Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 in Review –or- “The year of the Fishes and Loaves”


I love New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  After Easter, it has to be my favorite holiday.  Just the whole ritual of putting away the Christmas decorations is very symbolic of putting away the previous year and striving to be better and do better in the coming year.

Heath and I have dubbed 2013 “The Year of the Fishes and Loaves.” 

We started the year with the hope that we would be able to be at a financial point where we would be more freed from our regular jobs to focus on the “Heath and the Checker Shoe Band Show.”  That didn’t happen.  At all.  We desperately wanted to be able to put more time into the show: the writing, the filming, contacting more television stations, contacting churches…  But instead the Lord looked at us and said, “What’s that you have in your hand?” 
“Not much, Lord… just some fishes and loaves…”  And we handed those off to Him.  We were at a place where there was nothing left for us to do, but do what we could… which didn’t seem like much…

In the meantime, we went on a wonderful marriage retreat at Callaway Gardens.  We renewed our commitment to each other and to the life that God’s called us to. We went to work… took Hero to school… watched Brick grow into toddlerhood.  Life could get mundane if we let it, but we didn’t.   We got attacked by the enemy.  We just kept looking to the Lord for provision.  Every day, I kept praying, “here’s my fishes and loaves, Lord.  Give me strength to run the race set before me.”

On May 25, while at work, I get this text message from my husband, “DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN ON DIRECT TV AND DISH FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW?????”
“what was that?”
“The t.v. show has been on CTN’s satellite station for a FEW WEEKS NOW!!!!  I just found out today”
“what???”
I burst into tears… we had no idea.  We had done nothing much more than what we had been doing.  And suddenly, people all over the nation now had the chance to be flipping through the channels to hear the Gospel being preached by my husband and his puppets.  Woh.  The weight of that has yet to be lost on us. 

So Avery and Heath kept working.  Kept filming.  And they are.  Still working.  Still planning.  Avery’s going to a workshop at Seasame Street in February.   And they planned out new shows.  Nothing has happened as we had supposed.  But everything's happened as it should. 

2013 was also the year of surprises.  I was completely surprised to find that we are expecting our 3rd son in March 2014.  Of course, this Much Afraid panicked at the news at first, but then I remembered that the Lord would provide and take care of him and of us.  I am still leaning on that promise of the Lord.  

So as I am in the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I continue to pray for His provision and strength… for a safe delivery and a healthy newborn… for continued blessings on Hero and Brick… for strength and creative inspiration for Heath… for protection for us all in our finances and in our bodies…

I gave up resolutions a long time ago… but instead here’s this:
When thinking of new years resolutions: "Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will." -Jonathan Edwards

I have prayers this year instead of resolutions.  I keep praying.  Because as my weaknesses become more and more exposed to me, His strength and provision become more and more evident. 

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This Hillsong United Song is my anthem for 2014:   http://youtu.be/eLqTZ07ja7g 

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine


Sunday, December 1, 2013

"It's Jesus' birthday all month long?!"

Today, on the way to church, my oldest son asked me a bajillion times when Christmas Day was. "Tomorrow?"
"No."
"Next week?"
"No.  In 25 days," I said, "today is the day we start the party for Jesus' birthday!  We get to party for the next 25 days!"
In his 6 year old excitement, I heard, "YES!!!!!  A party ALL month long for JESUS' birthday??!!!  Cake and ice cream EVERY DAY??!!"

Color me convicted.

I started this blog over about five times.  Christmas isn't the easiest time of year for everyone.  Some people swallow their grief and ignore it.  Some people drink it away.  I am lucky that I can be nostalgic without it putting me in the bed.  I don't want the reasons for my grief to get overshadowed by today's revelation.

But, wow...  Isn't that what Christmas is really about?  It's Jesus' birthday party for a solid month.  I was glad that I explained the symbolism of the lights and tree yesterday as we set it all up.  And you will forgive me if we ditch Santa another year as I tell my kids that the presents under the tree on Christmas Day represent the gift of Jesus...  Not just His life to be sacrificed for our sins but the gifts that He gives us all year long: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control....

I hope we can all catch a bit of Hero's excitement about Jesus' birthday party...