Called Me Higher Song

Called Me Higher by All Sons and Daughters

The above song in my life right now :) Lyrics:

I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all Your goodness
Hope to feel Your presence
And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel You
Hope to feel something again

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I'll go where You will lead me Lord
You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I'll go where You lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I'll go where You will lead me Lord
You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I'll go where You lead me Lord
Where You lead me

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life
So let Your mercy

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life
So let Your mercy light the path before me

Cause You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I'll go where You will lead me Lord

Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

Short and Sweet... unlike this winter

Went on a very cold walk today at lunch- I love winter and I would rather be cold than hot but it is about time to warm up.  I want to see flowers growing and be able to walk outside and wear my dresses  (which I have way too many of, I know).  

As so many are looking forward to warmer weather and spring, it was a reminder to me today that even when we go through the cold and hard times in our lives... when there seems to be hope it will end and it snows again- and a polar vortex blows through- there is still hope.  There will be a spring time and a time of new life and growth and it will be beautiful and even more greatly appreciated than the spring after a mild winter.  Keep weathering the cold and hard- there is hope, even if you don't know when it will come!

Happy New Year!

If you were promised everything you wanted in 2014- success in your weight loss resolution, finding your husband/wife or having a perfect year with your spouse, having perfectly behaved children, being able to eat anything and gain no weight, build all the muscle mass you could imagine, no one would get sick or die, win the lottery, get a promotion, buy a house, anything…. you name it… but God was not with you this year would you want it?

It is a hard question- especially at this time as we set resolutions and goals for how we are going to have a better year- or be a better me this year.  What is more important- things going well or God's presence, even if that means things aren't peachy?

Remember those hard moments, the ones you mess up, where you fall short and realize you can’t do it on your own.  Those are precious because you weren't meant to- when you realize you can't you become aware that you need God because no matter how much you try you can’t take on this year, this month, this week, this day, even this hour without him. We would burn out.

Exodus 33:15-17:

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Stable Heart (belated Christmas post)

I want a Stable heart. I mean everyone wants a healthy, stable heart- but I am talking Stable heart… the Stable Jesus was born in that first Christmas night.  One of my favorite Christmas songs is “No Room (The Innkeeper)” by Todd Agnew- link to lyrics: http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=13570. It is sung from the viewpoint of the innkeeper that Christmas night, being busy and having too much going on in her/his life to have to make room for this couple.

Being busy and running around- getting gifts, going to parties, wrapping presents, baking cookies, watching movies, play practices, you name it.  There is so much going on and it seems like time just flies by in December.  This must have been how the innkeeper was feeling.  ‘There is so much to do and focus on- I can’t pay attention to this couple and their child to be.’ This is why I want a “Stable” heart and not the “Inn” heart. I don’t want to have a heart at Christmas that is so distracted and caught up in doing things that I miss Jesus when he is right in front of my face. The inn was doing great business at that time, I am sure it would have been decorated all fancy for Christmas in modern times, yet it missed out.  The stable was not clean, it had animals, it wasn’t glamorous but it was open and available for Christ to come that night.

I want a Stable heart, not caught up in the season so much that it misses Christmas, but one that is ready to receive.

Hark those Herald Angels Sing

I try and focus on a particular person or group of the Christmas story each year. This year- the group that stands out to me in the story is the Angels… specifically the Angels that appear to the Shepherds.  From the beginning God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been. At some point the angels came to be (Genesis 2:1)- they have been directly in the presence of God and Jesus since their existence (except those fallen angels who left with Satan).

Can you imagine the angels love for him?  Their time in heaven was spent worshipping and praising him- in his direct presence (Nehemiah 9:6, book of Revelation).  They knew who Jesus was as God’s son, in all his royalty and deity in heaven.  They knew the honor, praise, glory, and worship he deserved as the king of kings and the lord of lords. Can you imagine how excited they were for humanity to meet him? Luke 2:8-20 tells the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds in the field. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2:8-20)

Having seen humans and all the sin on the earth since its creation and knowing who Jesus was and what he was capable of, the angels must have been so excited and had great anticipation for him to come to earth. When they appeared to the shepherds they were singing and praising God.  Yet what was happening on earth as Jesus came was nothing like that.  It was a simple couple in a stable outside in the night. 

