The frozen rose above is quite fitting today.  One of our members of our church, Kurt, got engaged this weekend to another one of our member’s sister  (Hans).  The romantic side of me just loves new love.  The journey of God bringing that special someone into your life and the realization of the future is really some of the favorite memories of my life.

It stirs again in me to tell teenagers that it’s worth waiting for.  As we worked with teens for so many years, that was one of the things that I said over and over again.  Doing it the right way…God’s way…is awesome!  It can seem like an eternity before you will meet the right one and get to spend the rest of your life together, but in hindsight, it goes very quickly and it is such an enormous decision.  Marrying the wrong person can have lifelong ramifications, whereas marrying the right person can be a beautiful journey of growing together in the love of Christ.

So, congrats to Kurt and Heather!  We look forward to the future and wish you the very best!  We are cheering you on and supporting you!

Merry Christmas!  I’m from Montana, so a good snowfall reminds me of home!  The Portland area is basically shutting down and snuggling in for a couple of days of snow and freezing rain.  Before moving here I had never heard of freezing rain.  After living through the last big storm in 2004, I have a new respect for the concept. 

The good news about the weather is that my girls are out in the snow right now with their dad.  Giggling and excited to be so cold that Mom will be forced to warm them up with hot chocolate and marshmallows.  It’s the rule of a good snow day.  I succumb to the extra dose of sugar because nothing is cuter than their little red noses poking out of a steamy cup.

The bad news about the weather is that church will be cancelled for tomorrow, which makes me sad.  However, on a better note, we are now having a Christmas Eve service, because the one thing I have to include in my Christmas traditions is that time at church to sing of His birth.  I love the unified breath we all take from our daily lives to be grateful for a King born in a manger.  From the humblest of beginnings came the greatest leader our world will ever know. 

I hope you enjoy your snow day!  And I hope it includes a cup of hot chocolate.

On Sunday my husband preached a message that we desperately try to live out…do less stuff that doesn’t matter and give more time to your friends and family.  Kris Gray sent me a great site that has the same idea – www.adventconspiracy.com.  Check it out! 

Last night we invited Jeff, Angela, and our neighbors over for dessert.  No big party, nothing fancy, kids came in their pj’s, we sat on the couch and I consciously chose not to worry about the house being perfect.  When everyone arrived, my kid’s weren’t stressed by my frantic cleaning and panic, my husband wasn’t frustrated with having to make sure every detail was perfect, and my house looked “good enough.”  And then the miracle happened…everyone talked, laughed, enjoyed themselves, and RELAXED!  When they left, it took a few minutes to clean up the house.  I am pretty sure that Jesus would have celebrated His birthday the same way…just looking in people’s eyes and caring about their life. 

Mark and I recently went through the “busiest” season of our lives with the new building.  It was quite the experiment for us.  We abandoned our ideals of boundaries for two months.  We gave more than we should and pushed ourselves to the limit.  And do you know what happened…we fought, we grew weary, the relationship with our kids spiraled into that cycle of disobedience on their part and frustration on our part.  Our house was a mess, our bills were piling up, and our cars were breaking down. 

The minute that building was done, we went back to our rules as a family.  And what happened?  Peace set in quickly.  Mark brought roses home for me again and I made him his favorite dinners.  The kids realized mom and dad were “back” and straightened up quickly.  Order was restored.  Our home, although always part messy with two toddlers, was clean underneath the toys. 

This “experiment” reminded us once again of the need to constantly tell people to STOP!  Some people live to the limit all of the time.  Our families are hurting because we settle for good instead of best.  We have disobedient kids, sexless marriages, horrible finances, and stress related health issues…we are walking messes!  It’s time that we ask ourselves what can give.

I haven’t written much this week…sorry to the thousands of people who tune in to see my daily thoughts! 🙂

Honestly, I have had a heavy heart.  The irony of the holidays for pastors is that it is such a beautiful time for people if all is going well, but on the very same note, it brings out the pain in people as well.  It seems that just as Christmas rolls around, our prayer list gets longer and longer.  When the people in our church are struggling, it is very difficult for me.  I know that God is there for them and that He can be their source, but I feel myself take on the burden as well.  I don’t like to watch people suffer or go through challenging times.  Ecclesiastes talks about mourning with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice.  I am MUCH better at the rejoicing side of things.  I am a problem solver and sometimes mourning with people evokes a feeling of helplessness.

I find myself trying so desperately to solve the problems or fix the situation, but sometimes you just can’t.  People do what they want to and life is just sometimes difficult.  I remind myself that the fire refines people and it’s OK to walk through the valley because it is there that you find God’s sufficiency.  Still, I am burdened because I love people.

So, I wish for you peace in this Holiday season and hope for those who are feeling helpless.  I also rest assured that the beauty of being in the body of Christ is that we can share one another’s burdens.  I may carry yours for a while, but I know in return, when needed, you will carry mine.  And although my heart is heavy, I am grateful for a God that has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future…Jer. 29:11.

I would never ask anyone to untie my shoe unless I was physically unable to do so.  I consider that pretty demeaning.  Maybe that is because feet gross me out and the idea of dirty tennis shoes make me want to run…away from them.  Maybe it’s because the position of kneeling before me is one that I would never want to make you do.  Maybe it’s just not something we do socially.  You take off your own shoes.  It’s just what is acceptable in our society. 

Well, as I was reading my Bible last night this verse struck me:

Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It is easy to forget just how much reverance that Jesus really deserves.   But here it is in plain text…John, one of the most influential Christian leaders in history was not worthy to UNTIE his shoe.  I’m sure that I’m not even close to being so worthy as to deny someone the opportunity to untie my stinky shoes.  God was so clearly directing us in His word to keep an eye on our own perception of worthy.  He was telling us to remember once again the preciousness of the gift of relationship with His Son.  In our own flesh we don’t deserve to touch the dust on His feet and yet He CHOOSES to call us His sons and daughters.  He CHOOSES to call us righteous and holy.  He CHOOSES us when He clearly doesn’t have to. 

During this holiday season, rejoice because the highest king made you His friend.  We are not worthy.  We are just blessed.  And it’s a lot easier to love your brother when you begin to comprehend that you are chosen not based on your worth, but just on your being.