He came.....for ME!

The Christmas Message overcame me last night. I was standing with a choir of abt 50, singing to a crowded audience. Singing glibly about the Messiah and Away In A Manger and Ring Christmas Bells. The message was sliding over me in the intensity of remembering words and music and watching the director and, in short, performing perfectly. And then we were singing an old song, an easy one with no special parts but very profound words and suddenly the Message penetrated - "Born a babe in a manger, never a lowlier birth! Born afar as a stranger Jesus came down to earth. Tho He was King of Creation, Lord of Eternity, stooping low as a man could stoop, Jesus came for me! ....How can it be that He loved me, walking that pathway for me, from Bethl'hem's hostile manger to cruel Calvary?" My heart and eyes were suddenly full! How can it be, indeed? Stooping low....for Me?! What an amazing story! And it's not just a story. It's a Father. My Father!

In The Words Of A Child

We were shopping Tuesday night, my husband and I and our 3 and 2 year old daughters. "Town" and "McDonalds" go together in that age mind, you know, so the youngest was voicing her choice of eating place in no time! Jennifer, however, has a new, 3 year old type crush on Wendys. "I wanna go to Wendys!" she kept repeating. Nobody gave her a yes or no and everytime we got back in the car it was the same thing. We tried to tell her "Yes, we know now where you want to go. Now just wait and see!" In typical Jennifer fashion, that wasn't a good enough answer. Finally my husband told her "Stop banging the Wendys door or we're not goin anywhere!!" A small voice spoke, "Daddy I won't ...... But just GO there!!!" I laughed until I nearly cried :) But somewhere deep in my adult heart I identified with my 3 year old. How many times I've had that very sentiment in my heart in the past six months! I wonder if God looks at me in the same amused, understanding, exasperated, parent heart way as I looked at my 3 year old?

Thanks Giving for His Faithfulness

Well, it's Monday. Not just any old Monday! It's Monday after a full and busy week end with company and family all together and yummy food and helping give the first Christmas program by the Antrim Mennonite Choir! I had a very dark week a lot of last week. So weary of struggling and all seemed heavy and I felt so weak. Praise the Lord He is faithful!! I feel revived, refreshed and peaceful. Life hasn't changed but I've been given the courage to go on! A woman to woman chat did wonders but understanding, care and the highest compliment a wife can receive all from my favorite man was just the thing I needed. I'm so thankful for my Father's faithfulness to me! And now it's back to real life... My children are determined to make it very "real" it seems! :) I think we'll all take naps this afternoon! I hope all of you had a refreshing Thanksgiving week end and that you find Him faithful to meet every need that you face this week! And now it's on to the countdown for Christmas and family time with my family!!

It's Dark In Here Lord

It's dark in here, Lord, oh where is the light?
I can't do without it, I'm too weak to fight.
It's dark in here, Lord, how then can I see?
The pain and the hardness take hold upon me.
It's dark in here, Lord, is this the right road?
It feels terribly rough with this awful load.
It's dark in here, Lord, how then shall I walk?
I know the "right" things but they're all empty talk.
I wait in the darkness, this blackness so near,
will there be an answer? Or is God not here?
The darkness is close, and still my ears strain
. And then comes the answer in words very plain.
"Mistaken, my child, it's not dark in there.
And, yes, I am here and, yes, I do care.
This darkness you speak of is what you surmize,
The truth is, my child, you have covered your eyes!
You've chosen this darkness. You choose not to see
The light I have placed there, the scraps of beauty.
Uncover your eyes, child, there's plenty of light.
Uncover your eyes and you'll be alright!"

Linking with Emily at: