Don't Loose Jesus...

I love this time of year - love ALL of it!!! Love to bake all the traditional Christmas cookies, cook all the food that we "just have to have" on our Christmas dinner table, love to go to shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating the house, sending Christmas cards, you know, all that good stuff!!! Sometimes it's easy to get so wrapped up in all the preparations for this great holiday that we forget what it's really about.

Just imagine that we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Just imagine that the King of Kings was born in a filthy stable... There were no cozy blankets, no diapers, no wet wipes or onezies... There was no warm water for Maria to wash up in after giving birth... Our Lord, that means everything to us came to this world as a vulnerable little baby. He is not a baby anymore though - He is the Almighty, the King och Kings and Lord of Lords - and He is the One that we celebrate this season!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

will accomplish this.

Is 9:6-7

So, for every cookie you bake, every gift you wrap and every meal you make - remember that it's to make the birthday of our Jesus as perfect as can be!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 6:53 PM

A Master Piece

Early Thursday morning at 1:50 a little master piece entered this world, her name is Emilia, Mathilda, Helen Almqvist. She was 11.9 lbs and 21.7 inches (5,260 kg and 55 cm) and has more hair than any other baby I've ever seen :). She is just so adorable and the best thing of all; she's ours!!! Her journey these few days have been tough though, she was born with a broken clavicle and 5 broken ribs - you feel the ribs moving and cracking when you hold her... She has been in so much pain, and has spent the last two days in the NICU at the hospital. We are praying and hoping that we can bring her home tomorrow.

Today as I was sitting with her, just cuddling and talking to her this verse came to mind;

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Is 58:8

The peace and presence of the Lord filled the little room at the NICU at MaGee Womens Hospital and I just knew that she will heal quickly. God truly is our fortress, our strong tower, our peace, our healer, our provider, our joy and comforter!

As I sang this song for her she opened her eyes and looked at me as to say; mom, I'll be ok. (Sorry all my English speaking friends that it's in Swedish, but the lyrics are written below in the clip).

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 7:45 PM