Balloons, Snow Angels, and Toothpaste, Oh My!

Celebration. When I hear that word I think of birthdays, graduations, and weddings. Balloons, music, confetti and cake. But does celebration always have to involve party plates and invitations?
Celebrate the little things. Let the small things in life delight you. Be a child. Press your nose against the glass and stare at the snow. When you pull away, draw a smiley in the condensation. Build a snowman. Make a snow angel. Smile because the kitchen is serving pink frosted, heart-shaped sugar cookies with sprinkles. Twist your feet so your shoes squeak on the floor as you walk. Get excited about the first purple spring flower you see. Give your friends a random hug. Throw M&Ms or popcorn in the air and giggle when you catch them in your mouth. Smile at yourself in the mirror when brushing your teeth gives you a toothpaste mustache. Let your eyes sparkle. Take a break from homework and go on a walk or read a Calvin and Hobbes comic book. Watch your favorite Disney movie or listen to the soundtrack.
Enough ideas, you get the point. "Maturity" is no excuse to stop celebrating the "little things."
"You don't stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing." - Michael Pritchard

Another song...

Okay, so I've kinda' been wondering where God has been lately; wondering why He hadn't spoken, wondering what I was supposed to be doing in His absence, because I didn't recall Him leaving a to-do list, and wondering where my life is going. To be so uncertain about the future ~ to have so many unfulfilled dreams with no discernable way to follow them ~ I was/am at a loss. And then I went to my weekly job - filling in for a girl who's at CBS by cleaning a house once a week. Not a big deal, and I'm more than grateful for the money, but I hate the job. There's just something about cleaning someone else's house - seeing their family - that rubs against every dream I've had since I was a little girl playing with her dolls. I was playing my iPod, just letting my mind wander; not really listening to the music when I heard it. The word "surrender" caught my attention. It's not a word we like much. It means giving up, conceding to someone else. It hurts our pride and our individuality. But it seemed like it was directly from God ~ isn't it amazing? Words from God in a song I didn't even recognize? I started the song over and listened to it carefully.

My hands hold safely to my dreams; clutching tightly, not one has fallen.
So many years, I've shaped each one. Reflecting my heart; showing who I am.
Now You're asking me to show what I hold oh, so tightly. The fear of being asked to show what defines me. This is vulnerable. This is what I live for, and I'm supposed to trust You enough to hold them out to You? And then come the excuses and questions...
Can't open my hands; can't let go. Does it matter? Should I show you? Can't you let me go? Just turn the other way, Lord. Let me live out my dreams uncontested. Please. I'm desperate for this.
"Surrender. Surrender," You whisper gently.
More questioning. You say I will be free. I know, but can't You see? My dreams are me. My dreams are me. Despite the knowledge that sharing the dreams will set me free from them, I can't let go of the identity I've created for myself. Who am I if not Rebekah Rolan, elementary teacher, mother, wife, friend - changing the world one heart at a time?
You say You have a plan for me and that You want the best for my life. Told me the world had yet to see what You can do with one that's committed to Your calling. Why would You give these dreams to me if You didn't mean to fulfill them? Isn't the best for my life to live out what I'm passionate about?
I know of course what I should do; that I can't hold to these dreams forever. Whoa. It's something I knew deep down inside but didn't want to admit. I can't hold on to my dreams. They must be shaped by my life and by God. Molded, trimmed, and given wings. But then the vulnerable little girl comes out, clutching her dolly and asking the most important, heart-rending question in her small world:
If I give them now to You, will You take them away forever? Or can I dream again?

Take them if You have to, Lord. I'm holding them out to You. Don't take them away forever. Please, Abba, let me dream again.

You Give and Take Away

This song has been very special to me for quite some time and it has new significance even now. I love the honesty of the words. Saying "No, I'm not okay" and "I don't really feel You" but in the end, still trusting and ultimately praising God for what He has worked in my life through the storms.

"Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now, God,
that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away;
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say "amen"
and it's still raining.
As the thunder rolls,
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you."
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand.
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again.
my strength is almost gone. How can I carry on
if I can't find You?
And as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you."
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

"O God of Second Chances and new Beginnings, here I am again." -Nancy Spiegelberg

This song is my heart cry right now. It's a wonder that God doesn't get tired of picking us up and dusting us off.

Joy - Not Just Dishwashing Liquid

I came across another quote recently and was struck with the truth of it.

"Joy is not gush: joy is not jolliness. Joy is simply perfect
acquiescence in God's will, because the soul delights itself in God
himself...rejoice in the will of God, and in nothing else. Bow down your
heads and your hearts before God, and let the will, the blessed will of
God, be done." -Amy Carmichael

Things in your life don't have to be all lined up and going the way you want them to in order for you to have joy. Maybe you lost your job, were late for school last week because of the snow, had a fight with a dear friend, realized that a relationship couldn't be repaired, or simply got up on the wrong side of the bed. You can still have joy (and more importantly, show joy) even when these things are all going wrong and it feels like your world has been turned upside down.

I think the long and short of it is that joy comes directly from trust. If you trust God with your life - past, present, and future - and "acquiesce to His will," you can have true joy in the best and worst of circumstances.

Don't wait for everything to be peachy before you show your inner joy. We have something to offer this world! Now let's get out there and advertise it!

Creation

I have been feeling like I should put up a New Year's post, but was failing to be inspired. This morning, I came across this quote, and even though it's not "New Year's," it is definitely something to think about. I hope you enjoy it. :)

"The stars are God's fingerprints. The sun is a mere smidgen of His radiance. The moon is to remind us that He doesn't sleep at night. The vastness of space proclaims the infinity of His wisdom, while the sand pebble indicates His thoroughness with the puniest details. The lion hints at His fearlessness, the bear at His power, the hawk at His keen insight. And yet, those possess only a tidbit of God's omnipotence and omnipresence. Every tree points toward heaven; every bird has a song to sing; even every moment of wind goes in some direction. There is nothing chaotic about our beautiful designed world. All creation has a message to tell. It says, 'Listen, there is a God. There is a God!'" -Brent D. Earles

Christmas...

...that time of year when we buy oodles of presents we don't need and stuff extra goodies into our already too full refrigerators, all so we can get together and enjoy our families and friends. Has Christmas really come to that? Don't get me wrong, family and friends are wonderful. I've had the pleasure of having two of my FB friends stay with me in the last week. My family and I - we are completing all the normal Christmas traditions. We watched all the old Christmas specials (Charlie Brown, Rudolph, and the Grinch) and then drove around to look at other peoples' decorated houses. Tomorrow we'll join some of our extended family for several hours and catch up on each other's lives. But isn't Christmas more than food and family-togetherness?
We read the Christmas story from Luke 2 on Christmas morning - right before we dig into our stack of wrapped material blessings. Could we be doing more? The very essence of Christmas is celebrating our Savior. JESUS. Yes, as the cliche goes: Jesus is the reason for the season. Bleg. But it's true. So we read one chapter in Luke and we may even haul our lazy selves out of our sugar-induced stupors to go to a Christmas service at church, but what else is there?
God wrapped Himself, a Being so large that any words that attempt to describe Him appear puny, in flesh. And came to this sin-stricken, filth-ridden earth. As a baby. The most powerful Being, helpless, trusting His mother, just like every other child on the planet, to provide food, warmth, and clean diapers. In the words of one of my professors, "What in the world anyway?" It's apalling. It staggers my imagination. Hopefully yours too. Because you know why He did that? For you. For me. For us. The very mankind that has trampled God's earth and purposes into the dust. Yet He knew it was the only way He could get us to listen; if He became one of us. God is LOVE. So the only way He can act is in love. Out of pure, unmitigated love He came. THAT'S what Christmas is about.
So yeah, enough sermon. Go enjoy those Christmas cookies and the Rook games with your cousins. Hug your aunts and kiss your nephews. But please, please remember: Christmas isn't just about family, friends, or goodies. It's not even just about love. It's about Love. What can you do differently in order to reflect that?

Blessings all you lovely people! May God be very present in your holiday.