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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Glorious!!


I was glancing out my window this morning after being in the Word and the lyrics of David Crowder’s song “Everything Glorious” played in my head thanks to a Facebook friend and the Spirit!!!

WOW!! It’s pretty remarkable how God can take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and place it all on a brilliant beautiful platter of love before I start the day. I just have to take time this morning to capture and share this moment.

I surely don’t do this enough. Taking this time to say thank you and share surely increases the joy in my heart…I think it must all be part of His plan.

As I glanced out my living room window as the late winter sun was rising it shone on my neighbor’s tree which seemed to be glistening…glowing in a sense. I realized part of the reason it was so brightly shining was that it was undergoing a transfiguration of sorts…it’s the end of December and finally cold enough for the leaves to change and they were bright yellow like an aspen’s leaves are in early October. Only the far side of the tree that did not touch our fence line was changing and glowing but the leaves were so bright yellow that they seemed to light up the entire tree.

My eyes could not help but be drawn to it…as just prior I read the Message 2 Cor 3:18…”All of us! Nothing between us and God; our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

Oh isn’t this true? The more we die and allow our leaves and our own desires to change, the more we become transfigured, allowing God to enter our hearts, minds and souls. The NLT says that when we do this; we “brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.”

I just have to delight in this moment this morning and say…God, you surely make everything glorious and I am Yours!!! Please keep showing me your heart and your ways and help me to continue to take pause and capture these glorious moments!

Friday, December 19, 2008

O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)


I just got finished hanging the boys Christmas ornaments that they made at school this year on the Christmas tree and filed away JDs 12th or so poem consisting of some of the lyrics of ‘O Tannenbaum’ and his colorfully decorated picture of a Christmas tree and I felt warmth cover and cuddle my soul…

It must have been God’s love because I then instantly remembered a time when I was in elementary school and sang my first and only solo of ‘O Tannenbaum.” It was a huge thing that night for my family and for me…I remember it fondly. Although I think most definitely I must have been chosen only because I was able to memorize the lyrics and could stand still more easily than some of the rowdy boys in my class…

Hmmm…as I put the decorations away I made some hot tea and basked in the love I was reliving and experiencing…as I revisited the lyrics that I once sang as a child.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

Not only green when summer's here,

But also when 'tis cold and drear.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging!


O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas treeAfforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!Much pleasure thou can'st give me.


O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!

From base to summit, gay and bright,There's only splendor for the sight.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!

Thou bidst us true and faithful be,And trust in God unchangingly.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee! !"

As an adult this has a whole new life-giving meaning to me. All I can think to say is…”WOW!” “YOWSA!” “BOOM…O!!!” I am singing this song now much older and more touched by the circumstances of life; but most importantly more touched by the God who made me!

Just last month I felt God totally prepared my heart and the material that I shared at the Epic’s Women’s Event and it was all about being hand-crafted by God and during that time God drew my attention to trees---and in a roundabout way; a way that only God can communicate…He was telling me I was a tree because I was made in His image!!! And not only am I a tree…but we are all trees making up a giant forest for God
I hear the lyrics and have to agree…

Yes, in my own nature I am unchanging…I seem to want to keep doing things the same way that I have always done them; because it is comfortable for me and it is what I know…but also…and maybe more of why this is included…I am made in the image of God and He is unchanging…His love for me never changes. I cannot do anything to make Him love me more and I cannot do anything to make Him love me less.

Yes, just as my own children bring me pleasure; I too bring great pleasure to my Heavenly Father…

Yes, when I surrender to my God and allow Jesus to love through me…His light shines and therfore so do I..


Yes, God has richly decked me…and every other tree of His!!!

Yes, I agree…thou bidst us true and faithful be, and trust in God unchangingly!!!
O’Christmas tree! O Christmas tree! How richly God has decked thee!!!

I so enjoy our eclectic Christmas tree full of ornaments I’ve made, Justin has made, my boys have made, and that others have made for us…I will never look our Christmas tree the same...
I just might have to break out in caroling each time I glance at it…because the love and the joy of our God has filled up my heart! Why not carol all 12 months of the year?
I also think it is just so awesome that my husband decided to make it a tradition and for the 3rd year in a row He made a movie video procession of pictures of the family setting up the tree. Oh, how I think God must take such pleasure in setting each one of us up in this life and getting us ready to shine and be decorated in only ways that God can do!!!
Hmmm…. and I wonder if the reason we put gifts under the tree is to celebrate and remember His gift…His ultimate gift that is for everyone! Have you opened it and received it yet? He has great reason and has chosen each one of us for a unique purpose…oh may we not wait to receive this free gift.

Merry Christmas…may all you trees receive His gift and His continual blessings!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Happy Birthday Joshua!


At 8:08am just 8 years ago; God gave me and my family a precious gift. He was to share his birthday with Jesus but God brought him just early enough to be home and hearing carolers in the neighborhood by Christmas Eve…

As I remember today and the gift of my first born son, Joshua; I can’t help but remember the gift of a precious baby boy we all have been given…and with that we are able to receive the gift of faith!

