Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ordinary People

A Christmas song recorded by 4 Him keeps running through my mind. The lyrics are written in Joseph's point of view:

"Why me (why me), I'm just a simple man of trade?
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl (ordinary girl)
Now, I'm not one to second guess what angel's have to say,
But this is such a strange way to save the world."

This song reminds me that God used ordinary people and the power of the Holy Spirit in this most extraordinary birth of the Savior, Emmanuel -- God with us. The people mentioned in Christmas account of Matthew and Luke were the first to have a personal encounter with Jesus! WOW! But an even bigger WOW is that Jesus still desires a personal encounter with ordinary people in the world today, and not just an encounter, but an intimate relationship.

After the shepherds heard and saw the angelic host in the night sky, they ran to find Him and along the way they told everyone what the angels had said about this child. Now, the Bible doesn't say so, but knowing human nature, I imagine a lot of the people who heard the shepherds' story also ran to the stable. Wouldn't you have? I would -- I'm from the Show-Me state, and I would want/need to see things with my own eyes!

In all the commotion, Luke 2:19 states, "Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." That is my prayer. Amid the holiday mayhem, may Mary be our example and may God show you something new and fresh as you celebrate Christmas this week.

First Snow

This week brought winter's first snow, reminding me of two favorite poems.

Snowflakes by Linda Copp

Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand

Lovely and chaste as smooth white sand.

A veil of wonder laced in light,

Fall gently on a winter's night.

Graceful beauty raining down

Giving magic to the lifeless ground.

Each snowflake like a falling star,

Smiling beauty that's spun afar.

Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand,

Lovely and chaste as smooth white sand.

'Til earth is dressed in a robe of white

Unspoken poem the hush of night.

Velvet Shoes by Elinor Wylie

Let us walk in the white snow

In a soundless space;
With footsteps quiet and slow,
At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of lace.

I shall go shod in silk,

You in wool

White as white cow's milk,

More beautiful

Than the breast of a gull.

We shall walk through the still town

In a windless peace;

We shall step upon white down,
Upon silver fleece
Softer than these.

We shall walk in velvet shoes;
Wherever we go
Silence falls like dews
On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.

Holding Hands with God

Isaiah 41: 13 -- "For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not; I will help you."

The Almighty whose hands hold the universe wants to hold hands with me -- me! (And you!)

I thank Kay who is in my Bible Study Fellowship small group for opening my eyes to this, as she shared her commitment to put her hand in the hand of God.

I pray to do the same -- to trust my Heavenly Father who can gently, faithfully, and confidently guide me through every circumstance of my life.

Will you hold hands with God today?