christmasgiftsChristmas is a time of  reflection – looking back at the previous year and looking forward to the year to come.  We have a great deal to be thankful for this year.

We’ve moved!  Thinking that our home in Columbia would be our home for many years to come, we decided to do several home upgrades, including replacing our original windows.   During spring break I took a week of vacation and worked with a friend of mine to put new windows throughout our home.   Not just any windows, since we thought we were staying, we got top of the line, Pella, double-paned, argon gas filled windows!   If I knew I was moving I would not have gotten the expensive windows – at least someone else can enjoy them.

The following month (April) I was teaching at a retreat for The Church at LifePark which has two of my former students on staff.  One of them   asked me if I would pray about something.  I responded, “Sure, what do you want me to pray about?”  He asked me to pray about coming on staff at LifePark.  After working at Columbia International University for 29 years, this came as a surprise.    Our church in Columbia has been like a family to us and I loved my ministry at Columbia International University.   We prayed about this decision and God clearly led.  It’s great being part of the team at Lifepark, I sense God has been preparing me for such a time as this.  So, it turned out that all the improvements we made on our home over the past couple years were not for our enjoyment, but to enable us to sell our home (and that is a miracle story).  Needless to say, we had an incredibly busy summer with selling and buying homes, starting a new job, and getting settled into our new home and environment.  It was a busy summer but it was worth it!

Not only do I enjoy the ministry at LifePark but Jeanne and I are enjoying living in Mt. Pleasant, here are a few reasons:

– we live in a beautiful neighborhood (2.5 miles from the church) with jogging trails and nature ponds with plenty of wildlife:  deer and alligators – keep a good eye on your small dog

– miles of bike trails and to Jeanne’s delight there are no hills

– we are living in a townhouse and by this time back in Columbia I would have raked at least 98,575,000 leaves – this fall I haven’t raked any leaves:)  Jeanne and I can spend more time bike riding

– we’re not that far from the ocean so we often have a nice breeze (cooler in the summer and milder in the winter)

– the best part is Daniel and David live in Charleston!  Although we’re farther from Elisabeth, Matthew and the grand kids, there is a strong attraction for them to come to Charleston.

In addition to the gifts we’ve given and received, the Apostle Paul  reminds us to give thanks for the greatest gift,

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Although there will be an abundance of gifts exchanged this Christmas none is greater than Jesus.  In Jesus you have not only the gift of eternal life (John 3:16) but also the gift of abundant life (John 10:10).  May the gift of Jesus be yours this Christmas!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. (Luke 2:14)

 

RickAssociate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5