Tag: Jesus

• Day 25: Stunning

  Posted at 9:54 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 25, 2020

  Day 25, the light comes in STUNNING but not the way you might expect…

  STUNNING

  Together, we’ve seen coral sunsets and bursts of light cutting through fog. But we’re going to try something different.

  Listening to light is stunning.

  It’s like a symphony
  Just keep listening
  And pretty soon you’ll start
  To figure out your part
  Everyone plays a piece
  And there are melodies
  In each one of us
  Oh it’s glorious

  The lyrics shine because words hold power and light.

  Hearing music or listening to stories can pull our thoughts with such intensity. They bring back memories. They remind us, teach us, point us, encourage us, warn us.

  The Bible is full of stories. Jesus taught with stories.

  This past week, I had to look up Hebrews 11 for some bible study homework (Priscilla Shirer, The Armor of God – dang).

  This particular chapter is called the “Hall of Faith” – here’s why:

  

  

  “By Faith” men and women from the Old Testament went through some stuff, right? And then Jesus comes along and connects the Old Testament history to his “walk the walk” practices. And now you and I get to read the history, learn the practices, bumble and walk and succeed and fail and SHARE OUR STORIES. When we connect and share our stories (not just the wins but the losses too) we are linking arms and moving forward “by faith” in light.

  And

  THAT

  takes

  my

  breath

  away.

  Open your ears and listen for the light today.

  Choose the stories you share at the Thanksgiving table to connect and empower and entertain those around you. And share them

  Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Armor of GOd, David Archuleta, Glorious, Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, How the Light Gets In, Inspired: Slaying Giants Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again, Jesus, Lifeway, priscilla shirer, Rachel Held Evans, Stunning

• Day 13: Challenging

  Posted at 1:23 pm by How the Light Gets In, on November 13, 2020

  CHALLENGING

  Day 13; seeing light in the metaphorical dark is CHALLENGING. While Joseph’s brain was swelling, covered in lesions, his eyes crossing, white blood cell count rising; I was coming in and out of the hospital from one surgery after another at the same time. This kind of metaphorical darkness is when it can be CHALLENGING to see light.

  In the deep vastness of chronic pain or a devastating diagnosis or global pandemic chaos zero-ing in on your job security or holiday plans – the darkness comes in consuming your landscape.

  

  “I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light.” 

  Barbara Brown Taylor, “Learning to Walk in the Dark”

  This daily exercise of looking for how the light gets in is much more than looking for a silver lining. I’m not a fan of another positive spin. I want the real deal. The power of dark, looking for light in it, the challenge to appreciate them both is a daily exercise.

  So, everyday I bring what I’ve got. And Jesus sees it. Takes it. And Answers.

  

  With five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed thousands. A boy brought Jesus what he had, and Jesus worked a miracle.

  Bring Jesus your dark and your light today. He sees your darkness. He is offering light. Challenge yourself today. What will your miracle look like?

  Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Barbara Brown Taylor, Challenging, Darkness, How the Light Gets In, Jesus, Learning to Walk in the Dark, Matthew 14:17-20, Miracle

• Eye Exercises

  Posted at 3:08 pm by How the Light Gets In, on March 5, 2020

  I’ve become a real big girl in these past few years. I mean, I am 44 years old. So, in theory, I really should behave like a strong, determined, positive, aware adult but that hasn’t been the case.

  Are you all grown up and settled into your best life? Yeah, I didn’t think so. In my 44 years of well-earned wisdom, I’m here to tell you:

  1. You are ok

  2. Keep Going

  3. There’s so much more to learn

  My trigger for this random post was a #2 Ticonderoga. Lily put the freshly sharpened pencil in my face and asked, “Aren’t pointy pencils the best?” And just like that, my heart got all heavy and achey.

  

  Remember when Joseph was sick? If you don’t, here’s the recap: For 18 months or so, Joseph was declining before our eyes. His brain was so swollen from whatever he was fighting that his eyes went crossed and stayed there. He had 11 lesions on his brain. He’d lost 14 pounds and was losing muscle tone every day. He struggled through brain fog. The swelling also gave him hypersensitivity to just about everything. My little boy was slipping away in front of us and no one knew why and no one knew what to do.

  Among many visits to many doctors, there was one I looked forward to and that was our weekly check up with the ophthalmologist. Dr. Collins always offered a calm voice in the chaos of appointments and tests and diagnoses.

  One visit, Dr. Collins gave us homework. A daily assignment for me and Joseph.

  And I didn’t want to do it.

  Her instructions were for Joseph and I to sit across from each other, knee to knee. I was to hold up a sharpened pencil right in front of his little nose and then move the pencil slowly to the left and back to center. And repeat. And repeat until his eye got tired. Then we would do the same to the right.

  

  Try to imagine how hard it was looking at my boy back then. I would willingly sit beside him and sketch with him. I would happily make him cookies and hold him in my lap and feel him relax.

  But this homework was making me do something I was avoiding; I would have to face Joseph. I would have to look him in the literal eye and face what was scaring me. And I would have to do it again and again.

  And I did my homework. Every night, I faced Joseph and we did eye exercises. I looked right into his eyes that were confused and trying and saw a little boy much the same.

  I learned that when those tiny, spidery vessels would show up turning his eyes red; he would want to keep pushing. So, I learned to hold back my tears and push him to keep going. I fought with God in my head, “Why is this happening? What is even happening?” I learned how determined Joseph is. I learned I could face the hard stuff.

  Only God could use a daily eye exercise to train up my heart.

  What little thing could you start doing today to train your heart?

  If I can do it, you can do it. Face the hard thing – with a friend, in prayer, through therapy – Face the hard thing.

  Start small.

  Maybe screenshot this verse from 2 Timothy 1:7 and repeat it every day.

  

  Mighty. Power. Love. Self-Control.

  God made you stronger than you know.

  Remind me of this when I’m wimping out later today💗

  Posted in March 2020, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged 2 Timothy 1:7, How the Light Gets In, Jesus, Pain, PTSD, Therapy

• CHRISTMAS – Day 25

  Posted at 2:09 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 25, 2019

  Merry Christmas

  You did it. WE did it! Hooray for us! 24 days of reading God’s word. 24 days of devoting a little time to learning God’s voice. I’m so proud of you and me!

  Take a moment to scroll all the way back to Day One. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and jot down the websites, books, Instagram accounts, Music, Photography, Email subscriptions, Apps, Artists, Podcasts, Places, People, Recipes.

  Then, take note of what struck you most – was it the beauty, the pain, the encouragement, the community?

  Finally, we should list all the scripture from the posts. The Bible still blows my mind with all those words written so long ago and somehow still very alive and so powerful.

  You know what ALLLLL this tells me?

  GOD

  WILL

  STOP

  AT

  NOTHING.

  God will stop at nothing to get YOUR attention.

  These 24 days have just been a glimpse of how relentless God is trying to grab your attention.

  Christmas gives us the sweetest example of this. Immanuel is God with us.

  Jesus IS God with us.

  But wait, the story doesn’t end here. There’s Good News! Jesus wasn’t just born, end of story. Jesus lived a life full of friendship and story telling and healing and teaching and loving. There’s more to learn. Jesus didn’t just live for you and me. He also died for you and me.

  Today we celebrate His birth but there’s so much more.

  And hey, if you’re reading this you’re alive too which means God’s not done with you. Your story with Him might just be beginning. Or maybe you go way back. Either way, keep walking with Jesus. Read His Word. Learn His voice. Look for Him.

  Remember how we started this journey with Gods word as a “lamp for our feet”? Today let’s celebrate because the light is here. Jesus – God with us – is here “to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

  Thank you for being with me this Advent. You have made it so special for me.

  One last song Reckless Love

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged 1 John 1:5, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 5:14, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 5:6, 100 Days to Brave, 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, 2 Kings 20, Acts 2:28, Advent, Ann Voskamp, Annie F Downs, Christmas, Church of the Nativity, Colossians 1:9-10, Cory Asbury, Elevation Worship, Ephesians 5:13, Exodus 33:14, Genesis 28:15, Hooray, How the Light Gets In, Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah 43:18-19, Jenna Mace Photography, Jesus, Jesus Calling, Job 42:5, John 11:38, Joshua 1:9, Journal, Luke 1:3-4, Luke 1:79, Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 28:66, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 27:14, Romans 15:13, Romans 15:4-5, Wonder, Zephaniah 3:17

• Day 24

  Posted at 2:19 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 24, 2019

  This song strings together all the words of promise and hope born tonight in Jesus. It might be my new favorite Christmas song.

  Enjoy: HERE COMES HEAVEN

  “Children, weep no more
  Hope is on the horizon
  Weary world behold
  Your promised Messiah

  Angels, let your song begin
  Here comes Heaven
  Christ is born in Bethlehem
  Here comes Heaven

  Sinner, wait no more
  Love has broken the silence
  Come let us adore
  The Savior is with us

  Angels, let your song begin
  Here comes Heaven
  Christ is born in Bethlehem
  Here comes Heaven
  Here comes Heaven

  Now, behold His glory
  Glory in the highest
  All the earth rejoice for Christ is born
  Now, behold His glory
  Glory in the highest
  All the earth rejoice for Christ is born

  Over all who mourn
  Breaks the dawn of salvation…”
  Posted in DECEMBER 2019, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Advent, Elevation Worship, Here Comes Heaven, How the Light Gets In, Jesus

• Day 23

  Posted at 9:44 am by How the Light Gets In, on December 23, 2019

  In all my years of parenting, you know something that still makes me tilt my head to the side, scrunch my eyebrows together in wonder and just nod? How a kid who gets raving comments on his/her report card can ALSO be the kid who rages in the pantry over my “terrible” grocery choices. Or how the same kid who skips off the school bus can transform into a punk the moment they step foot IN the house.

