Something Bigger

In the midst of all of my "to do" lists, which are shrinking by the way, there's this. A reminder that there's something bigger for me to do than pick up the dry cleaning and change the sheets.

As we say goodbye to people we won't see for a while, I'm reminded that we're a part of something bigger and still very much connected no matter where we happen to be on this planet as long as we're connected to Christ and his work.

Thanks, God. I sure needed this today.


From Shaun Grove's blog post.
I dare you to face Robert Redford and his little film while holding your to do list. Stare up at the cosmos and shout out the goals of your day with all the enthusiasm you think they deserve: Pick up dry cleaning! Buy cat food and bread! Call mom! Turn in TPS report! Softball practice!… and feel the stars’ laughter.

Amazingly, I woke up this morning with every one of these basic needs totally met: food, clothing, roof. Before the day even began I was already unnecessary to its completion. No wonder the sky scares me. It’s a reminder of how pointless we really are these days.

Both humbling and empowering.

Walk With Me Quiet

Music does it for me. It connects me to who I am, to who I've been and who I want to be. It is also what connects me to my Creator more than anything else. That connection has been a little on the fritz lately.

But... this song did it for me. Recently, I've listened to it over and over and can't get enough. I've thought about sharing it with you for over a month now but have been a little stingy. For whatever reason, today was the day to share.

I'm broken. I'm not fixed and at times I'm pretty sure I'm not fixable. I'm not restored but I have hope that I will be. Someday.....

Through this song, I've connected to who I am. To who I want to be. To God.

Walk With Me
by Caedmon's Call (Back Home)

Walk with me quiet,
Walk with me slow.
Watered down coffee,
Words of Gold.

Will you lead me,
beside the still waters.
With oil that runs over.
My cup overflows.
You restore my soul.

If I knew how to post just the song on here I would, but I don't and I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to. So, go find it. Everyone has iTunes, right? Go buy it. It's worth the .99. Maybe it will do it for you too.

Good day at church!

Tori and Jakeb got to do a song in church today. Tommy preached on being content, a not so popular topic that he made entirely tolerable and one that we are personally learning a lot about in this stage of our lives.

They sang Brandon Heath's song, "Don't Get Comfortable". The lady in front of me obviously had better things to do than listen to my kids.

My husband and children are incredibly gifted and talented and I'm thankful they were able to use their gifts and talents this morning. It was a good day at church.

Swords for Christmas

"I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

When I read today's entry in My Utmost For His Highest, it struck me (no pun intended) pretty hard. I guess because it's Christmas time and we are thinking of Jesus as happy, joyful, soft and sweet in a Silent Night and Away In A Manger kind of way. But we aren't so much thinking about a warrior baby Jesus with a sword in his hand armed and ready to fight with us and fight for us. At least I wasn't. Until now...

This verse totally applies to Christmas if we are going to celebrate Christ's birth for the real reason He came. If we could have peace without Him, true and eternal peace, why did He bother? Maybe Christ didn't come to bring us peace exactly, but He did come to bring us the sword of reconciliation and redemption to cut deep and rid us of all the bad parts that keep us separated from the Father, which will eventually bring us peace - eternal peace. Yeah, I want that.

Anyway, I struggle with peace at times. I'm mostly peaceful and mostly confident that God is in control but I often hold on to things that I'm not willing to give up or just don't think about giving up because I'm too busy and I lose my focus. In comes the sword...

Today's My Utmost entry says:

"People want the blessing of God, but they can't stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter."

"If we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to "bring... a sword" through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself."

Today's entry also says that "If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up - he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power."

So today, I ask myself these questions. What am I holding on to that I won't let go of? Am I getting a sword in my stocking?