Florida: Part 4: Victorious Victory Party

As you can deduct, by God's grace our candidate won the election! I don't think any of us could stop smiling after Rick Scott himself announced he won the election. I always wondered what it was like to be in one of the places where there is confetti after the announcement. It was cool. 

 Rick Scott encouraging us all!

It was an extremely close race.

 First set of triplets I've met! They were so awesome! 

By the end of the trip, I think I was able to keep them fairly straight...

 Our van + team leader! 

 Our van sitting in front of the super neat horse fountain. It was late, and we were all tired, as you can see...

Rick Scott announcing his victory! The confetti came about 30 seconds later.

 "Well done, partner."

 I'm not quite sure...

 Victory party smiles and silliness!

How many people can you fit into a selfie?

Final farewell of Florida. 

We didn't get to bed until around 1 or 2 that night, and had to get up at 4 for our flight...When we gathered to head out, I know I at least had to repeat my sentences two or three times before they made any sense...It was rather hilarious how tired those of us who had an early flight looked at the airport. I can just imagine how it must have looked: 10 or so teenagers, draped across chairs, staring vacantly into space. 

And so, this concludes the long documentation of my trip to Ft. Myers, Florida. It was a grand trip, loaded with growing experiences and fun times. So thankful for the opportunity!

Christmas Hustle and Bustle: Setting My Lens Straight

I was so excited when I finished wrapping the last gift today, then I realized I wouldn't be shopping anymore, and I became a bit depressed. I love buying things for people...Oh well. 

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation and work, I know many of us struggle with focusing on the real Reason for the season. 

In truth, nothing really matters except Christ and celebrating Him coming to earth so that we might come to Him. All because He loves us. Us, who are sinners, separated from God because of our depravity. Us, who were once in darkness, totally against Christ, focused on ourselves. It's so amazing that God would love us so much that He would send His one and only Son to save us. 

Colossians 1:9-23, "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

      13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

      15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

      21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister."

I am continually in awe of the fact that Christ saves us when we call on His name, forgives us when we repent, and shows His grace every day. 

Ephesians 1:1-9, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

This Christmas season, let's remember that family gatherings, gifts, and food are blessings, but not the focus of Christmas. Remember the focus is Christ, Christ who is fully God and fully man, Christ coming to earth as a helpless baby, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life on earth, knowing we would crucify Him, and yet still showing His grace...Man, as I'm typing, I keep wanting to add more and more passages of Scripture! I keep thinking of Philippians 3, John 3:16, and other verses of which I don't know the reference. I'll close with these:

Isaiah 6:9, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 

Matthew 1:20-23, "But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.21'She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' 22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.'"

Florida: Let's Keep Working! Part 3

...And so we come to Election Day! We phone-banked tirelessly, blitzed through neighborhoods, and, by God's grace, met with victory (spoiler for final post)! 

Last day of campaigning, hitting the phones hard.

Adorable little owls we saw between dropping door-knockers off.

 When it gets intense you gotta have your orange juice!

 Tallying up our final day of door-knocking!

On Election Day, Rick Scott came by the campaigning office with his wife and a Texas (?) governor (the gentleman talking) ; it was so neat to meet Rick Scott in person! I also think the guy in the black suit looks like a legit, slightly creepy security dude.

 Even though we have a Five Guys in my city, I had never gone...Since there's a first time for everything, why not have it in Florida?

And so, this concludes the campaigning craziness; final post to follow documenting the victory party, where we were truly victorious.