Happy Birthday to my dear friend Yudai! December birthdays unite! ;)
This morning I was listening to an eclectic mix of country, pop, Christmas music, sports radio, and a cd...I got tired of switching around so I landed on the cd...it was the music from the movie Once. I started thinking about the movie and really listening to the words of the songs. I don't know if you've seen the movie or not...hopefully this won't ruin anything for you. Well, the movie is about a musician who has tried to "make it" unsuccessfully for a long time. He's selling vacuum cleaners, the family business, his girlfriend has just left him, and he's pretty disappointed in life...his life. And he doesn't know how to move forward, how to change things, how to have a different life...
And then one day he happens upon a woman...a vacuum cleaner brought them together...and he discovers that she plays the piano and sings...and they have these magical moments of making music together and it is as if the two reach a magical place...a place where they are fully themselves and lost in the art of creating beautiful music. Well, they both end up "falling" for the other...and you kind of want them to get together because of what they share....but they end up figuring out that they aren't really in love with each other, but with the music that they've found together. She believes in him...truly and honestly believes in him and the gift he's been given...she hopes for him...and he falls in love with that belief. She loves what she sees in him...the art, the abandonment of making music, and getting caught up in it all...but she realizes that her family....giving her husband another chance and loving and caring for her daughter are more important than chasing abandonment.
Do you ever stop to try to comprehend the belief God has in you? It's hard for me to comprehend love that runs that deeply? I get a taste of it from my parents...I know that they believe in me, hope for me, and love me in a way that I don't fully understand yet...and God's love is greater than that. Do I love people that way? Do I even try?
And the love that God felt for his son...as a Father and as God....too much for my mortal mind to wrap itself around...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Day 12
This morning I awoke quite drearily...don't know if that's a word or not, but go with me. I usually wake up and pop out of bed...not happily and enthusiastically, but I don't mind the morning. This morning, it was too cold, my bed was too warm, and it was soooo dark. Anyway, I did get up after a minute, and had this thought,
"We all wake up, but we have to choose to get up."
Yes, my brain is a mystery sometimes...to think at 5:40 in the morning. Andrew Peterson sings a song and some of the lyrics say, "Rise up O you sleeper! The day of the dawn is upon you! Rise up O you sleeper, awake! He makes all things new!"
As followers of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God coming to us every day...we talk circles around the second coming, and yet, the coming is happening every day...in preparation for the day that none of us really knows about. We do know that we have been given this time, these days, these people, this work, these gifts, and on and on...and Jesus comes...advent happens in our lives every day. Wake up! But don't just wake up...get up! The Spirit is within us...stirring us, spurring us on to greater things...have you chosen to get up today?
"We all wake up, but we have to choose to get up."
Yes, my brain is a mystery sometimes...to think at 5:40 in the morning. Andrew Peterson sings a song and some of the lyrics say, "Rise up O you sleeper! The day of the dawn is upon you! Rise up O you sleeper, awake! He makes all things new!"
As followers of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God coming to us every day...we talk circles around the second coming, and yet, the coming is happening every day...in preparation for the day that none of us really knows about. We do know that we have been given this time, these days, these people, this work, these gifts, and on and on...and Jesus comes...advent happens in our lives every day. Wake up! But don't just wake up...get up! The Spirit is within us...stirring us, spurring us on to greater things...have you chosen to get up today?
Day 11
Excerpts from our Christmas music presentation--
"The sun shall be no more, no light by day.
Neither for brightness shall the moon give light.
But the Lord shall be until thee an everlasting light.
And thy God shall be thy glory.
And the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
"And Joseph said, Why me?
I'm just a simple man of trade.
Why him with all the rulers in the world?
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl?
Now, I'm not one to second-guess what angels have to say,
But this is such a strange way to save the world."
Where there is darkness, we now have light.
Where there is wilderness, we have a guide.
Where there is mourning, God creates joy.
Where there are questions, we have a Savior.
Where there is doubt, there are babies born.
And it is all blessing...not prosperity....but blessing.
Blessing recognizes doubt.
It embraces suffering.
Blessing allows questions.
Blessing comes from the deep recesses of souls,
Souls that often experience the silence of God,
The often bow-legged walking of those trying to walk in faith,
The cries of those who have lost mothers and sons,
Of those who know the strangeness of our God,
Who would choose a baby to come and save the world.
"The sun shall be no more, no light by day.
Neither for brightness shall the moon give light.
But the Lord shall be until thee an everlasting light.
And thy God shall be thy glory.
And the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
"And Joseph said, Why me?
I'm just a simple man of trade.
Why him with all the rulers in the world?
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl?
Now, I'm not one to second-guess what angels have to say,
But this is such a strange way to save the world."
Where there is darkness, we now have light.
Where there is wilderness, we have a guide.
Where there is mourning, God creates joy.
Where there are questions, we have a Savior.
Where there is doubt, there are babies born.
And it is all blessing...not prosperity....but blessing.
Blessing recognizes doubt.
It embraces suffering.
Blessing allows questions.