What is faith? How can I have it and you have it but our neighbor down the street does not?

Just as my son is a gift from God…my faith and your faith is a gift from God. Some days my faith may seem great and other days my faith may seem small. But it does not matter how my faith may feel or seem…I know it is there because God has given it to me.

I am never self-sufficient in my faith; my faith is a constant process of daily renewing my trust in Jesus.


I wake up each and every morning praising God for who He is and I clothe myself with His love, His mercy and His grace. I am fully aware of God’s love for me. For I am His and He is mine; bought with the precious blood of Christ.

God lavishes me with His love daily; and I cannot do anything to change His love for me. I cannot do anything to make God love me more and I cannot do anything to make God love me less.

I am confident and unashamed because of the love He lavishes on me daily and there is no condemnation for me who is in Christ Jesus.

I remember Christ and all that He has done for me personally—privately and also what He has done for all of humanity; and I have faith that He will do it again and again! Nothing is impossible with Him!

I humbly come to God with an attitude of complete dependence on God. I never cease asking for what I trust He has put on my heart.

Because of my faith I am encouraged! Whether my circumstances are good or not so good; I bring my requests to God every morning with great expectations, knowing full well, that He hears me and longs to answer my prayers.

I hear my God saying, “Your faith is great and your requests are granted; because of your faith you and your family are blessed.”

Thank you Father for my son and the gift of faith that You have also given him.

God bless you Joshua.
I pray and ask God to continue to grow your faith and bless you immensely.
Happy Birthday; my precious son!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tangled Lights...


Have you untangled any Christmas lights recently? I was untangling two of my son’s toys for him the other day and had trouble un-wrapping the strings that became entangled. As I was untwisting and getting my cold fingers in between the strings I thought of how twisted our thoughts can be at times and how God has quite a job in uncoiling our heart strings when they get entangled. You see as I was untangling I realized I had to focus on just one of the strings…if I crossed over and focused my attention on the other I got mixed up and lost what progress I had made in untangling the strings.

Don’t we do this in our own lives? I mean with real people whose lives cross our paths. Do we not tend to lose focus when our eyes get attracted to someone else’s string that just happens to be crossing our path? Do we tend to question ourselves or what we are doing when this happens?
I was reading in Matthew 20 about the vineyard workers and thinking about how easy it is for us to compare our wages like the vineyard workers did; or compare our toys; or compare our blessings; or compare our…you fill in the blank. It is very easy to get entangled with all kinds of wrong thinking when our focus is directed away from what God has specifically designed for us. We can so easily try to gauge our achievements by comparing our string with someone else’s string.
I think the enemy enjoys smirking as he watches us get entangled. If we are busy comparing and watching what God is doing for someone else; we totally miss out on what God has for our own lives. If we focus our attention on what someone else has done or hasn’t done to receive God’s blessing we are totally missing the point and therefore; miss the opportunity to rejoice and praise God for His specific amount of love, compassion, and grace that is allotted for each one of our hearts. Why do we think that He sometimes does not have enough to go around? Do we sometimes hold back from blessing others because we think it will take away some of our own blessing?
We cannot do anything to make God love us more or AND we cannot do anything to make God love us less. Each one of us has the opportunity to receive His free gift…He does not withhold His gifts or His blessings from anyone! He has great plans and a future full of hope for all of us…and it is no comparison!
Untangle our hearts Lord; fill us with your gifts and help us gaze our eyes on the specific task and assignment that You have specifically designed for each one of us! Help us untangle any mess that is before us and help us stay focused on our specific string…our specific assignment which You have created specifically for each one of us!
As for tangled Christmas lights…I found this link that describes how to untangle Christmas lights...hee hee…can’t believe this was online... http://www.ehow.com/how_2150847_untangle-christmas-lights.html Sometimes I wish life’s messes came with four easy steps.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

What about asking?

I keep thinking about this season and all of the asking we are doing. I see vivid pictures of my children and other children I see out and about in the stores and the restaurants asking for things…and my heart starts to resonate a bit with the frustrated parent I overheard threatening her children on the toy aisle yesterday, ”ENOUGH…STOP ASKING, or you won’t get anything!!!”

If we cease asking and cease giving will that settle all of this? I wish I could say that my sweet boys have never thrown a tantrum because they did not get what they wanted…I wish I could say that I have never thrown an adult-sized fit of my own when I did not get what I wanted…

Does this mean we stop asking and we teach our kids to stop asking? I realize I ask for things everyday-it doesn’t matter the season!! I come every morning presenting my requests to God and frankly, I’m going to keep asking…keep knocking and keep seeking because I think He likes it when I ask Him…and why would He want us to keep asking?

Do you think that maybe He could be changing and transforming our hearts through each moment we find that we have faith enough to ask?

Jesus said himself…”Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for?”

I just wonder…is there anything wrong with asking? No matter what the request and no matter what the answer is…

Could perhaps our persistent asking help us recognize our God at work???