Thursday, December 12, 2019

Every word is true...

"Do not be afraid, every word is true.
From the moment I believed, I've always carried you...
To a world in need of a Love that's true,
From the moment I believed, I've always carried you."
Matt Maher, "Always Carried You," from the album The Advent of Christmas

If you like to delay the Christmas carols until closer to Christmas, this is a beautiful Advent song, featuring Amy Grant singing with Matt Maher (link below). It strikes one of the most powerful images of young Mary, hearing the angel foretell that she will carry the Savior and then (I think) the most powerful line in the scripture from Luke, "Then, the angel left her." (Luke 1:38) The angel left this young girl with this tremendous news! What did she think? This song presents a beautiful portrayal of Mary reminding herself not to be afraid, that God is true and that the world needs this gift she is carrying. I can also picture Mary, gently caressing her swelling belly, reassuring her unborn babe, "Do not be afraid, every word is true." I invite you to listen and pray with the voice of this young girl, reminding herself, and her babe, of God's faithfulness and that God is carrying both of them. Love, heidi

Always Carried You

Monday, December 9, 2019

A little child...

..."and a little child shall lead them."
Isaiah 11:6

Yesterday, Pastor Gretchen had a wonderful sermon titled, "A child shall lead them" (link to the video below). It was rich and thought-provoking and led me to think of the little kids I work with at school and how they teach and lead me each day. Some of the lessons are hard! I'm humbled by how I often fall short of how I'd like to be with them. I know I can certainly do better at loving them some days! The hardest ones are the ones who probably need our love the most. That's a valuable lesson and leading right there! We have two weeks of school left  before our long winter's nap. I want to pay as close attention as possible to the lessons and leadings these kids offer me. And God, who led me to the school to work in the first place, is my Mighty Champion, helping me every step of the way.
I invite you to listen to the sermon and ponder what children in your own life are leading you closer to God? God came to us in human form as a newborn baby, giving us flawless meaning to the phrase, "and a little child shall lead them." Love, heidi
A child shall lead them