Glory to God In the Highest And Pass A Tissue, Please

'Tis the season and all that, I suppose. My halls are not decked, nor are my gifts wrapped (not even bought), and I don't think I'm even going to do any baking or anything. I'm not quite the scrooge I sound like -- just very, very busy chasing kids, etc.

One thing that is new to us (being new to our area/ church) that will easily become a holiday favorite for me happened this weekend: the children's Christmas musical. So very precious!

I believe it is an annual tradition now -- children, appearing to be in kindergarten through 5th grade -- on the stage. There are soloists, some tiny dancers, a little sign language, and of course we ended with some wise men, angels, Mary, Joseph, (I guess there was a baby Jesus though I was sitting pretty far back to give all the Mamas and Daddys with cameras the best seats) -- and Sarah bawling her eyes out.

I had already started the bawling early on. Turns out one little girl froze up -- one of the very few that I actually know and have visited with.  She stumbled her lines, the director got her going again, then she just. froze. No more was coming out of her mouth. Her little face crumpled, she hid her face in her hands and cried her way back to join the chorus. She would sing a bit, then cry a bit.

Y'all remember Truvy from "Steel Magnolias"? "I have a very strict policy that no one cries alone in my presence." That is totally me. Little girl totally ripped out my heart and I just cried right along with her. Ugh.

I was worried about her, but she seemed to finally be okay, and went off stage when some others did. Turns out, she was getting her gear on to be one of the dancers. She danced, then she even had another small part that she pulled off beautifully! Whew! Recovery!

Then, the grand finale: the angels, the shepherd, the holy family -- and Sarah just cries and cries.

I watched those babies (who all know how to fix my computer, operate and sync an iphone and install your DVD player -- and would be so offended to be called "babies" -- but they are such babies) and wept. My Lord was one of them at one time. Oh, he likely didn't wear a gold lame' little bathrobe looking thing to portray a shepherd, or a sequined encased robe to portray an angel -- but that was him.

And, honestly, those little guys are as close to as we’ll get to seeing Jesus here on earth. Sure, I’ve seen them in action -- I used to teach elementary school, remember? I know they can be little toots and lie straight through their little snaggle teeth. But the reality is, they -- especially the crowd I witnessed at my musical -- are largely untainted by the world yet. As a whole their parents have shielded them from the hard things of this earth.

At our morning worship, the wee ones filed in as we were singing our final song. They were going to sing one song for us as an "advertisement" of sorts. What struck me at the time was that we were singing "Blessed Be Your Name," a sweet song about praising God through the good and bad.

As we sang "Blessed be Your name/ On the road marked with suffering/ Though there's pain in the offering/ Blessed be Your name," I thought of how many friends I have that still sing that song with gusto -- and mean every word -- choosing to praise Him though life has dealt them some awful and unfair blows. I saw the babies joining in joyfully, not having walked too much of a road of suffering yet in their little life.

So when I saw them in their little sequined and lame' robes last night, as the crowd heralded their sweet faces in, I wept. I wept that they are already being claimed for the Lord. I wept to think of my Lord, my Savior, with such a youthful face (my study of the name of Jesus this week is on 'Child' -- so hard to fathom). And... let's be real... I wept because I am just a big ol' sap and you march some adorable doodlebugs in front of me, sing a song about Jesus, and I am a puddle.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14

For Nothing Is Impossible

As you might imagine, I'm a little single-minded these days, so this 'choose one thought' blog idea may not work out too well. They may seem to all center around the same theme for a while. I will try to vary the idea a bit throughout the week. But today, the idea centers around the same thing I spoke about last time: my house hasn't sold.

I have become very specific in my prayers with the Lord. And bold. My prayer is not that my house will sell "soon" or "quickly". You see, scripture tells me that a day with the Lord is like a thousand years. So, I am being very specific in telling the Lord every time I pray that I would please like my house to sell THIS MONTH. Sure, it's a long shot. Sure it's the holidays. Sure it's the worst economy ever. But He is God and I will boldly ask.

