The year was 1998 and the tattered piece of paper was inadvertently left on the counter and I saw the Christmas shopping list my babygirl had written in childlike letters:

Lacey-Game
Dad-Socks
Mom-“Dimond” ring

And my Momma heart melted. I knew the budget could do the game and the socks (we still laugh about this) but obviously no diamond ring could be purchased. What was in her heart just didn’t measure up to her gift-giving budget! Ever been there? Ever long to give an amazing gift but what you could muster up just didn’t convey your heart? Well this was the conundrum that Janelle was in, although she had no clue.

Well, I went to the store and bought the game, the socks and nicest “dimond” ring I could find, wrapped them in shiny paper, had Lee tag them and then lovingly placed them under our glistening tree. Lee whispered to Janelle that the ring was purchased and her excitement grew as the days in December ticked along! By the time Christmas morning rolled around she could barely contain herself and you know, neither could I! What my Momma heart most desired was for my babygirl’s generous heart to be allowed to give me something that in her mind conveyed her great love for me. I opened that package and ooohed and awwwed not over a ring that held a heart-shaped piece of glass, but over watching a loving heart’s desire for someone else being realized.

She never knew that I had made her gift to me possible and funny thing is; it made it all the more precious to me! It was a gift of my love that enabled her to express her love. It was a sacred and joyous moment because it was reminiscent of that holy night where the Father gift of love meant that we could now express our love for Him! He gave what truly was His very best-His only Son! The gift of Jesus fully conveyed the workings of His loving heart and that in turn allows us to convey the workings of our heart to Him-and the amazing circle of love goes round and round! “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He (first) loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:10 Oh for the unspeakably glorious gift found only in the face of Jesus!

So today as we celebrate His birth on this holy day, may we who call upon Him in faith in that priceless gift, in turn give back to Him the only gift that we truly possess; may we give the gift of us; for us in intimate relationship with Him is at the top of His “Wish List” because the gift of Y-O-U is what He most longs to see under His “tree” at Calvary!

Happy, happy, most blessed birthday Jesus! And the gift goes on and on!

Simple Trust (Part Two)

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)

Last week I shared how my bad day found me at the park, where there was nothing to lift my discouraged heart but a dog chasing a rubber ball. I felt like that dog was living my life as she chased the ball for what I thought was no good reason. Finally the Lord opened my heart to how my lack of trust was hindering the joy in my life.

Well, I was still at the park but by now, my gaze was fixed on this dog and her master. What did this almost giddy dog know that I didn’t? What did she see that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t)?

As I watched I realized that she had recently had puppies. And it dawned on me that her master was actually blessing her with an opportunity to release pent up energy, to exercise her heart, strengthen existing muscles, build new muscle and develop stamina. What I saw as meaningless was actually brimming with purpose! I also recognized that all of this was taking place on the inside; unseen by the natural eye. And I began to ponder if God was using the “meaninglessness” of my everyday life to work something on the inside; something unseen to the natural eye-something that was “brimming with purpose”.

I started wondering if God in all His infinite wisdom had ordained these mundane tasks in my life to help prepare me for the sacred tasks that His plan held. What if these ordinary events were His proving ground, preparing me for the extraordinary plans He has and I was missing it?

Of course the dog had no such thoughts; she only loved her master and was willing to chase the ball for the sole purpose of being with him. If he threw it, she trusted him enough to chase it with no questions asked and she could be, would be happy about it. The “light” finally came on and I realized that this was exactly where I had lost my way. I wanted meaning, rationale. Before I would chase the ball I wanted answers and revelations of exactly what He was working in my life.

My ability or should I say my willingness to rejoice “in everything” was held back by my prerequisite of meaning and understanding. My trust was conditional upon God “explaining Himself” to my satisfaction. Have you ever been there? My heart was saying “Why are You asking me to do these things?” and “How does this fit Your plan?”  But He was simply tossing the ball and asking me to trust His heart-without explanations.

