The Giver.

Do you know that person? The one who is always willing to share. The one who always seems to have a gift or just "a little something" for you for no reason. If you think about it, you can probably pick out a couple people in your life who are givers. I know several, and I am blessed to have them as good friends in my life. Some of them I know casually and others I am actually related to. They are the people who are always ready to give something or they just always have that thought, "I think she would like this" ...so they end up buying it. Or it's that friend that insists on taking you to lunch even though you are trying to save money, and they, of course, pay for you- without a second thought. These are the people that are interested in your friendship regardless of the return on it. These are the people that devote time and energy to your friendship. These are the people who give you the last of the ice cream in their fridge. They are the people who make a fresh pot of coffee for you after they have finished off the pot. They are the people who bring you Starbucks when they stopped by to grab their own drink. They are the people who would loan you their favorite pair of shoes because they look better with your outfit. They let you borrow their new shirt that they haven't even worn yet. They let you cut in line and order the last blueberry cake donut that they had their eye on.

I know someone exactly like this.* She does not hesitant to be generous. In fact, the very notion of discussing generosity might seem mundane to her. It is comes secondhand to her because she inherited it from her mother. She is a hostess. She is servant. She genuinely cares. She's unselfish. She is a giver. If you know her at all or have ever been over to visit her, the chances are good she has either baked you cookies or her own (cinnamon) bread. yum! In her friendships, she gives. She gives you time. She listens. She cares deeply and is personally bothered when her friends are hurting. She'll lose sleep for you. She'll skip a meal for you and drive all night for you.

Yes, these are the givers. They are filled with generosity. Maybe this ease of giving is not something that we are all blessed with. Some of us guard our things. We hoard our resources and hide our belongings. We keep our nice possessions close. We flaunt our expensive stuff and shutter to think of sharing it.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." - 2 Cor. 9:6-9

How can we not give when so much has been given to us? Does not our generosity flow out of the grace He so freely gave to us? We deserve absolutely nothing, yet He pours out gifts of grace to us daily! Our stuff, our things, our possessions, our talents, our money, our health, even our awards and achievements are not ours. We are mere stewards of everything bestowed to us. How then are we going to live? Does His grace not change the state of your heart's generosity?




*I am not the only one who is blessed by her generous spirit. Julie is a sweet and gracious sister whose patience is much appreciated when it comes to my own generosity.

'Tis the Eve of Christmas

‘Tis the eve of Christmas and shoppers still stirring ‘round,
To grab last minute presents, if only to be found.
Anticipating a night of joy and cheer,
Some have plenty while others dread this time of year.
Friends and family travel far and prepare tomorrow’s feast,
To be surrounded by kin is a treasure not in the least.
More than packages with ribbons or bags with bows,
Whether the season is sunny and warm or it rains and snows,
On the eve of Christmas the stockings are hung,
And the fire is kindled for one night's worth.
Drifting to sleep the world awaiting, the best gift of all-
For to all, the dawn of a Redeeming Birth!

dear Sir:

I met you because I was introduced to you at a very young age. You were always a part of my life because my parents knew you well. I kept meeting people that knew you and would tell me how great you were and the great things you had done. There were millions of articles to read about you. I learned of things that you did and people you had rescued. You were a hero! But, I also learned about the destruction you caused. I learned about the anger you possessed. I learned about the laws you enforced. I learned about the justice you demanded. And I began to wonder, who are you?

I knew of you through the words of others and against what was written about you, I was beginning to struggle to comprehend you as one. I traveled to a town filled with poverty and need. I spent one week for three consecutive years building houses for those who had no money or food to provide for their own family. I brought warmth to their home by building a roof over their heads and placing keys to a home in their hands. I gave them a book that told them about you. Where did this peace and hope that I bestowed so graciously come from?

I watched the world crumble around me. The tragedy of 9/11 sparked a sharp feeling of anger. Deep sadness grew in my heart as I witnessed stories over and over of families torn apart by death. Terror had struck and now resided in the homes of Americans, and I could feel it. I struggled to comprehend how our world was turned upside down. For the first time in my life, I felt vulnerable. So I asked you, why?

Then I was driving to the hospital in Denver on Valentines' Day. I wasn't ready for this to happen. I did not have the words and I went numb. My gramma died, and now my family is missing a piece. This was the time in my life that I wish I could go back to. I was angry and confused, but mostly I was frustrated with myself. I did not know how to talk to you and wanted you to be so near. Why did you give me this pain of death to handle at this time?

