Labor of Love

I heard this song for the first time last year and fell in love with it. Today I got this YouTube link. And a message from Laura that I echo: "Take a moment to listen & watch to this song; it is absolutely beautiful--a true reminder of what we are about to celebrate. I love you all! Merry Christmas!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KY6Hov0wSc&feature=related

Artist: Andrew Peterson lyrics Album: Behold The Lamb Of God Year: 2004 Title: Labor Of Love lyrics

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

What's Next?

Have you ever become so engrossed in a book that you dread turning that last page, realizing it's over and having to step back into your world again? I love it when a book excites me, captivates me, and challenges me. I just finished reading one of the most powerful and convicting books I think I've ever read. BRUCHKO is about a young mans' journey as he becomes a Christian, feels called to missions, becomes passionate about a group of murderous South American Indians, and pursues that calling to reach this primative tribe, in order to be obedient to what he feels Christ has placed inside him. What he finds is more than you could possibly imagine. And he ends up learning more than he could ever teach. It challenges the very core of a believer, in WHO and in WHAT is our trust?

Reading that book definitely fanned the flame of desiring to be used in sharing God's redemption story; That God became a man and walked on the earth, so as to reconcile us, through Christ, to Himself.

The Lord reminds me often that I don't have to leave the country to make a difference. In fact, another recent read, a book called SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME, spoke to this very fact. It is a true story of a modern day high end art dealer, and a modern day cotton plantation slave from Louisiana. The story tells how their paths crossed and thier lives were changed forever because of it. I was humbled as I read how the influence of one person with faith in Christ, power in prayer, and a calling, can change the lives of so many people, through simple acts of obedience to what the Lord has placed in their heart.

I'm challenged to believe God can and will use me in specific ways that are unique to the gifts He has placed in me. I get jealous of friends who are "doing more" for the Lord, be it here or in other countries. I struggle sometimes to be content as a single woman, working 50+ hours a week, knowing that I have friends who are passionately pursuing the ministry that God has called them to. Do I feel called to be a PA? I have absolutely no doubt God has placed me where I am, doing the very thing I've wanted to do since I was seven. Do I feel like my job as a PA is truly ministry? Ah...therein lies the rub. I fail so often to realize that as a follower of Jesus Christ, as His hands and feet in this world, everything I do is ministry. Or should be. Wow. I have a long way to go in my attitude and actions on a daily basis. I miss so many opportunities. And although I do love being a PA, I can't help but ask God, what's next?

Books like the two above, coupled with so many sermons I've heard just over the past six months remind me how Scripture compells us to serve the orphans and widows, to take care of the poor, to give more of our time, talents, and treasure (and horde less), to welcome God's divine 'interruptions' to my plans for myself...and leave me with a Holy dissatisfaction. I want more of these things to become reality in my life.

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for my possessions, my career, my family and friends, my church and even the trials I have walked through in my life. God is using each of these areas to teach me more about Who He is, how much He loves me, what He has done for me, and what He is doing in me.

Still, I know that I want more.

Tis the Season

I've thought and rethought this post because each time I think I have something to post, I am exposed to something new, another angle, etc and before I know it, days have passed and I've lost the original thought! Well, this post may turn out to be very long winded...but let's just see where it takes us, shall we?

It seems when the same idea pops up in multiple areas of my life, it is the Lord trying to get my attention and teach me something. This has been my experience over the past weeks. It started with an email forward. If you are anything like me, you really don't like forwards. And unfortunately, I've gotten so many forwards about Christmas and Christ, that I just delete them now without really looking them over. They really bother me. Probably more than any other forward. Why? Because the idea that the most powerful and life changing message in all of history could be reduced to some sparkle-filled email with cutesy music in the background is so trite. And, in all reality, where are the emails about Christ from these people the other 11 months out of the year? Have we really missed the miracle of the Incarnation by that far that we have reduced the message to a holiday e-card?

Christ pursued me as a selfish and needy 8th grader at age 14, through a group of friends in Junior High. I was introduced to church in the Southern Baptist tradition. It was thrilling! However, only recently have I been exposed to the idea of The Advent Season through my current church, Mountain Brook Community. For the last two Sundays, our pastor has been compelling us to draw near to Christ in this season, lest familiarity breed contempt. Lest the "gluttony of Thanksgiving give way to the greed of Christmas." (We easily get so busy going, doing, buying, wanting, baking, going to parties, 'spending more than we make on things we don't need, to impress people we don't like anyway.') I'll be honest, it makes me feel good when I have lots of holiday things to do and people to see. I'm a people person. People have always been my biggest weakness, easiest distraction, and greatest pleasure. Taking time out of my busy schedule to stop and listen is still just beyond my grasp. But it is important to me. Enough so that I will place it on my calendar...not plan anything, get away, grab my Bible, my journal, my pen, and some lessons about this new-to-me way of celebrating Christ becoming flesh and dwelling among us, the Advent, or, "the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus."

