joy and peace to the world.

Happy Christmas Eve. Tomorrow we will celebrate the crux of Christianity-- God coming to earth. To our earth, into our world. God Emmanuel takes on a new meaning through the coming of this man, as he now has walked in the ways of the world and experienced our same struggles.

This was my second year of celebrating Advent. Though I do not like over-ritualized acts of worship, I do appreciate the longevity of the season. I am now forced to dwell on Christmas for a month instead of just one day. As we focused on hope, joy, love, and peace each week, I tried to thoughtfully dwell on how Christ changes those verbs (?) for the world. Christians must look at joy and love differently than the world, right? How? How do I live this out?

Christ has come to redeem the world. How then shall we live?

These past two weeks have boldly affected my future-- my career, my living situation, and the way I want to live out my Christian faith. As I have repeatedly read through the Proverbs this semester, I have really witnessed Christ as my confidence, as he guides my path and prevents destruction of my own doing. In the midst of learning how to live redemptively, I have been thrown into "real life" at high speeds.

As I have needed to discern good career opportunities, pray for solid housing arrangements, and visit my long-distance community, I am learning what it means to live as Christ in these situations.

Christ has come to save the lost. How then shall we live? Christ has come to help the hurting. How then shall we live?

As I make an official move to Washington DC and start my first job with an ideal organization, I marvel at how perfectly orchestrated all of the arrangements have been. I can't help but think that God has ordained the "big things" of life, and now it is my responsibility to live Christianly in these circumstances. I have worked hard to place myself in the right places to get into the type of job I want, but I never thought something like IJM would come so soon-- I credit that to God. And now he is handing it over and saying "how then shall you live?"

I pray to live thankfully, hospitably, humbly, boldly, kindly.

As we finish the season of Advent, I hope to take the lessons I have learned during this time to my new life. Living in remembrance of the love, hope, joy, and peace of Christ.

Cheers. And Merry Christmas.