I found this in my photo archives today and it always makes me smile! A Christmas card I made of Legend at nine months...tooo cute for words. It reminds me that it's the little moments that matter the most. We were hanging out in the back of Joel's little red truck, the one with the Jesus sticker covering the cracked rear window. The one that ran on prayers for nearly 300,000 miles. Legend's belly laughs entertained us all, and we entertained each other with the antics we were willing to do just to hear that infectious giggle.
Today was a good day. We rode the Christmas train and played on the swings in the dark with a million Christmas lights swirling and sparkling in the night. I sang Christmas carols (all the ones about Jesus) at the top of my lungs because I was that happy and I wanted everyone to know that it's Jesus that brings that kind of happiness.
But the day didn't start out that way. It began with some failed attempts to run errands and I felt myself desperately hanging onto the sweet moments Jesus held me last night as I cried into my laundry pile. I literally just climbed on top of the mountain of clothes and cried. It was late and my little Boston had been throwing up all night the night before and my dear man has been working seven days a week for thirteen hours a day and I've been angry with myself for not being able to "keep it all together" and "just be grateful". But you know what? Sometimes it's ok to be weak. Because when I am weak, God's strength is made perfect in me. And that's just what happened. On my laundry pile. While the prayer room streamed live worship anointed from heaven (I was listening to 2 PM Dec. 15, Thur in archives and 10 PM Dec 15) Jesus met me in my mess.
Loved me in my mess.
Reminded me that messiness doesn't really bother him like it bothers us. Like it bothers me.
Reminded me through that phone call from my dad, that amazing phone call where my dad read me scriptures my heart needed to hear. Read me poems, the stanza of songs. It is truly beautiful to have a dad that does that. Truly. To hear in his voice, that song I always loved by Ann Kiemel Anderson, the one she would sing in airport bathrooms to ladies crying into their purses...
Something beautiful
Something good
All my confusion
He understood
All I had to offer Him
Was brokenness and strife
But He's making something beautiful
Out of my life
Jesus isn't uncomfortable with messy.
He chose to be borne in a dirty, straw laden barn where the stench of animals was pungent and the only bed to lay him in was a manger where the animals had slobbered all over their food.
He chose this.
Humbled himself, so that He could lift us up. Lived in our messy world (the very messiest parts), to bring us peace with God.
Making something beautiful out of us all.
15 comments:
Don't you just love the prayer room stream? When I am not able to get to my own house of prayer, that stream draws me straight into His presence! Beautiful post today my friend.
What comfort from your heavenly Father and your earthly one. I'm so glad your day was better. Now I'm off to check out prayer room. I'm singing "Something Beautiful" in my head now. ;)
Joye, these words are just perfect. "Sometimes it's ok to be weak. Because when I am weak, God's strength is made perfect in me." Oh, this is what He has been reminding ME of so often in the last few years. Thank you for sharing...and I'm praying that He only continues making you into the beautiful woman He has prepared you to be. :)
This is beautiful! Truly something I needed to hear today!
so sweet:). amen!
i love this so, so much! you are so encouraging about motherhood & the messiness in our lives.
going to try to prayer room stream some time!!
amen!
i love how you are able to express yourself in such beautiful ways!
it speaks to my heart!
xoxo
i have been pretty messy myself lately.
thank you, Lord, for your ever streaming mercy to us all.
:)
I love Ann too!! I don't hear many people who even know who she is, but I truly enjoy her thoughts and little songs.
Teresa
~the pilgrim's tree house~
This made me cry!!!!
Life has thrown challenges at this mama lately.... and I have completely forgotten that it is ok to be weak.... because HE is strong!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much love to you today sweetie,
Maggie H.
beautiful, Joye.....I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your precious family! :)
Instant tears. Thank you so much for saying just what I needed to hear.
Blessings
these words a(nd that sweet photo) are lovely.
thank you.
Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!
Praise God, He chose to be born into the mess.
Praise God He is strong in our weakness!
Praying you continue to find Him in the midst of it all.
Got goosebumps reading this! Beautiful, Jesus is beautiful, and so are you, Joye!
Beautiful post. Thanks for the reminder. =)
Also...super cute picture!!!
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