The Little Drummer [Boy] Girl

This was originally printed as a devotional in a wonderful church compilation. I felt like sharing it here as well.
 

Come, they told me...a newborn King to see...our finest gifts we bring...

I have NO gift to bring...that's fit to give a king...

Do you ever relate to the little drummer girl (I know he was a boy, but indulge me?)?
The little poor girl who was invited to see the king but felt she had nothing worthy to bring?
"I don't have a fine gift, what I have to offer isn't good enough."
Has that line of thinking been part of your inner dialogue?

Have you ever tasted someone's cooking and thought "I could never make that, she's so much better than I."
Ever heard someone sing and thought "Compared to that I sound like a mournful cat, I wish I was as good as her."
When was the last time you walked into someone's house and thought "I'd give anything to be able to decorate like that, she's so creative...unlike me."

If I could cook better, sing better, create more, enjoy my kids more, give more, dance like her, write like her, dress like her...then I'd have a gift to offer.
Then I'd have a gift fit for a King.

We may have a thing or two to learn from the little drummer girl.
She saw who God had made her to be and realized she was made special and in that was her gift.
Instead of offering the (seemingly superior) gifts of others, she offered the gift (talent!) she had been given.

Shall I play for you...on my drum...?
I played my drum for Him...I played my best for Him...
Then He smiled at ME!

Did you feel warmth flooding your soul when you read that last line?
That is God smiling at you!
So whatever your "drum" may be, play your BEST for Him each day for the gift you offer Him is just the present He created you to give.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:4-8

Those who can't hear, write

I'm going through a dry spell again.
In this desert questions ping around in my head, never finding a resting place and making my heart weary.

What is God's purpose for me again?
Am I fulfilling His plan for me?
Do I care enough about others, and less about myself?
Am I giving enough?
Loving enough?
What do I do with this discontent?
Where did I step off the path from His presence and into this...nothingness?

It's not like God isn't here, it's just been a long time since He's felt near.
I do know reality, just as you do.
He's not the one who moved, so I must have.
He's not the one who moved...

There are some methods I know to stay close and yet I get so lazy.
Self-discipline is not one of my strengths and I've never been disciplined enough to improve it.
Vicious cycle you say?!?

I write this to have some accountability.
It would seem I hear God more when I am writing.
He shows up on the paper, in the words my finger-tips type.
He nudges my heart and says "See, I didn't leave...now scoot over and sit closer to me."
So I'm going to, starting now.
I'm going to read His Word daily, write what I hear, pray intentionally.

Because those of us who can't hear clearly, must write for the point to finally sink in.

May 2014 Be More Filled With HIM!

2013...

I'm not sure there's been a year I grew more than the year directly in the rearview.
Decisions we prayerfully made in 2012 saw us living in a basement most of 2013.
The grace of God and my in-laws saw us through that.
And now...!

Oh how beautiful it is to see God's promises realized!
Our home is now OUR HOME.
It was made for us, every inch designed by us and we thought we knew how great it was going to be.
We were WRONG!
It's so much BETTER.

From a sliding hill that goes onto a skating rink to a neighborhood of lovely families to cotton-candy sunsets, God is still uncovering His secret blessings.
Oh how sweet He is!

My prayer for 2014 is this:
That I never forget how He loves me and truly BELIEVE it.
To borrow the words of William P Young (The Shack), He's "particularly fond" of me.
And you, Dear One?
He's particularly fond of you, too.

Ask Him what He likes about you.
Listen for the answer.
And make a conscious effort to live 2014 like one LOVED by GOD!