Merry Christmas

Christmas blessings in the name of my Lord and Savior, Messiah Jesus! As we celebrate His birth, may you know the grace, mercy, hope and peace of God and may you joyfully anticipate His return. Ruready?

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called

Wonderful Counselor, 
Mighty God, 
Eternal Father, 
Prince of Peace

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness

From then on and forevermore

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

And the rest of the story.......

Several rehearsals later the choir director asked for volunteers to give testimonies for the songs in the cantata. I never do solos or testimonies; that’s just not me. After returning home, though, I had this feeling as if the Lord wanted me to give a testimony, which of course I thought was crazy. I couldn’t think of any song that I could give a testimony on and besides all the songs had already been taken. Still I felt the Lord pressing me on this.

“So, okay Lord, I’ll tell you what. If this is really from you, if this is something you want me to do” I prayed, “have someone ask me to give a testimony for a specific song.”

And I figured that would be the end of it.

It wasn’t long after that when the choir was together again the director’s wife asked me if I would give the testimony for the song “In Everything Give Him Thanks.” I should have seen it coming but was completely caught off guard! How can this be? Again I was amazed. He actually answered my prayer in a way that I knew only came from Him!

I agreed to do the testimony. That in itself is amazing. I cannot stand or speak before people without every bone in my body shaking. In high school whenever I had to do an oral report the boys would take bets on how loud my knees would knock. I had an English teacher tell me once that I “should never, ever do anything in front of people!” In a college class my peers were extremely critical; however, the professor did show me some mercy. It wasn’t going to be easy. I had to stay focused on the fact that it was the Lord who wanted me to do it. He would calm my fears and hopefully stop my knees from knocking.

The evening before the cantata I had a nasty argument with someone. It was ugly. It added fuel to the flames of my increasing nerves about standing in front of people. I wanted to back out. I cried and begged God to let me out of this commitment. On the day of the cantata He did exactly what He intended. In my weakness I felt the power of His strength as I shared what He was doing in my life. (November 23, 2012)

He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Messiah may rest on me.

2 Cr. 12:9 (HNV)

In Everything Give Him Thanks

Towards the end of the rehearsal the choir director asked if anyone would like to share something about one of the songs we had been practicing for our cantata.  I offered to tell about something exciting that happened a few days earlier.

I woke up depressed, not wanting to go to church. I didn’t want to be around people. I just wanted to stay at home. And I would have except I taught a 3rd grade Sunday school class so I had an obligation to fulfill. My heart wasn’t in it but I got ready anyway and decided that I would go, teach the class, and then head home after it was over. I wasn’t going to stay for the worship service. As I was leaving for home after Sunday school I passed the room where the choir was getting ready for the service.  I had forgotten that we were singing. I didn’t feel like singing. I just wanted to go home.  But I was a member of the choir and I had an obligation to fulfill so I decided that I would stay to sing the special music with the choir then slip out the back after we finished. No way was I staying for the rest of the service. Then I realized we were singing “In Everything Give Him Thanks” by Lanny Wolfe. Of all songs why this one?

                In the good times praise His name

                In the bad times do the same

No way was I going to praise God’s name for the good or bad times. I just wanted to get it over with so I could go home and continue in my misery. Sometime, somehow during that song God took my sad, pathetic, ungrateful little heart and turned it into a happy, thankful heart that was praising Him. I was totally amazed! How did He do that?

                When trouble comes

                And there’s no one around
                Satan tries to tell me
                That God’s let me down
                Through ev’ry dark hour
                The best thing I’ve found
                Is to give God the thanks
                For He has never never
                Failed me yet
                So why should I start now
                To worry or fret
                In everything I won’t ever forget
                To give God the thanks

I stayed for the service.

                In the good times praise His name

                In the bad times do the same
                In everything give the King of Kings all the thanks

He’s never, never failed me, ever!  (November 21, 2012)

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Th. 5:18 (NASB)

The Road Not Taken

Reality smacked me the other day. It wasn't pleasant. Although not a surprise, as I knew it was inevitable, it was still a hard hit. Foolishly I thought I could avoid it. So here I was at the edge of the road I had taken realizing that I couldn't go any further.

There was no way across and I couldn't get down. Months before I had made a decision hoping that things would work out the way I intended. It was the right move; I am sure of that. Facing the vast expanse before me I looked for a different way. There it was; another path. I didn't particularly care for it as this direction would require me to unload a few things that I had accumulated. Things of no importance in the end but nonetheless had been acquired through dreams and hard work of life's travels. As is my custom I immediately began making plans; realizing it would be easier, although still difficult, with the lighter load. Unbelievably, in the mist of all this another path became visible.

It too was one of difficulties. Whereas the first path required loss right from the start the other one's loss would take place further down the road. Both seemed impossible. But much like Ann Kiemel I love the word "impossible"! When things are impossible I know that I will have opportunities to see God at work in my life. That doesn't mean it's going to be easy or go smoothly. I will still have branches in my way, debris on the trail, boulders to climb and some rain along the way. For some strange reason I have always appreciated the storm. Perhaps because I know after the rain will be growth.

Which path will I take? I'm not sure and to be honest I don't believe it really makes a difference. All I know is as I meet others on this journey I want to give them shelter from the storm. And it's not my shelter that I want to offer for that would only be a 'lean-to' but the shelter I want for others has a sure foundation that is strong and will give them hope during the storm. (November 9, 2012)

The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:25 (HNV)