'Tis the Season to be Jolly

... at least that's what the song says.

Jolly, however, isn't always easy to come by during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year, but the truth is I often approach the month of December with an ounce of trepidation.
Calendar open - I gaze upon little squares covered in graffiti. With so much merry-making to do, I breathe out a long sigh and a prayer, "Lord, give me the strength to be jolly."

Am I the only one who can become weary in the holiday shuffle?

Words from my pastor come as a welcomed answer to my prayer.
A domino effect - he called it - to find strength. It went something like this:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise... Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving ushers us into the presence of God.

... you will fill me with joy in your presence ... Psalm 16:11

As we linger in His presence, joy is poured out on hearts ready to receive.

... for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Choosing the joy that He gives provides strength for weary souls in need.

My new December to-do list: to count my blessings each day as they happen and trace His fingerprints of grace upon my day to day - to enjoy moments of rest in His presence - to soak up joy by the buckets-full - to rely on His strength to be jolly.

Fa - la la la la - la - la - la - la.

Let the merry making begin!

Words To Live By

I have become a Jesus junkie - addicted to this God of ours that speaks to open ears that want to hear. By His Word, He speaks to us ... quiet words, strong words, living words that mold hearts and transform lives.

Today, however, His words did not thrill me. To be honest, I was actually disappointed by the words He said. (A horribly bratty thing to say, but it's true.)
Little man's nap time created a quiet moment to hear, "Deny yourself."
Got it. Deny yourself. And...
But there was no 'and'.
Oh, come on God. I've heard that one before. Many, many times. How about something new? A fresh word? (At this point I'm beginning to realize that I talk too much.)

Words of Truth quickly rush in: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Suddenly, I get it. My lesson for today: first things first.

If I really want to follow Christ, I will always have to start at the beginning. Following Jesus requires living as He did ... by living a life of self denial ... a life deferred to the will of the Father ... a life of sacrifice and surrender.
He asks nothing less of me.

Deny yourself: two words I want to learn to live by.

A Love that Quiets

...he will quiet you with his love

Zephaniah 3:17

As soon as we pulled out of the elementary school parking lot, my little man spoke, "I miss the girls." Bless him: sad before 8 am because his sissies had to go to school. And so our morning began. Every disappointment led to a melt down. Tears. Body thrown to the floor. It was going to be one of those days.

Coffee in hand, I stretched out long on the couch and snuggled in under my favorite down throw. Today, I would let him melt, and I would wait. As I took long sips from my hot, sweetened mug, more than caffeine was filling me. In that moment, with my boy, I drank in long sips of grace.

After he had spewed and spat for long enough - when his sobbing, flailing body was close - I silently picked him up and drew him in. With one quick move he was wrapped in soft, navy down and his mamma's love.

That is when the Spirit breathed this one line from His Word: He will quiet you with his love. (Zeph. 3:17)

We layed there long after the flood of tears dried up. My little love now fixed on Mickey Mouse dancing in his clubhouse and me reflecting...

How many times have I been the one melting? There is no doubt: I have thrown my share of fits. And God was there, poised and waiting for just the right moment to draw me in. Eyes swollen with tears, exhausted and undone, I have let Him tend to my soul's need for peace and comfort. His embrace, strong with a love that I can't begin to understand, calms me.

Challenge: Next time life gets me down and I melt (whether it looks like a full-blown temper tantrum, the silent treatment or a pity party) will I surrender to the embrace of my Father? Will I choose Him as my comfort today?

Proud to be a "Cracked Pot"

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

I am a cracked pot. Seriously cracked.
The weight of my sin and trials of life have left me frail. In my flesh, I am broken. I am damaged goods.

Masking tape and super glue are not enough to cover my imperfections but I try them anyway. Somehow I need to fill these holes so that I can be useful - so that I can be used again.

It is in this state, however, that God chooses me. He takes me as I am. With tender care He dusts me off and sets His light inside. Doesn't He see the cracks? Doesn't He know that I'm far too broken to hold His majesty?

And then the miraculous happens; not all at once but slowly, patiently, perfectly. This light inside is changing me. And these holes, once shameful evidence of my brokenness, are now redeemed places for Him to shine through.

This all-surpassing power inside is Christ in me. Glory revealed. Power made perfect in weakness.

A clay pot - cracked and broken - made to house the fullness of God.

Yes. I'm proud to be a cracked pot!

Challenge: Will I submit this pot today, all cracked and broken? Into His hands? For His purpose?

A New Season for Just For Today

For the past four years I have sent out a daily scripture prayer/devo. through email called Just for Today.

It all started out of a need. My need.

And God - being the amazing, Sovereign God that He is - moved. He expanded my territory and grew the email list. His work humbled me.

Today I believe God is moving me in a different direction.

...and that is hard.

The people pleaser in me wants to keep sending these prayers out each day. I think of the sweet girl translating each email into Spanish and sending them to her family in Mexico. Gina: I don't want to let you down. I don't want to let any of you down.

I do not take lightly the privilege you have given me to appear in your inbox each day. Although I don't know all of you personally, I am convinced that God brought us together. So, although I won't be sending out a daily email anymore, I would like to invite to join me in this new season.

Here's the new plan:

Each week, I will update my blog. In very much the same heart as Just for Today, I will be taking a verse from God's Word and applying it to the crazy life we live. I know some of you aren't bloggers, so here's how we can make this easy....

There is a tab in the right column that says "Follow by email". All you have to do is type in your email address and my blog will come to you. Each time I update my blog, you will recieve the post in your email inbox.

I hope all of you will join me in this new season, but either way I want to thank you for sticking with me for the past few years. You have been so sweet to encourage me along the way. Your kind words were often the fuel that kept me motivated to press on. I have loved hearing the way that God has spoken to you through these prayers. It is only by the grace of God!!
All the best to you!!

Carrie

For "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25