Hi!

I'm sure y'all are in full Christmas spirit, I know I am! I've been thinking a lot lately about the Christmas songs that I'm listening to. Many of these songs are songs of worship towards God and Jesus. Below I've listed some of my favorite Christmas carols and how they reflect back to God! As you hear them this season, remember to thank God for all that He has given you and for sending His only son! And how cool is it, that as we listen to these songs, we are worshipping God!

Oh Holy Night

This song gives me chills! This song is one that I think everyone needs to carefully listen to. The first verse describes how our heart and our world is changed because of Jesus. We are given hope and given life through Christ. The last verse talks about how our chains are broken and and we can praise His holy name! My favorite part of the whole song is when it says "Fall on your knees". I'm sure you're thinking that is a strange line to like, but it paints the perfect picture of how we should worship God. 

Little Drummer Boy

When I was your age, I did not like this song. I honestly found it annoying. But now it is one of my favorites! We often feel inadequate and like we have nothing to give back to God. Like in the song, the boy had no gift for Jesus, but he played his best song on his drum for Him and the baby Jesus smiled back at him. Jesus didn't ask for these amazing expensive gifts, He just wants us to give him our best and all that we have.  

Away in a Manger

This song reminds me of a lullaby, and the first part talks about how there wasn't even a crib for Jesus. Jesus didn't even have a bed and He still didn't cry! What a great reminder during a season when the world says we can only be happy if we have everything we want. Jesus was happy just being in his mothers arms. The last verse of it is beautiful. It says "be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me for ever and love me, I pray". This is something that we should be praying every day, not just during the holiday season.

I hope y'all take the time to listen carefully to Christmas carols this season and to sing along and worship God! Here is a link to download some Christmas carols from LifeChurch, my church in Oklahoma. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lifechurch.tv-carols/id482496069?mt=2

Hope y'all have a blessed day and sing some Christmas tunes :)

Love ya!

Ali

Let It Snow!

Let it snow from the island!!

Greetings from the tropical winter wonderland! 

We have had so much fun the last couple of days playing in the snow! It is absolutely beautiful here! But it is also very weird to see kamp and Branson all snowy! I normally hate the cold and think the only thing that makes the cold okay is snow! Here is a picture of how pretty it has been the past couple days!

I love how the snow covers the ground! Just like the dirty ground is covered in a blanket of pure clean snow, God takes our sin and covers us in a blanket of forgiveness. With this forgiveness we are purified and made clean! This is such a wonderful reminder during the Christmas season! God sent His only Son to die on the cross in order for our sins to be forgiven! God thought through all the details when He made the earth!!

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

God even says in the Bible that our sin can be white like snow! So next time it snows, or you see snow on television if you live somewhere warm, remember that God covers our sins with a blanket of forgiveness!

Love y'all and stay warm!

Ali 

Hey!!

How was your Thanksgiving break?! I'd love to hear about all of your holiday traditions! I spent most of my break in Branson! Dianna (she was on leadership this summer as well!) came to visit me! We drove by K1 and talked about all of our memories from last summer! We also watched some movies and went to all of our favorite Branson restaurants! 

Last Tuesday, Katey (she was a UC and a Kitchie at K1!) and I went to Fayetteville for dinner and to see the Christmas lights! Look at how pretty the lights are!

Katey also spent Thanksgiving with my family at the Lake of the Ozarks! My grandparents live there and my mom and siblings drove down for the week! We had so much fun watching movies and working on some homework! The lake was beautiful on Thanksgiving, the picture below is from our front patio!

What did you do over break? What were you most thankful for? I am so thankful that Jesus died for me on the cross and that I get to worship and learn about him daily! I'm also thankful for my family members and all of my friends and YOU!

Happy 1st day of December! :)

Love ya!!

Ali