Yesterday, through a series of events that I'll share later God led me to read Luke 1. And in Luke 1, I have a verse highlighted and underlined.

v. 37: "For nothing is impossible with God."

Now, I realize there are 2 ways to take this. Obviously, I could hear it that selling my home this month is not impossible with God. OR me surviving it NOT selling this month is not impossible with God. But God and I (and all of you) know which way I want that to go!

That makes me think of Evan Almighty when God had told Evan there would be a flood on Sept. whatever. And on Sept. whatever Evan is standing there ON HIS ARK that he built and there is nary a cloud in the sky.

Evan's wife says, "Maybe... maybe God didn't mean a literal flood. Maybe He meant a flood of knowledge, or emotion, or awareness."
Evan replies, "Oh, if that's true, I am going to be so ticked."

Yeah. Please Lord.

So we wait, secure in the knowledge that nothing is impossible with God.

And tonight, while we wait, to reframe our minds, the kids and I will be volunteering with a local ministry to inner city children to deliver blankets, food, and gifts for the season. And we will then return to our warm home, that we still own, and be very grateful that we have it and for all that the Lord has given us.

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Give, and Give Abundantly

I have mentioned that I come from a family heritage of generous folk. I am thankful that was instilled in me and I have been able to see the blessing that comes in holding loosely to what God gives you.

I also will openly admit that I really like THINGS and struggle with wanting more things all the time, but I pray to frequently be called to mind that I am blessed beyond measure already and to "give as it has been given to me" (Luke 6:38).

If you are like me, end of year doesn't call to mind "have to give now to help out my taxes" -- end of year calls to mind (like every other end of month) "please let us make it a few more days until the paycheck comes in". But you MAY be thinking of places you would like to give MORE next year. If so, this is a great list of the 10 Most Fiscally Responsible Charities. Several of these hold a very special place in my heart.

Compassion International is a wonderful organization that changes children's lives worldwide. I am pleased to see that they are considered to be fiscally responsible. For the cost of 1 family's meal eating out per month, a child's life could be changed forever. Definitely worth looking into.

International Rescue Committee is an organization that places refugees in safe homes in a new country. I had an opportunity to interview our local office, and my heart really went out to the refugees who are starting completely over. Again, happy to hear that they are fiscally responsible since they do so much good.

World Vision also has opportunities to sponsor children, and does much more beyond that internationally. A great organization to donate to.

Of course, there are many local organizations that deserve your money and may be dearer to your heart. The important thing is to give and give generously!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

Good News of Great Joy for All the People

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:8-14

I mentioned about the 'big hoo-rah' at the Civic Center this weekend and that I interpreted (for the deaf) portions of it. I interpreted the above paragraph no fewer than 3 times. And every time it went way too fast --not only for me to interpret appropriately, but for anyone (especially the one interpreting) to really SAVOR that glorious news. I love it so much, and wanted to share it again here.

Two parts that I just want to camp out on:
1)I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
This isn't good news only for the people with pretty clothes, pretty breath, and good hair. This isn't good news only for the people who can buy good news when they need some. This isn't good news only for the people that life seems to already smile upon. This is good news OF GREAT JOY that is for ALL! THE PEOPLE!!! It's for you -- wondering if you will ever actually find a job and not knowing how you'll ever pay for a trip to the doctor even now that you are sick. It's for you -- staggering through the depths of grief without a road map and seemingly without a flicker of light. It's for you -- not able to believe sin brought your life to this point and having no idea if you'll ever be able to crawl out of the pit you're in. It's for you -- too busy with the hustle and bustle of this crazy season to be able to stop and think about the wonderful news.

It's for all of us, this hope. Imagine a brand-spankin' new baby. Little turtle eyes trying to blink away the bright light of this world, hair swirled and stuck to a new scalp with the aroma of new baby built in, and tongue tasting the air. How can you see a new baby and not have hope? What if that baby is our Savior? What if that baby will become the grown-up that will sacrifice it all for YOU? Oh, the hope that comes with the baby smell. It's good news of great joy for all the people.

