"I've Always Loved The Christmas Lights"

18 More Day Until Christmas

As a kid I can remember driving around with my family and seeing Christmas lights on the outside of the houses. As we have gotton older we rate the houses, as to which ones we liked best. As for me I love tasteful and uniformed Christmas house lights. What are your favorite kinds? At our house my mom is probably the one who loves them the most. She loves the lights on our house!  It's not just my mom though, I love them too (who do you think I get it from?)! 

There's just something about light shining in the darkness. I can't put my finger on it. There is just something about light. The Bible says that darkness can't come close to figuring out the light. Light is powerful! 

"The light shines in the darkness; and the darkness could not comperhend it." -John 1:5

As I looked at the lights this year it was like they were declaring something wonderful. I have never thought about that until now but I think they have always had a message. 

I think our lights might be saying:

"Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Savior of the world has come to break the back of darkness! He is our King forever! Be merry and celebrate! Tell everyone you know! We are no longer slaves! Our King is here! Merry Christmas!"

Or ya know, something like that! What do your lights say? Have you even thought about it? Snap a picture of your lights post them to Facebook or Instagram with the hash tag #janellschristmascountdown and share with your friends what your lights say! I'll re-post some of my favorites here on the blog.

Every picture was taken by me 
using a timer on my camera
and sometimes I wouldn't 
make it in time!

I See Beauty

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Oklahoma! Snow is falling and well so is the ice.  Right now everything is covered in ice except for the roads, thank you Jesus! With our ice history here in the state people get scared, worried and some, just mad when the ice starts rolling in. Now I understand why people don't like the ice, but I choose to see it in a different light...I look at everything differently...I see beauty. I see a winter wonderland. I see glistening trees. See I could focus on all the negative things that the ice or hard times bring, or I could magnify the good. 

In our world, when something bad happens or the rumors start we get bent all out of shape. Thinking of all the bad and terrible things that could happen. I understand the dangers of things, but I don't let them rule me into fear. There is a difference between true and truth. 

Hard, icy times come, there is no stopping them. It's up to us on how we see and act in the situation. Are we looking through the lens of hope or despair? It's all about perspective! That's why I have made hope a lifestyle. Without hope, life is full of dread. See hope, see beauty.

This Christmas I encourage you to change the way you see everything. See them through I eyes of God. And I promise you will have a very Merry Christmas!

Whatsoever Think...

Do you have trouble seeing the good around you? Ask God to show you! He is always speaking! Comment below about how God has spoken to you about hope in a hopeless situation. And then how you were able to walk it out. I would love to hear it!