Advent here we come

Usually I can't wait for Thanksgiving to pass so I can start decorating, buying presents, and playing Christmas music 24/7. But, this year has been different. I find that I am almost forcing myself to move on from this overwhelming thankfulness into preparing for the Advent season. Instead of focusing on what's going on around me right now (that I am so thankful for) I want to be clearing my mind as I await the celebration of Christ's arrival on earth. This is a special time of year that I have come to love not only for the movies, cookies, candy, lights, music, snow, presents, and time with friends and family, but for the 29 days of Advent. 29 days that I get to focus on the Hope, Love, Joy and Peace that came to us through a tiny little helpless baby, with poor parents, in a dirty stable.

As I sat in front of my friends at church this week I was overwhelmed with thankfulness. For the first time in a long time I felt like I had people "who've got my back." I've got friends that love Jesus, that encourage me to love Him more, that let me live with them, pray with them, hang out in their shop with them. I have friends to laugh with, to confess to, who encourage my creativity, and teach me new things. You all know who you are, and you might think that God brought you to Springfield to run a store, open a coffee shop, be a nurse, or work with a church but really, you're here because I needed you in my life.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

Simple Truth

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you." Luke 6:27-31

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:37-38

Oh the devil’s singing over me

An age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently
He’s forgotten the refrain:
Jesus saves!

-Shane and Shane "Embracing Accusations"

These are a few of my favorite things

Chai

In a coffee shop

With free wifi

a good friend

and good music.

And another friend and coffee shop on the schedule tomorrow.

Build Us Back

This song was just released by Know Hope Collective , a group started by Mark Stuart and Will Mcginnis (formerly of Audio A). Its about Haiti, but also the hope that God offers to every situation in each person's life. It really gave me joy this morning. There's nothing better than facing the facts that we're helpless and we have a God who can build us back up from anything!

We’ve been crumbled, we’ve been crushed

City walls have turned to dust
Broken hands and blistered feet
We walk for miles to find relief

When the thief takes, when our hopes cave
You build us back
You build us back
When the earth shakes, when the world breaks
You build us back
You build us back

We are scared, we are poor

All our safety nets are torn
We’ve been humbled to our knees
From these ruins, we believe

Redeemer, redeem us
Restorer, restore us
Oh build us back
Though the mountains be shaken, the hills be removed
Your unfailing love remains
After all that’s been taken, Your promise, still sacred
You build us back with precious stones

Today's Prayer

"Dear Lord,

Help me to understand that you have a plan for my life, even beyond my farthest dreams. You want me to trust You and to be obedient, to seek Your will first, and then to use my creativity and intelligence to carry it out... Help me not to run ahead of You, deciding on my own what is the best action to take without ever seeking Your advice... When I realize that we are to be partners, then I understand that the opportunities You provide me will lead to the greatest fulfillment for my life... Let me accept joyfully whatever You give me to do no matter how small. Let my daily actions be Your gospel.

In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen"

-D.L. Hammond

Wonder why

Do you ever have days when God puts something before you and you don't really know why? 4 times today I read or heard about how God has plans.

I found hope in the Duggar's story as I read how God provided for them over and over as they waited and followed His plans for their children, home, and business. And I cried as I saw Arthur on the Biggest Loser hold his head high, stop the tears and declare, "I prayed to God 'you make this happen' and he opened up this path for me and if its his plan for me to go home tonight I'm gonna be alright." I knew every emotion that he was feeling at that moment, having no clue what God was up to.

"What we do for God is not something we manufacture; it is something God reveals to us when we are ready."-Tom Blackaby

I know God has plans for me. I know that even though others are counting down the days I have left, and pressuring me to plan my life, if I wait on God he'll show me what's next when I'm ready to know. I'm just kind of puzzled as to why God felt the need to lay all this out for me today when it wasn't really anything new...

But hey, I'm definitely not complaining! God's communicating with me and that is better than anything else in the world.

Today's Prayer

O Jesus, I Have Promised by John E. Bode

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me, around me and within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end;
And then in Heaven receive me, my Savior and my Friend.