Month: December 2014

I love lyrics, hence my love for songwriting! And so many Christmas songs are packed full of the best lines. Since (as I’ve shared a little in the past blogs) Christmas to me can so easily turn into just more to do and less to feel, I have been compiling a little list of lyrics that have helped me go to a deeper level of gratitude and meaning this season…Thought I’d share them with you.

1. From O Come Let Us Adore Him: “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing…” When I heard an incredible worship band sing this song a few weeks ago, this line stood out to me and quickened tears to my eyes. The Father’s intentions, the Father’s promise, finally appearing in the flesh to do what only He could do. It’s a reminder to me that every purpose of God will come to pass, and nothing He dreams up, nothing He attempts, can be stopped. Just like when He said, “Let there be light…” His Word went forth and fulfilled His purpose, and we know His Word will never return void but it will always accomplish the reason for which it was sent! That is true for us today and I say Hallelujah!

2. From O Little Town of Bethlehem: “And in thy dark street shineth the Everlasting Light, the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” There He is, bringing brightness, to anyone who would look to Him. As John the Baptist says, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”Every hope, every fear, put in its place now that the promise has been fulfilled. It doesn’t mean all of our hopes and fears are erased, it just means they are prioritized in a more correct fashion–they are fading, they are a passing thought, they are not our necessity. Because of Him, the ups and downs can be neutralized to a certain extent, just like a baby being held on a bumpy ride.

3. From Christmas Don’t Be Late (Alvin!!!): “We’ve been good but we won’t last; hurry Christmas hurry fast.” Oh, this just screams GRACE to me. What else can I say? We’re trying to hold on for dear life to our convictions and our good behavior, but we need a Savior! Quick!

4. From O Holy Night: “Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” The presence of Jesus makes all the difference to my soul. Whatever I fail at, whatever I succeed at, whoever people think I am, whoever I want to be but am not…because He came, because He loved me enough to die for me, because He lives, my soul can feel its importance, its purpose, its weight. Not because of anything I’ve earned but because He loves me, because He chose me. My heart longs for this for every human on the planet. What would the world look like if every soul felt their individual worth, without money or prestige or dominance or intellect? What if we all understood because of His love, His coming for all, His choosing us all, creating us all and calling us all by name, He proved our souls all have equal worth and our lives deserve equal honor?

5. From Winter Wonderland: “To face unafraid, the plans that we made…” It’s small but powerful! I think of the Proverbs 31 woman who can “laugh at the days to come.” Yes! The plans we have made, the paths we have chosen, the people we’re called to love and serve, the things we take a deep breath and dive into…We can go forward into the new year with peace, joy, perseverance, self control, and all of the other priceless, life changing gifts we are internally granted through daily fellowship with Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas and may your day truly be filled with Him taking you deeper into His heart.

 

 

Christmastime is always a whirlwind. I realize I don’t have to let it be, but to a certain extent – even with the strongest of boundary lines – it just happens. Gifts aren’t bad. Shopping isn’t bad. Seeing everyone you’re related to and then some definitely isn’t bad. Eating isn’t bad. Cooking isn’t bad. Making crafts and decorating isn’t bad. Traveling isn’t bad. Going to special shows and events isn’t bad. So why at this time of year do so many of us feel like we’re taking a deep breath and diving in, hoping we’ll still have some air left when we get to the other side? Or maybe that’s just me…

I think it’s partly because Christmas is more than just a day or two, or even a week, of gatherings and celebrations. It is a full month. That can be exhausting- all that partying, planning, cooking, shopping, dressing up, traveling extrovertedness! Expectations can get a little out of hand and budgets can go out the window when people start thinking, “Hmm…what do I want for Christmas?” or “Oh, I know what they want for Christmas (and I must find it for them)!”

I don’t know. It’s not bad or anything, I just kind of feel like Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon. Sometimes you get a window of opportunity to see a little clearer about how you want your life to be, and while you can’t change the sheer enormity of the get-togethers and traditions, like Linus reminds: We can set our hearts in a different direction.

*Every gift we give can be in honor and memory of the gift God gave when He sent His precious Son to the earth. That may bring about a complete shift in our motives and method of giving, with this in mind.

*Every moment of anticipation we feel as we wait to see people, eat those specific goodies, receive surprises, and re-live traditions is a parallel to the anticipation we feel along with the rest of the world for Christ’s return. May that anticipation grow to lengths and depths so much longer and deeper than our hopes for the holidays.

*Every bite we eat can be a reminder that God has provided not just our needs but our wants. And maybe we’ll see ways we can give up some wants this coming year so that other’s basic needs will be met.

*Every hand we hold and hug we share can become a prayer for that person, that their next year will be their best yet.

*Every freezing minute getting from place to place on these winter nights, we can breathe a “thank you” that we have coats, warm beds, and a home to go home to. Both literally and figuratively, in the weather and in different areas of our lives, it’s hard to wait for the thaw of spring. But in that cold we can give thanks that seasons do change. They do, and they will.

This Christmas, I am praying for the mindfulness to see the meaning behind the traditions, worship through the amazing words of Christmas hymns, and take every opportunity to slow down and just love.

There’s nothing that has to happen this Christmas but to love.

 

 

 

 

So today was my last Sister Bridge party, and I got to wrap it all up this evening. Checks have been written. The items that are going back have been packed. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind this year, and I genuinely have told the Lord I didn’t think I could do it! But we did it anyway.

I’m really grateful for all the folks who hosted parties, invited friends, carried stuff in the cold, and made snacks.

I’m really grateful for the girls who took inventory and totally handled it on their own, simply bringing me leftover items and checks to mail in the end. Thank you Shannon Hampshire, Amy Nordyke, Linda Mulhall, and Kristen Koenig!

I’m really grateful for the answer to prayer that Timbali Crafts, Rahab’s Rope, and Beads of Java is to so many precious women. And you know, these ministries are an answer to prayer to me, too. I can’t tell you how many days and nights I have cried and sought the Lord for a way to help. I couldn’t move to these countries, I tried that! I couldn’t seem to do anything that mattered, anything that reached and touched like Jesus would. I’m so grateful there are missionaries on the ground, in the trenches, and we can support their work from here.

So…what you’ve been waiting for…The Total!!

2014 Season made $11,976.88

Seasons 2011-2014 Combined comes to $49,821.00

Glory to GOD!! Oh How He Loves.