I traveled to a land on the other side of the globe. I met people from all over the world in Sydney who professed to know you. I began to see you in everyday life. I watched people speak your name and give witness to how their lives had been changed because of you. I learned that you are not limited to one place, people, age, or culture. I believe this was the time you opened my heart wide and placed a deep hunger in me. You challenged me to know you personally, not just through the words of others. It was a joy to embrace you every day.

My life never makes sense to me. I try and try to figure it out, but it doesn't work- no matter how much reasoning or figuring I do.

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:23-25

I believe you, dear Sir, are my only answer, and I know my journey is not over. I am desperate to know you for who you really are, not just want I hear or want to hear. I believe you are greater and stronger than anything I could comprehend, and this is why I must know you even deeper.

The season is upon us! The holidays are here. Snow falling and the lights glittering. Extra smiles and warm wishes. Gift giving. Yummy food and celebration.But this lovely season is more than that. For me, this time began with nothing special or overly "Christmasy". I didn't make any big holiday travel plans or giant shopping trips or even attend any extravagant Christmas parties. Christmas Blend at Starbucks came out, menu boards at restaurants have added ingredients such as pumpkin and squash and pecans and chocolate to their items, and retail stores have flooded the shelves with red and green...everything. The weather turned cold, it even snowed already, and winter actually arrived. Somehow we humans are conditioned to make certain associations. Colder weather= end of the year= holiday season= shopping= busyness!= parties= travel= family= memories= etc, etc, etc (you fill in the rest). Distraction from the celebration of Christmas is inevitable, but for some reason this season I feel it more than ever. It is not necessarily from the things mentioned above, but it is a distraction that I suffer from because of my own lack of focus and intention. I do not live a life right now that is full and busy. I am not one of those people who has crammed a bunch of things into my calendar. I lived part of that when I was in college, and I will probably do it again someday. But, for the season I am in, it is not how I live. Therefore, the things I do and the events I participate in are, for the most part, my choosing. This shouldn't be an excuse for me to be selfish and lazy, but a reason for me to be intentional. I do have the time to pour into my friendships. I do have the time to read and grow my mind. I have the time to be disciplined in my work, exercise, and studies. This year the Christmas season has reminded me of how much I take for granted the life that I have. I have found that I take it for granted because I have not fully attributed it to the King.
It all clicked this year. This is a celebration of the greatness of our God. This is a celebration of the birth of Christ, our Lord. I choose to celebrate this, this year. This came last week in a very simple way. I was listening to Christmas music when I suddenly stopped and realized that there was something about Christmas that should effect me personally. It's like I had been celebrating the season from afar. I had been attending a party that wasn't my own. I didn't know who was even hosting it or what it was for. Sure, I wore the right clothes and said the right things and fit in just fine, but at the end of the party, I wasn't sure how to tag the pics (FB). Parties are different when you are there for a purpose. Recently I discovered this in full form: a toast! I have begun to introduce a toast whenever I find the opportunity is appropriate (which in my mind is often). I toasted Lindsey at her party a couple weeks ago. I toasted to her life and friendship and the memories I have with her. I toasted my friend Jacki and her beautiful new baby boy when we went out with two of her friends last week. I toasted her life and the miracle of birth and what a beautiful friend she is. I raised a toast at Thanksgiving to my family and everything that we share together. I toasted at my friend Tallulah's wedding for the blessing that she has been in my life and to her marriage. What I like about a toast is that it reminds everyone the reason for the celebration. It is a salute. It is a shout-out. It is a praise. It is thankfulness, victory, and love. It is a deep, sincere reminder that the people around are precious and the fellowship is scared.
And this is how Christmas should be for us as believers. It is a toast of the greatest kind. A magnificent reminder of Christ's life and what He did for us. A salute to His power. A shout-out or declaration of His strength. A praise to Him our King. An utterance of gratitude for the mercy and grace He gives freely. A celebration of victory over death that He conquered on the cross. But most importantly it is the recognition and acceptance of the God's love, His Son Jesus.

I know that Christmas has not always felt this close to me, and I pray that I do not see it as only warm thoughts or trite sayings. So when you repeat the words you've sung for years and you hear Luke 2 and you light the candles once more, raise your glass and toast to your King, born to save and redeem you.

Hope.

"The truth is, this world confuses me- the tragedy, the confusion, the disaster..."

This is a quote I heard on the show Criminal Minds. The speaker was referring to the pain he was experiencing at the loss of a friend who was murdered. There is death and hurt and sorrow and pain in this world. But, there is a deep sadness in that statement. The statement is hopeless.

