Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve Traditions

In my family the Christmas Eve tradition when we were very young was to go pick out a tree. We would start to decorate it and overnight it would come to life with more decorations and angel hair and tinsel -- it became magical. When we woke in the morning it was perfect and under the tree presents would overflow. 

Our entire family would come together and spend the day making beautiful memories. As time went on and we all grew older and created our own families our traditions changed and grew and we created our own. 

Rob and I work a lot of holidays. So our Christmas and Christmas Eve -as well as almost all other holidays- get moved to days that we can make them work for us and our schedule and still take part in the spirit of the season. 

Last night was our Christmas Eve since we both work tonight. We attended our new Church's Christmas Eve production. As a side note I am so thankful that they do a Christmas Eve-Eve production as well as Christmas Eve- they recognize that not everyone can make a true Christmas Eve service and for that I am so thankful! 

Our Christmas Production was called the Never Ending Story~ it was a beautiful production that brought me to tears a few times. First was this song by Steven Curtis Chapman that our talented musicians brought to life- The Glorious Unfolding


Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don't try to figure it out
Just listen to what I'm whispering to your heart
Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it's just not true
There's so much of the story that's still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You've just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

God's plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We've just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we're living
Is just the beginning of the beginning

Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will, be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We'll see the glorious unfolding

Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)

How powerful! I have played it over and over and over and over.. you get the point. If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over..And hold on to every promise God has made to us.. We'll see the glorious unfolding!!

I felt it in my bones- the message, the lyrics, and the life that buzzed around our Church.  The next thing that truly hit home was the opening to the services where our Pastors Wife read the opening. She talked about time-- and how God knows what time everything is going to happen-- everything is going to unfold.. 



It was as though she was speaking to me directly. In other words stop fretting-- your story is unfolding just the way it is suppose to!! No need to stress! No need to worry! 

If you don't have any plans later today and want to check out our Church's productions of The Never Ending Story they will be broadcasting a live feed starting at 1:50pm, 3:50pm and 5:50pm- Shore Fellowship Online Campus. If you have an hour the story is beautiful and the talent is amazing. 

I hope that last night was the start of a new tradition for my family. I pray that you and your families are able to come together and share the story of Christmas, pray together for a blessed New Year, and spread love and joy. 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! xo ~ Rob, Kasey & Swish

18 comments:

  1. What a cool thing for the church to offer... Christmas Eve-Eve! I do contract work for my church and this is the first year in several that we've done a Christmas Eve service, so I know how much extra work goes into those. But how cool to offer that for people who can't make a traditional Christmas Eve service! It sounds like yours was really special!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kasey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merry Christmas to you guys too!! I'm so glad they offered it so we could attend together!

      Delete
  2. Yeah- that is SO cool that your church offers an Eve-Eve service!! That is REALLY neat. And I'm glad that it was so beautiful and meaningful for you!! I hope that you have a wonderful rest of the holiday...whenever you celebrate it!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was pretty amazing! We were able to celebrate this weekend- it was crazy, but perfect!!

      Delete
  3. A very Merry Christmas to you as well! That sounds like a wonderful new tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Merry Christmas!! Sounds like a fantastic new tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love that message! Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Merry Christmas! what a wonderful new tradition!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A very merry christmas K. Your dream will come true. I just know it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love this Kasey!! What a beautiful message! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy that you and your spouse are forming your own traditions too. We used to put up the tree the week before Christmas when I was a kid.

    ReplyDelete