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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"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
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