Christmas Poem

This is a poem I wrote around Christmas time for a service
A poem from the perspective of Joseph at the birth of Christ:

God, what are you doing?
I don't understand.
I'm trying to trust in your mighty hand.
She is just a child, I'm a coward at best.
Have you looked around, have you seen all the rest?
Why did you pick her, why did you pick me?
Why have you chosen it us to be?
I'm supposed to provide a place for us to stay.
You weren't supposed to come this way.
But now here you are, I feel such a fright.
A child in a trough, yet the marvelous light.
You've asked us to hold this helpless babe who will one day be mighty to save.
Father give us the strength to follow in faith.
Surround us with prayer from your holy saints.
Now what do we do? Take one day at a time?
I don't feel that brave no matter how hard I try.
What is there left to do on this silent night, but to sing to him sweetly and to hold him tight.

Sweet video

I found this video on someone else's blog , who saw it on someone else's blog. I just couldn't pass it up though. It's pretty amazing.

Worshiping when you don't feel Him.

These are some thoughts that God laid on my heart in a conversation with a friend.

"So I was thinking about why it feels so devastating at times to not feel that closeness with God. If I am interpreting His word correctly it seems that His way of loving us is by letting us experience Him. So when we don't feel that closeness, we don't feel loved, often times leaving us not wanting to be loving. Maybe thats why it causes us to not feel motivated to worship. The thing is that we love because He first loved us. So our response is from that one incomprehensible act which wasn't just loving us once, but is in a constant state of love. So our worship shouldn't be out of reaction to every small feeling we call love, but from that one act that is continual love."

Happy New Years

The morning after a freakishly long night of rock band.

An apple a day

So if you don't know already I am trying to start my own photography business. Several months ago I was able to purchase my very own SLR camera, but unfortunately the computer that I was working on was just not cutting it. So I decided to go for a little upgrade. I don't have any pictures of it that I took myself, but you get the idea.

Receive

Several weeks ago I was talking with some friends about the word receive. What does this word make you think? How do you respond? Generally it seems to have a positive connotation. We love to receive gifts, flowers, compliments, letters, etc. I threw in the mix a questioning on whether or not receiving could be a difficult experience. Now if your mind begins to reel in a resounding yes just slow down for a moment. Obviously we receive things we don't want. I don't need to make a list. I'm sure you can make your own. Is there a possibility though that we can mesh the first two concepts though. Receiving something that is positive yet difficult. What's this you say??? We can tend to blow through life when things are simple and easy going. When everyone's health is at its peak, when everyone is having a good time, when finances are breathing easy, and when relationships are smooth. What happens though when this isn't the case? What about when things are difficult and seemingly not going your way? What if that relationship that you thought was going great started to struggle? If someone had some difficult things to say would you receive them well? Would you think it positive? There are times when we have to receive some of the most difficult things that we were not ready for. It can often times blindside us without warning. Can it be a good thing? I say yes. Difficult? Absolutely. But how much are we grown and stretched to something we didn't think we could be in the easy times? Not much. Its when you are faced with the events in life that you never thought you could push through that make you the person you never knew you could be. I challenge you, though it may be hard, to welcome those defining moments. To take those difficult gifts that life throws your way and receive them well.

God bless!

Inspiration to GO