I had an agenda, but whenever I choose to set aside my agenda and turn my focus from the questions of my heart and onto Him; chasing the ball becomes a place of rejoicing instead of a point of contention. Do I have it all down? No, but when the everydayness of my life threaten to overwhelm me and suck the sparkle right out; I remember the dog and I choose to “chase the ball” with a lightness in my heart and joy in my step, knowing that His plan and His timing are worth the wait and the effort!

I realize that His ways are above my ways and His thoughts above mine, so I set aside my preconditions and relinquish my plan to His. And I choose rejoicing over confusion and frustration; fostering contentment in every task He puts in my path. I am coming to know more deeply His joy as I willingly chase the ball wherever He tosses it; retrieving it and laying it and myself at His feet; soaking in His sweet presence until He throws it again.
Well I gotta run; I hear my Master calling my name and I think I got me some ball to chase-wanna come?

Papa God, Please continue to remind me that walking out Your plan for my life isn’t dependent on me understanding everything You ask me to do. And that my greatest joy can be released when I choose to trust in the beauty of Your plan. I set aside my agenda in exchange for trusting Your loving heart and hand and all that they hold for me. Amen

Simple Trust (Part One)

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

I was having a bad day. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a statement I seldom voice; but we all have “bad” days right? As Christians we are not immune from the trials that weigh us down and obscure our vision for the future.

It was just one of those days. I know you have them too. What do you do when the difficulties of the day feel like they are a precursor of what lies ahead? For me, I drive to the park for some quiet time with the One who holds my future. I just needed His assurance that He hadn’t temporarily “forgotten” me, forgotten my calling, and forgotten my dreams. I know that sounds silly, since God can’t forget, won’t forget any of His children; but I guess I was looking for some reassurance. Have you ever been there?

It’s a little bit like when my daughter Lachelle was small and busy playing; sometimes she would stop what she was doing, get up, come close to where I was and just touch me lightly. As if to ask “Even though I have moved away from you, we are still connected, right?” And I wanted to say like the little child that I am; “Papa, You seem to have moved far away from me, please come and touch me lightly and remind me that we are connected.”

So I drove to “our” special place and sat in my car, listening for His voice. I heard nothing, so after a while I turned on the radio, hoping for something that would lift the fog that covered my heart, but nothing helped. Click. No interesting people to watch, no children playing-nothing, nothing but a dog and her master. Back and forth, back and forth; he threw the ball and she retrieved it. I watched the dog and I said to myself “Hmph, look at that, it’s just chasing that ball for no good reason. How useless!” I thought. And the idea slowly crept into my heart that that dog was living out my life; just chasing the same ball for no good cause, which of course did nothing to lift my murky mood.

But how often do we live our lives in the mundane? Clothes get laundered only to get soiled, again. Dishes get scrubbed only to get dirty, again. The work week gets put in and then in a flash it is Monday, again. Sometimes the sameness of our weekly, monthly or even yearly routine can feel like it is sucking the sparkle right out of us! Routine, predictable, tedious are a few of those sparkle sucking words.

But the difference was, I could see that the dog was having a ball (couldn’t resist the pun) and I most certainly was NOT.

It was then that Jesus began to speak to my heart; come join our whispered conversation...
Jesus said “Sandy, even though I have left this earth we ARE still connected, remember? I am as close as your very next breath.. The plan I have for you will come into being because there is NOTHING too hard for Me. The plan is not in question, but your complete trust in Me, perhaps that is...” “Will you trust Me in the mundane and trust in the beauty of My dreams for you little one? Though the plan is veiled, My purposes are sure and steadfast. I can be trusted and relied upon in each and every matter that touches your life”

And I know that what He spoke to me, He longs to whisper to your heart as well. Close your eyes and let Him touch you gently, reminding you that you and He are still connected and that His good plan for your life is not in jeopardy! Next week I’ll share the rest of the story.

Papa God, Please open my eyes to the fact that no matter what I‘m experiencing You haven’t moved away from me and that you are always as close as my next breath. As I relinquish my dreams to You please release Your joy in my heart and life. Amen