It is true that there is tragedy and confusion and disaster in this world, but it is not hopeless. This world is a mess. We are living in an ugly, hurting world that is broken. The thing is though, that it doesn't confuse me. I know that it is not the way it was originally designed to be. I know that sin has ripped apart the perfect world that God created. Romans 8:18-27 talks about the future glory that is our hope. It is what we believers cling to. This is what separates us from those who have no hope. The ending is the redemption. The ending is being united with our Savior. The ending is no more hurt or pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:4).

How much different should we live with this as our hope? How do we live in a culture that does not share this hope? The hope that I cling to will invade every part of my life. The thing is that I don't have it all figured out. I know that it should transform my life and the way that I live. I know that because I am His, life will look different.

How does this effect my day?
How does this change the way I read a book or watch TV?
Will this effect my writing?
Does it impact my career?
Does this play a part in politics?
When does it become real? Does it just click one day?

I don't have all the answers, and I won't ever pretend to. But I know what I know because of the Bible. As far as my life... well, that's a bigger challenge. I believe that each of us was created in a beautiful and unique way to bring glory to God, and therefore each of us walks a different road. The journey may be long for some. It may be mountainous for others. It may be a lovely beach walk for others. Yet, we press on because we cling to that hope.

I'll toast to that!

Here's the most obnoxious thing that I see growing in my generation: anxiety. It could be the expectations of success, perfection, or accomplishment. It could be the fear of failure or nothingness. Either way, the pressure has become an adopted part of growing up. I refuse it! I'm tired of it (although I have fallen victim to it as well). I know others agree with me because I just listened to a sermon the other day by Beau Hughes. He spoke about "The Age of Anxiety" and how anxiety and fear can drive people's lives and even lead to physical health issues.

So, in honor of the recent holiday of Thanksgiving, and in revolt to this expected tendency of stress, fear, and anxiety, here is my gratitude.

The cross of Christ. Without Him, I live a meaningless life. With Him, I am covered in eternal love, grace, and mercy.
The love of my family. Forever grateful for their sincerity, sacrifice, and patience.
The blessings of my friendships. I pray I never take for granted the company of good friends.
My health and body. I have legs to run and hands to work.
Job! (not to be taken for granted in this rocky economy)
Texas, one of the most beautiful states in this great country.
B.A., education.
Leaves turning in autumn.
Good music.
New friends.
V.I.P. friends...ha, ha. no, really.
Long distance friends who'd rather live in the southern hemisphere.
Art.
Laughter...until you can barely breath and your jaw hurts.
Freedom.
Song and dance! (even if I can't really sing or dance)
My career at Starbucks.
New born babies.
Memories.
Mountains in Colorado.
Hope! Eph. 3:20-21
2009...wow.
Chips, salsa, guacamole, and margaritas. Always a lovely combination.
Poetry.
The great mind of C.S. Lewis.
Anything my sister bakes. She always uses real sugar and butter, none of this low fat stuff.
Photographs.
My memory, even when it fails me.
Strangers.
So You Think You Can Dance.
Book stores.
email, cell phones, FB, etc.
Umbrellas and boots so we can enjoy the rain in the rain!
Fresh flowers- any kind!
Crossing guards.
Every day I wake up and take a breath...

My gratitude list could be longer, but I'll keep it abbreviated today. Hopefully this is encouraging to you, and I pray that you may never lose focus of things that are most important in your life.

i heart.

Last night, I was reminded of how small I am in this great world- the peoples, the cultures, the places. The I-Heart Revolution film documentary by Hillsong United, We're All In This Together, was released.

While watching this film, the gravity of our world's desperate situation once again became evident. The truth is that poverty will always be with us (Deut. 15:11). Although it may not be obvious in our own everyday lives, the broken and hurting are here. The victims, the hungry, the lost and the lonely are here. It is daunting to me to think that the need is so vast and widespread. What can I do to solve such a wide, rampant problem?

In this cozy city of the USA, it is easy to forget what is happening in the other parts of the world. I wonder, what are other 24 year women doing on a daily basis? What are there dreams in life? Do they have the capabilities to fulfill these dreams?

And the children. What do they know about life? How have they been raised? It's a sickening thought to know that they may wake up every day and not have a meal in front of them. Perhaps they never leave the city they were born in. And does disease dictate the lives of their mothers?

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

Simply, we were called to love. Love with out condition as He loved us. Love because He first loved us.