Blessing comes from the deep recesses of souls,
Souls that often experience the silence of God,
The often bow-legged walking of those trying to walk in faith,
The cries of those who have lost mothers and sons,
Of those who know the strangeness of our God,
Who would choose a baby to come and save the world.
Day 10
Most of you know that I come from two distinct backgrounds....my mom is originally from Buffalo, NY and my dad is from southwest Georgia....she grew up in the city and he grew up in the middle of tobacco fields. And somehow they got together and now have three children that are about as diverse as their backgrounds.
So, growing up, holidays were interesting...I only see that now in hindsight...at the time they seemed completely normal because that's all I knew. Thanksgivings consisted of stuffing, whipped squash, and pumpkin pie....while the other consisted of cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, and pecan pie. Christmas was different too...not necessarily because of where the grandparents were from, but just because they were different. We had my grandma (mom's mom) to ourselves for most of the holiday...and she wrapped everything, had present under her tree, etc...
My dad's mom and dad (Mama Jig and Poppy) were simple people...they put up a tree, but often only because the grandkids were coming over. Mama Jig would take my sister and me to the local department store, Belk, and we would pick out and try on a new dress or outfit. She would buy it and promptly take it to the gift wrap counter to be wrapped and kept until Christmas. I can still see her walking through the store, touching every other shirt or piece of clothing, turning the sleeves of the shirts up to check the craftmanship of the sewing. She loved to feel fabrics and know how they were made...she was a seamstress with one hand. We usually got clothes, one or two packages, from Mama Jig and Poppy...and we always tried to act surprised when we opened the packages on Christmas.
Were those gifts any less simply because we already knew what was inside? No.....and thinking about it now, I realize that we know what we're getting every year during this advent season. We know the story. We know about baby Jesus...we know how it turns out, but is it devalued because we already know what we're getting? Absolutely not. This gift of a Savior is only diminished if we forget to recognize it, appreciate it for what it is, and seek to give it away. It's wrapped every year and we know what's in it...do we even bother to open it? Jesus is waiting inside....inside you, inside me....be a kid again.....open it, share him.
So, growing up, holidays were interesting...I only see that now in hindsight...at the time they seemed completely normal because that's all I knew. Thanksgivings consisted of stuffing, whipped squash, and pumpkin pie....while the other consisted of cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, and pecan pie. Christmas was different too...not necessarily because of where the grandparents were from, but just because they were different. We had my grandma (mom's mom) to ourselves for most of the holiday...and she wrapped everything, had present under her tree, etc...
My dad's mom and dad (Mama Jig and Poppy) were simple people...they put up a tree, but often only because the grandkids were coming over. Mama Jig would take my sister and me to the local department store, Belk, and we would pick out and try on a new dress or outfit. She would buy it and promptly take it to the gift wrap counter to be wrapped and kept until Christmas. I can still see her walking through the store, touching every other shirt or piece of clothing, turning the sleeves of the shirts up to check the craftmanship of the sewing. She loved to feel fabrics and know how they were made...she was a seamstress with one hand. We usually got clothes, one or two packages, from Mama Jig and Poppy...and we always tried to act surprised when we opened the packages on Christmas.
Were those gifts any less simply because we already knew what was inside? No.....and thinking about it now, I realize that we know what we're getting every year during this advent season. We know the story. We know about baby Jesus...we know how it turns out, but is it devalued because we already know what we're getting? Absolutely not. This gift of a Savior is only diminished if we forget to recognize it, appreciate it for what it is, and seek to give it away. It's wrapped every year and we know what's in it...do we even bother to open it? Jesus is waiting inside....inside you, inside me....be a kid again.....open it, share him.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Day 9...
Honestly, it took me looking at the calendar to figure out that it is December 9...it is definitely Friday! The mountains looked like cotton candy this morning...they were purpley-blue and the sky above them consisted of shades of pink and orange...I said (outloud) "Wow..."
I teach preschool choir...I have been teaching preschool choir off and on for 14 years now...whoa...started when I was 15...you do the math...some of the kids that I taught those first years are now in college. Does time fly or what?
So, I was teaching this past week and we talked about good news versus bad news. They gave me several examples of each and then we talked about Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying for us, and God raising him from the dead. Well, I didn't know they were listening so intently until one of my good friends called me last night and said she was asking her little girl "Who was born in Bethlehem? Who died on a cross? Who did God raise from the dead." And her daughter answered "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" Then to the question about God raising Jesus from death, she said, "Yeah, that was weird, but cool!" Laura just thought she was being an incredibly thoughtful 4 year old, but then her daughter said, "That's what Melodie says!" hahaha...like my theology for 4 year olds?! Jesus is weird, but cool!
That night, another kid said, "Yeah, Jesus came for everybody, but only the good people." I hated to burst his bubble, but I said, "Well, actually, he came for bad people too." You should have seen that little boy's face...jaw dropped open...he was speechless.
Jesus is weird, cool, and still gives grace...reflect on that for a bit.
