more small things...

"Not all of us can do great things.
                         But we can do small things with great love." 
                                                                                                     Mother Theresa

Other writings and things that have blessed me this week:
Study in Brown
Holly Gerth
The Christmas Story

my favorite christmas song this year...

...is Winter Snow by Audrey Assad

It is pretty, peaceful and reminds me of how the Lord met Elijah when he was weary and afraid:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
   Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a still small voice.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.                                                                                  ~1 Kings 19:11-13

And how Jesus, came to us, who are weary and afraid still:

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”                                                       ~Luke 2:10-12

May this encourage us to remember who He is
                                   
                                                 and to be still and afraid no more...

reminder of who I want to be...

Quote from Tonia @ Study in Brown:

"What I really want to be is... a tiny yellow flower hidden in a vast deep wood; a precious ointment shimmering in an alabaster box, poured out on the feet of Christ in love. "

Yellow trout lily, Erythronium americanum. It blooms in the woodland in mid-spring.

Photo Credit to Colin Purrington.

Tonia reminds me what I want to be: something small, hidden, unnamed except by my Creator.  A nameless, faceless worshiper. Flowering and spent for Jesus.

"A woman in that town who lived a sinful life 

learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, 

so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, 

she began to wet his feet with her tears. 

Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."   

~Luke 7:37-38

  

the garden in december

  


Enjoying the new season...


                  the clean, fresh snow...





the quiet renewal of what is hidden, dormant...

                       knowing that the green will rise again... 
                                   
                                          Spring will come.  

 Today... I need to take hold and be thankful for other small, beautiful moments in life...

• hanging the gold christmas balls above the kitchen table 
• ...while all three squeal about the ones on the floor
• toddler masterpiece of tangled ornaments
• trip to the post office accomplished
• mail bound for South America
• baby laughs
• warm, dry place to run
• garlands with lights and gold ribbon
• The Parable of Joy and Scribbling in the Sand, both by Michael Card 
• Jesus' delight in a party

"The feast, or party, is part of the foundation of Christianity.  Here at Cana, Jesus performs His first miracle, so it could be said that our faith, in a sense, began at a party.  Early in the history of the church, times of fellowship resembled parties, or love feasts... How could a group of Christians coming together not resemble a celebration? Even as the Christian faith began at a banquet, so it will come to completion at a wedding feast."                                                          From pg. 42 of Parable of Joy by Michael Card