Saturday night I had the privilege of volunteering with World Vision at the Casting Crowns Christmas concert at the BJCC here in Bham. I had originally wanted to just go to the concert but it was pretty expensive. The very next day I got an email asking for volunteers and was overjoyed to sign up! My friend Kyle and I went together and not only played a part in getting 150 children from all over the world sponsors, but also got to enjoy the majority of the concert AND take home a free CD! The most powerful part of the evening, though, was when Casting Crowns sang a powerful new arrangement of "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" along with the Birmingham Boys Choir. It was absolutely phenomenal!!! The words were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Dec. 25th 1864 of his experiences involving the tragic death of his wife and the crippling war injury of his son. It was still months away from Lee's surrender to Grant ending the war in 1865. Written in the midst of darkness and hopelessness, the "bells" reminded him that there is still HOPE in the midst of a storm. I highly recommend you download it, turn it up loud, and allow the message of HOPE to fill you.

The Advent, the Incarnation, Hope.

God made a promise. He made a people. He not only kept His promise, He kept His people. He not only kept His promise, He FULFILLED His promise...AND HIS PEOPLE.

Christ IN US the hope of Glory.

Have you ever longed to truly know what that means? Have you ever experienced Christ IN you? His HOPE? His GLORY?

He changes everything.

All things new

Last Sunday I had the honor and privilege of attending Mr. James Isaiah Drake's 1st Birthday party. I've been incredibly blessed to be a close part (surrogate Aunt) of his little life and love to recount the story of the day I met his mom, my sweet friend Heidi, and signed the lease to live with her that same day, and was in her wedding the following year. The Lord works with such beautiful mystery.

Last week, Isaiah took his first steps. He's not even my child, but still, this event seemed like such a milestone to celebrate. It gave me such joy to watch the little guy repeat his first steps via digital camera (don't ask about the video camera...) and then see him keep struggling to work at it in front of me.

As I recounted my time with Isaiah this week, watching him learn to walk, witnessing him devour his first birthday cake, listening to him say new words and repeat new actions (...touchdown!...for all you football fans...it's incredibly cute), I began realize that we celebrate so many little things in a baby's life, because each day is a new day for him. Each day he is a sponge, ready to soak up something he's never encountered before. It's cute to watch him try to figure things out. It's almost funny when he tries something, can't do it immediately, gets mad, starts crying, and sits down. He's learned to be cautious (I'm blaming the hardwood floors!), and wants to hold both your hands instead of just one. He gets frustrated if you only give him one. Pretty quickly though, he's consumed by the task. He'd rather walk than fuss, and he gets over not having more support.

It seems so natural to be drawn to a child. I could sit and watch him all day (don't get any ideas Heidi :). So why, when we grow up, do we forget that each of our days are STILL new.

You and I have never lived this day before. I'm sure, in a good or bad way, you and I have learned something new today.

Don't you think God our Father, our very Creator, also watches in expectant delight, as we walk through our day?

Do we approach each day like a sponge? Do we pour through the pages of Scripture with the same diligence as Isaiah had examining all the wrapping paper and toys (he even tried to eat the paper)? Or do we, in our humanness, let go of the Divine hand, forgetting from where our Help comes?

So often, I find myself in Isaiah's shoes. I can't do it. I'm frustrated, I'm mad, I just find myself crying as I sit down.

Lord, thank You for describing Yourself to us as a Father who has compassion on His children. Thank You for Your love, patience, and even the discipline that comes because of such love. Forgive me for getting so bogged down in my daily grind, thinking and expecting each day to just be the same routine. Open my eyes to what You are doing in the world around me. Help me to see it like You see it. Renew me daily through my time in Your Word. Enable me to walk holding only Your Hand.

Amen

Resistance is Futile...

Have you ever thought to yourself, of someone else's endeavor, "that's nice...but I would never do that..." ? Or even partaken of something yourself and made a point to avoid it, should it ever pose a possibility in the future?

I think this way often, as my best friend would tell you. However, the vast majority of the time, I find myself inevitably giving in to whatever it was that I was so originally opposed to. Thankfully, my friends are very patient with me, and love to rub things in my face once they find I've given in...all in good fun of course.

Exhibit A: Facebook. After giving up on the myspace craze, I refused over and over again to step foot into the wide world of facebook. Futile. I'm hooked.

Exhibit B: The four inch-round freshly baked Otis Spunkmire Cookies in the doctor's lounge. Every day, I say I'll forgo dessert after lunch. But I've found they don't last long once their undercooked-gooey-warm-goodness hits the cookie case. (I thought doctors were supposed to be healthy???) So, lest on the days I actually DO want a cookie and they are all gone...I've taken to checking for them before I even see what's for lunch. Futile.

Lastly..."Blog-World." Oh, how I wanted so much to ignore this world. But then my friends had kids. And then new friends had blogs, and before I knew it, I was looking forward to checking for updates! Content to be a spectator, I continued to resist.

Enter the Holy Spirit.

Now, I know the Lord works in many ways. I've found it commical the modes He has used in my own life (my favorite story is when He convicted me of my lack of faith through a Country Song...it's a great story)... But "Blog-World"? Really, Lord? And the answer...yes. The best way I learn is by reiterating. Reprocessing. Summarizing. And sharing the lessons I'm being taught. That's what this medium is to be for me. A place to organize, express, and internalize the thoughts, ideas, and truths that come from walking by grace as a child of God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Join me, friend!