simple worship

i love that they came prepared to worship...
they came with gifts for a king, for the King.
They came with hearts ready to yield to this child,
to this boy King.
They came with knees ready to touch the dirt beneath,
kneeling with heads bowed, honoring Royalty.
They came because the night sky looked different than the night before.
There was a new star in that sky that had never showed itself.
They were beckoned, summoned, to follow that star.
That star would lead them to the King of the Jews, to a King
wordlessly demanding their worship, their gifts, their travel to Himself.
What a night.
What a trip those Magi made from the far East.
What a star.
What a story.
What lovely Truth.
What a beginning to His purpose to grow to die for those He made.
What a Savior.
What a King.
This is Christmas.
Let's worship.

snowflakes and sunshine

The day was cloudy, still.
The air was wet, cold.
Clouds were releasing their moisture in the form of drizzle.
It was December 7th, 2011.
The cafe was warm, welcoming.
The surprise awaited outside.
We stepped out the door to falling snow.
Lovely, white.
I said goodbye to my friend.
I rounded the corner of the cozy brick building to my car.
The man stepped to the sidewalk from his truck, smiled in my direction.
His hands outstretched in front of him.
The smile was contagious, and I returned my own, "Snow!" I said, grinning.
His response warmed my heart, "I always say, it's sunshine in the form of snowflakes."
Indeed, God's most cloudy days are filled with sunshine too, but we've got to sometimes look beyond the clouds.
Thank you, sir, for the sunshine.
Thank You, God, for that gentleman in my path yesterday.

emotions

Emotions overwhelm, surprise, comfort, express.
And so, just now with eyes full of moisture, I realize how thankful I am for God's creation of emotions.  I love that He gave these lovely ways for our bodies to release, remember, restore.  

There is an emotion for every circumstance, every known situation, every waiting surprise, every shock in life.

There are tears aroused when we least expect them, burning cheeks when we're embarrassed, angry, worn.  There is war, constriction in our hearts when we struggle between decisions.

There is a tireless ache that wears on me, knowing my heart aches, yearns, longs for my Savior.  It is an incredible wanting, an inexpressible desire.  So deep, so full, so rich.  The way He draws me to Himself, shows Himself, reveals Himself.  It renders my words insufficient...stops me in my tracks.

And so I weep, draining that storehouse of tears.  And my heart loves Jesus more.  I need Him so much.