me i thought - or hoped - were for one purpose, only to discover they were for something much better.

when stress drained, peace filled.
when people drained, community filled.
when knowledge drained, relationship filled.
when plans drained, the Lord's sovereignty filled.
when decisions drained, the Holy Spirit's guidance filled.
when surgery drained, sacrifice filled.
when pride drained, humility filled.
when sin drained, Grace filled.

posted by Alexia & Jeffrey @ 3:31 PM