Veni, veni Emmanuel, Captivum solve Israel

For the record, O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorite Christmas carols. It's haunting melody and plea for Israel's Salvation really moves me. Just about any song in a minor key grabs my attention, actually. This one especially. While the most of the world has long turned its face against God's people, this song articulates the only Hope of Israel.
We just got back from caroling a number of GFA families. Great fun, and relaxing at the same time. How I miss hearing the piano being played! One of the staff members here has quite the gift, and it was exciting to hear him.
Too many things are going on to relay here. My department is quite busy, a lot of house things to keep track of (bills and devotions, anyone?), and the "CPU Usage" of my brain is at around 75% most times. What is on my mind I'm not sure, but whatever it is has made it difficult to focus. Thanks to all of you who've been tolerating the vacant stare I seem to have developed. I'm grateful for the huge amount of grace people are giving me - it's irritating to make a bunch of minor mistakes, but it keeps me humble.
What's going through the conscious 25% of my mind? Lately, a verse has come to mind: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10) My aim in life ought to be to please the Lord, not myself or others around me. My life verse was read the other night and it challenged me again, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14) Someone once quoted to me that "The only time you coast is when you're going downhill." Following the Lord, serving Him and others requires deliberate choice and action on my part. It sure won't happen when I sit back and give up any sense of purpose.
Lastly - I wouldn't mind a white Christmas ;)