2)Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Right there, in the same sentence: God is IN THE HIGHEST -- and we have His favor. His favor rests on us, and the angels pray for peace for each of us. Precious, precious words.

In the middle of this, I read this (linked from Mike Cope's blog) and I PROMISE you will not regret reading it. And, like Mike, I shall steal the last two lines of the article:

And as the bus pulled away, all the Gainesville players crammed to one side and pressed their hands to the window, staring at these people they'd never met before, watching their waves and smiles disappearing into the night.

Anyway, with the economy six feet under and Christmas running on about three and a half reindeer, it's nice to know that one of the best presents you can give is still absolutely free.

Hope.


Blessings, Merry Christmas, may you find His Hope and favor this year.

Life 101

The calendar pages flip, the birthday candles add up, the grays multiply and gravity takes its toll. Life can wear a person out, but if you're smart, you learn a few things along the way.

Some things I've learned are fairly inconseqential, yet valuable. For instance, you're in the grocery store for a few things. You pick up one thing. Then another. You get to the back of the store and remember the ingredients for the cupcakes you're supposed to bake, or the 20 lb. box of detergent you need, whatever. You realize you REALLY should have grabbed a cart and sigh at the prospect of returning to the front of the store to get one. Then, lo and behold! A cart! Seemingly sent from heaven, empty and unattended, as if the angel Gabriel provided you ease of shopping. Listen up: DO NOT GET THAT CART! Do you hear me? That cart is from Satan and was abandoned for a reason! It will challenge your religion as well as your vow to clean up your language. It is worth the trip to the front of the store! Simply one thing I have learned on my journey.

Another thing just continues to bubble in front of me, and I can't let it go. I've heard it a minimum of a million six times. It's scripture so I would never have challenged it, but I just have seen it lived out too many times to ignore it:

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders
away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one
that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about
that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same
way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be
lost." Matthew 18:12-14

As Coffee Group travels telling our stories, I never fail to hear something new in our stories. But one thing I consistently think when Tammy tells her story of years of wandering, seeking peace and comfort in places other than God's arms, is how God wouldn't let her stay there. He sought her out, hunted her down, and wouldn't let her go. I thought the same thing reading "Same Kind of Different As Me". Both of the authors mention shallow (or non-existent) faith in their lives, but the story that unfolds is, to me, evidence that God wouldn't rest until they had returned.

The recent attention that Josh Hamilton has garnered is yet another illustration of that (you MUST click on that link -- AMAZING). Truly, I would yet to hear about him if not for Kelly, the cutest baseball fan I know, but his story so clearly illustrates God's tenacious seeking of His wandering children. And, just last night, I was having a phone conversation with my own brother, who had what I call "his prodigal years". We were talking about how heart-breaking it was for the rest of us in my family to see him like that. I mentioned that I believe with all of my heart (and I still do) that it was the fervent, pleading prayers of my mother that brought that child of God back into the fold. Even as I said it, though, I continued to think -- mom's prayers, and God's faithfulness to His children. God wouldn't let my brother go. He refused to surrender one of His children to the darkness. And, by my brother's own account -- it isn't like he was, at the time, very valuable to the Kingdom.

But, oh, the value of a rescued soul. The hearts they can touch. If for no other reason, than to proclaim, "If He wanted me, the way I was, then He probably wants you, too." God gives us the freedom to try, but you cannot sin beyond His love and forgiveness. Nor can you run far enough from His loving embrace. The story of the prodigal is so glorious. The moment the son could be seen returning to his Father's home, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)

Obviously, way better than learning how to avoid a rotten shopping cart, I am convinced that the Lord seeks out His children relentlessly. And when He sees them over the top of hill, He gathers His robes around His feet and runs to meet that child with loving arms. Glory.