I teach preschool choir...I have been teaching preschool choir off and on for 14 years now...whoa...started when I was 15...you do the math...some of the kids that I taught those first years are now in college. Does time fly or what?
So, I was teaching this past week and we talked about good news versus bad news. They gave me several examples of each and then we talked about Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying for us, and God raising him from the dead. Well, I didn't know they were listening so intently until one of my good friends called me last night and said she was asking her little girl "Who was born in Bethlehem? Who died on a cross? Who did God raise from the dead." And her daughter answered "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" Then to the question about God raising Jesus from death, she said, "Yeah, that was weird, but cool!" Laura just thought she was being an incredibly thoughtful 4 year old, but then her daughter said, "That's what Melodie says!" hahaha...like my theology for 4 year olds?! Jesus is weird, but cool!
That night, another kid said, "Yeah, Jesus came for everybody, but only the good people." I hated to burst his bubble, but I said, "Well, actually, he came for bad people too." You should have seen that little boy's face...jaw dropped open...he was speechless.
Jesus is weird, cool, and still gives grace...reflect on that for a bit.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Day 8...
The hint of snow came yesterday to east Tennessee...and with it, the crossed fingers of many teachers and students to get one day off...alas, it didn't happen...hope deferred for another day.
This morning's reading had a quote which made me stare wide-eyed at the page...it said to truly love someone is to, first of all, see the beauty in that person. During this season, I find it easy to give money to a charity or organization and to feel like I did something good for a moment. Don't get me wrong, those acts of giving are important and worthwhile, but do I regularly look at the people around me and love them? Do I see beauty in them? Or do I just give them things in the hopes that they will see Jesus?
Then I heard a song that says, "Your will above all else, my purpose remains.
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise."
When I look back to the times when I have learned the most, or have been the most "teachable," I realize that they are the times when I felt at a loss....the loss of a loved one, the loss of my so-called identity, the loss that my parents felt as they left church ministry, the loss of childhood, college, etc...in those moments of not knowing, of questioning, of doubt, of feeling lost...in those moments we cry out for someone else to take over, to steady us, to make our purpose clear...and our purpose is to love...which, ironically, leads to more uncertainty if we do it trying to see the beauty in others.
Vinvent Van Gogh said, "The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
How's your art looking these days? Jesus was born in a messy place...a strange painting of a King coming to his people. Jesus lived in a messy way...painted a crazy picture for people who decided to follow him without reserve...and they lived in ways that didn't make sense to others, even the "most" religious of his day. So, how are your paintings, sketches, scultures, and such coming along? Messy? Good.....you must be becoming more like Jesus.
This morning's reading had a quote which made me stare wide-eyed at the page...it said to truly love someone is to, first of all, see the beauty in that person. During this season, I find it easy to give money to a charity or organization and to feel like I did something good for a moment. Don't get me wrong, those acts of giving are important and worthwhile, but do I regularly look at the people around me and love them? Do I see beauty in them? Or do I just give them things in the hopes that they will see Jesus?
Then I heard a song that says, "Your will above all else, my purpose remains.
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise."
When I look back to the times when I have learned the most, or have been the most "teachable," I realize that they are the times when I felt at a loss....the loss of a loved one, the loss of my so-called identity, the loss that my parents felt as they left church ministry, the loss of childhood, college, etc...in those moments of not knowing, of questioning, of doubt, of feeling lost...in those moments we cry out for someone else to take over, to steady us, to make our purpose clear...and our purpose is to love...which, ironically, leads to more uncertainty if we do it trying to see the beauty in others.
Vinvent Van Gogh said, "The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
How's your art looking these days? Jesus was born in a messy place...a strange painting of a King coming to his people. Jesus lived in a messy way...painted a crazy picture for people who decided to follow him without reserve...and they lived in ways that didn't make sense to others, even the "most" religious of his day. So, how are your paintings, sketches, scultures, and such coming along? Messy? Good.....you must be becoming more like Jesus.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Day 7
This morning, I read the following quote, "An emporer should be in the church, not over it."
Check this out....think about the way we receive rulers, kings, presidents, and emporers...
Now, imagine with me for a moment, how Jesus was received...
This morning, I read the following quote, "An emporer should be in the church, not over it."
Check this out....think about the way we receive rulers, kings, presidents, and emporers...
Now, imagine with me for a moment, how Jesus was received...
Was it in a dark cave?
Or among animals, in the straw and cow trough?
Either way, we know that Jesus was not received as the royalty that he was...he was born among animals, under the night sky. We didn't have room to receive him. The animals did...creation did...it groaned for its King.
We still look for leaders and things of God to come in ways that are acceptable to us...ways that we "understand." We make Jesus look the way that we want him to look...the way he looks from our perspective. And yet, Jesus comes in the least expected ways--in the "baaa" of a sheep, in the cry of an infant, in the questions of the unbelieving, on the streets of Wall Streets, in the cardboard box of the homeless mother, in the broken-down car of the struggling father...Jesus hasn't stopped coming...he is an emporer in the church...not just over it.
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