Letting Go

Last month, my job flew me out to Detroit, MI to watch a tour concert that I had worked on this year. The tour was called The Story, and the music is 18 songs that are written in the first person perspective from various characters in the Bible. It was so neat to see something I worked so hard and long on come to life, and I was so blessed to be sitting there watching all of it unfold into "the story".

 

But one of the things that I remember about that day took place hours before show time. During these tours, all artists, staff, and crew members gather for devotion time and also to pray over each seat in the church or arena. On this specific day, Max Lucado led all of us in devotion. It truly was a neat experience for me, as I have been a fan of Max Lucado's writing and to be listening to him talk to about 25 of us was a bit surreal! Giving us a choice of 2 different options, the unanimous vote was for a devotion about anxiety. (I mean, how fitting!)

 

As I sat there and listened to Max talk, I couldn't help but think "wow, this is definitely for me today and during this short trip!" (I'm scared of flying and I kept thinking about my flight home that next morning). But one thing Max said hit me like a ton of bricks...

 

"If God gives you the challenge, He will give you the wisdom, but He won't give you the wisdom until He gives you the challenge."

 

Wow.

 

Ok let's think about that for a second.

 

"If God gives you the challenge, He will give you the wisdom, but He won't give you the wisdom until He gives you the challenge."

 

So you mean to tell me that all of this stuff I worry about (ie flying home the next day) is pointless? Because 99% of the stuff we worry about doesn't happen? Well, Max, you sure know how to bring me back to reality!

 

You see, we spend so much time worrying about what tomorrow, next week, or next month will bring to us that we lose sight of the moment. Like Max said, God knows our best interests and He would never put us into any situation without preparing us, so why worry about something until it actually happens? Because of God's promise, we can rest assured in knowing that when that time comes, we will already have our battle weapons ready to fight successfully.

 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" - Phil 4:6

 

"Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy about your life" - Matt 6:25

 

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" - Luke 11:9

One Day Love Will Wear the Crown...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to you about a song called "Be Born In Me" that was written in Mary's perspective. As I said then, that song brought to light the beginning of the greatest story ever told.

 

Fast forward centuries to the ending of the greatest story ever told. Although we do not know when that day will be, we do know that it will be a celebration!

 

One day Love will wear the crown; one day Love will set us free
Hands up high and faces down; angels teaching us to sing
He will be King, He will be King

He will be the new sunrise
Steal the darkness from our eyes
When we fail to find the words
Holy, Holy we will cry
He will be the new sunrise
Holy, Holy we will cry
On the great day

 

This song is called "On The Great Day" and is written about the Second Coming, the final chapter and best ending to any story we could ever read. Can you imagine the angels teaching us to sing to our God? Our harmonious sound singing praises at the feet of our King...wow, what a beautiful choir that will be!

 

My favorite Bible verses are from Philippians 2:9-11:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Close your eyes and see this.  Every knee will bow.

 

Wow. It gives me chills.

 

All creatures, great or small, will one day bow together at the feet of Jesus, and we will sing with the angels a beautiful song to our King.

 

Now that’s a standing ovation worthy ending!

I Am Yours

I am not brave

I’ll never be

The only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy

I’m just a girl

Nothing more

But I am willing, I am Yours

 

Be born in me

Be born in me

Trembling heart, somehow I believe

That You chose me

I’ll hold you in the beginning

You will hold me in the end

Every moment in the middle

Make my heart your Bethlehem

Be born in me

 

These lyrics are from a song called “Be Born In Me” that is told from Mary’s perspective. I can’t even imagine what Mary was feeling and all of the questions that were going through her mind.

 

“Why me? I’m nobody. I am just a young girl. But I’ve been chosen and have this huge responsibility that has been entrusted on me. I can’t do this! Am I capable? Will I make God proud with His decision?”

 

I would’ve been so scared! Yet Mary understood the significance of what was happening and her role in the beginning of the greatest story ever told….the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary gave her son to God, and God gave His Son for us.

 

We have all been blessed by Jesus coming to earth and humbling Himself to be born as a baby and die for our sins. And as we think about that this holiday season, let us prayerfully ask that He make our heart His Bethlehem.

 

Be born in me, Jesus.

Bring on 2012

On Saturday, New Year's Eve, I couldn't help but notice a common theme with facebook statuses: out with the old, in with the new. As I really thought about that, it made me think about how we are so ready to move forward, and I told my sister that it was as if we are wishing away our time. Don't get me wrong, I am ready for 2012 too! But as you get older, it does seem like life goes by way too quickly. When you're young, there are no worries and time feels like it stands still, but as you get older, a year goes by in the blink of an eye. Someone told me when I was younger that once you graduate high school, life races by. Boy isn't that the truth!

But as I reflect on another year that has passed, I start to think about the last 365 days differently. No longer does it feel like a year that I so badly want to close the books on and throw away, but it becomes the wisdom to open another chapter in life. The way I see it is that 2011 gave me the tools, the knowledge and the strength to continue through life and into another year, and I am beyond excited to see how those will be used and what I can do with them. It's like growing and striving for new things. What makes us look forward to another year are the new possibilities, the new opportunities and the anticipation for what tomorrow may bring. Leaving a year and welcoming another is a building block for our goals, our hopes, and our dreams. We are constantly striving, aiming and achieving. We never fully reach our potential because then what fun would it be? We wouldn't have anything to look forward to and quite frankly, it means we stopped dreaming.


So instead of trying to shut the doors on 2011, embrace it and be thankful that it has made you the person you are. Even if 2011 went down as the worst year in history, just think about how much stronger it has made you, and turn it into something positive as it will make you a better person in 2012 and in years to come. Turn to 2012 with the armor that 2011 equipped you with, and look forward to more memories, more dreams and a better, stronger you.