The difference in the response of humanity and the response of the angels as Christ came to earth is what stands out to me. On earth nothing all that crazy happened- there weren’t fireworks, there wasn’t a parade… very few people really even knew about this birth, and many who did probably shunned Mary, not believing her tale.  The angels on the other hand, had a perspective from the “heaven-side”- an inside scoop of knowing Jesus firsthand and knowing who He was. They were so excited for his coming to earth- they just wanted to share it with the shepherds and rejoice.

What did the angels think?  Were they confused by earth’s seeming lack of excitement for what they knew was the arrival of the greatest gift of all time? We received and met Jesus for the first time that night, they saw the son they already worshipped and loved come into the earth the first time.  Perspective J

The Perfect Gift

Call off the Search… that “perfect” gift hunt.  It is Christmas time and I know everyone is out there looking for “the perfect gift”.  If you get the “perfect” gift for someone every year does that mean the gifts that were perfect in prior years are no longer perfect? Or is that to say we are not using “perfect” as an end all be all, but an ongoing idea? In which case…“best for this year” would be more accurate I guess?

I digress- the point I was making is that we will never be able to give the perfect gift no matter how hard we try.  That gift was already given about 2000 years ago when God sent his son to the earth.  Christmas isn’t about giving the perfect gift- it is about receiving the perfect gift that has already been given.  It is a gift that will never rust, never be eaten by moths, and never decay… one that cannot be stolen or taken from us unless we freely choose to push it away.  A gift that goes on for eternity… there is no gift any human could ever give that can top this.  So stop trying- breathe, relax, and receive this amazing gift.  

Thanks or Thanksgiving.

I was thinking back to the “First Thanksgiving” and how it came from those who had plenty sharing with those who were desperately in need.   It was characterized because of giving- the giving gave lots to be thankful for. I know my Thanksgiving  (and I am sure lots of other peoples) is usually more concerned about what food is going to be made and eaten.  How much more thankful were the pilgrims, receiving food they had not expected and were in great need of, as well as the Native Americans who were able to share and bless others out of the blessings of food they had. 

It is cool that Thanksgiving is made from two words- thanks and giving.  There would not have been a first Thanksgiving without the giving.  I have seen a lot of people mastering the “thanks” part this year- but not so much has been said about the giving.  Thanksgiving is equal parts thanks and giving… I know that this has challenged me to want to make my holidays more about the giving part because I have lots to be thankful for!

And its not that I am unthankful for things every other day of the year, but Thanksgiving is a nice time to sit back and reflect on the things to be thankful for in the big picture…

1.     In the midst of realizing how inconsistent I am with tendencies to be motivated by sleep or emotions or things that taste good- I am so thankful for God’s consistency.  In a world where everything keeps changing- few things last- curveballs are flying left & right- and there is a “latest and greatest” coming out every week I am thankful that He is ALWAYS there and constant- especially when I am not.  He hasn’t changed since the beginning of time as we know it.

2.     I am thankful for health and the education & skill of doctors.  After tearing my ACL and breaking my finger on the same day… going to lots of doctors… having surgery… wearing splints… and going through physical therapy I am very much so appreciative of God’s design in my body’s capabilities to heal- and the skills and wonders of technology to help fix us.

3.     I have a growing soft spot the older I get for animals.  I am especially thankful for my sweet dog and they way she sleeps.  I love when dogs curl up in little balls to sleep. It makes me smile.  (I wish I looked that cute when I slept!)

4.     With my grandmother passing away this year- I am so thankful for her life and legacy.  She raised two steadfast daughters and left an amazing legacy in her grandchildren to be hard workers and to live a blameless, upright and honest life… to be committed and live a life of prayer and service.

5.     I am still working through the backside of this one, but I have had a lot of friends get married this year.  I am very excited and thankful for the lives they are beginning together!  I am working on being more thankful as I realize it completely changes the dynamics of hanging out with them (my selfish care).

6.     I have a growing thankfulness for order.  So often I live in a state of chaos running around and making things happen on the fly.  They get done of course- but I am realizing how much I love the peace and the calmness that comes when I can think through some more things ahead of time (always being ready to chuck those plans out the window as life throws changes).

7.     Work- I am definitely thankful to have a job that I enjoy, where I can be challenged to grow and I have great coworkers.