  “You should feel good about it. It actually means they trust mommy that much that no matter what you’ll still love them.” How many times did I hear that? Did it comfort me? Imagine me now and you’ll know the answer- chin to my chest, eyebrows raised and a smirk across my face.

  

  They trust me enough to dissolve into grumpy messes? Yes, yes they do. And yes, I still love them (sometimes I may hide but I still love them).

  What in the world does this have to do with Advent?

  HOPE.

  The “Thrill of Hope“- we all long for it a little extra right now. If you were to look up the definition, you would see Hope is not just an expectation but also “a feeling of trust.”

  2016…I’ll never forget Dr. Collins telling me and Joseph to head straight to the ER so Joseph could have a spinal tap. We nodded, gathered our things and left her office in silence. But just as we got to the car, we raged. Literally. We kicked the tires, screamed, cried and then hugged. Joseph looked up and yelled, “God do you even see me? I’m sick and I’m scared. Do you even know?” Watching my little boy trust God enough to get angry and ask questions felt like Hope in action – full, innocent and sincere trust.

  Kids teach us an important lesson in what trust looks like, don’t they? Open handed, open hearted, guard down trust. And sometimes it gets messy. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not stop them because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14

  

  Advent is a season of HOPE when you trust God does hear you, God does love you. His love is so big He can handle your good, your bad and your ugly. If God feels too distant for you, look to Jesus and look to the children.

  So, listen up punk, we’re on the last few steps of our journey through Advent together.

  For Day 23, I’m hoping you to step into your mess, open your hands and your heart and trust God, wait for Him and let Hope thrill your weary soul.

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Advent, HOPE, How the Light Gets In, Jenna Mace Photography, Jesus, Matthew 19:14, TRUST

• Day 22

  Posted at 3:42 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 22, 2019

  Just some words and thoughts on who Jesus is to me.

  • The gift
  • The promise
  • The hope
  • The remedy
  • The ask
  • The directive
  • The answer

  He gave up His place with God and made himself nothing. He was born a man and became like a servant. Philippians 2:7

  You didn’t choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go bear fruit. -John 15:16

  For God so loved Y O U that He sent his beloved Son. -John 3:16

  This I command you that you should LOVE one another. -John 15:17

  God’s love is the Greatest Gift. The Greatest Gift is Jesus.

  I pray you accept the Gift, the Promise, the Joy, the Remedy, the Ask, the Directive, the Answer in Jesus.

  “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

  Mark 5:36

  Love, Jesus

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged Advent, How the Light Gets In, Jesus, John 3:16, Love, Mark 5:36, Philippians 2:7

• Day 16

  Posted at 7:50 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 16, 2019

  The “Messiah” – written by George Frideric Handel in 1741.

  

  The “Messiah” is 259 pages long. Handel wrote it (259 pages of original music) in just 24 days. Anyone else catch that coincidence? 24 days to compose a piece that fits just right in the timeframe for Advent.

  The elaborate composition puts the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to music.

  Fast forward to 2016, when a dad/Financial Adviser/lacrosse coach, Hillery Schanck was feeling an ache in his soul after the holidays. That emptiness led to a search which led to the “Messiah.” But, there was no Messiah Advent devotional. So, Schanck set out to write one himself.

  “The Soul Feels It’s Worth”offers daily scripture and a prayer based on a part of the composition.

  The Messiah Advent Project is a WOW team effort between Schanck, Koehler Books Publishing, Symphonicity and the Sandler Center Foundation to bring scripture and music together as we step closer to our Savior’s birth.

  The Messiah Advent – Day by Day

  Day 16’s portion is based on Psalm 68:18 “that the Lord God might dwell among them.”

  I pray you are inspired, feel connected and opening your hearts to the Lord God who is coming to live among us.

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged A Soul Feels It’s Worth, Advent, Devotional, Handel, How the Light Gets In, Jesus, The Messiah, The Messiah Project

• Day 11

  Posted at 3:33 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 11, 2019

  Jenna and I met a few years ago but I think our hearts have always known one another. I honestly believe God was smiling when Jenna and I met. FINALLY GIRLS! FINALLY!

  Jenna is aware, eyes open, heart ready – She lives and loves her 4 boys and wonderful husband that way. She cares for and counsels her friends that way. And lucky for all of us, she points and shoots her camera that way too.

  Look through her pictures on her website or on Instagram and you can see it. Her perspective is not just a physical position but a heart posture. Jenna loves Jesus, the one who is “like the light of morning at sunrise.” – 2 Samuel 23:4 And that perspective is reflected in the special-ness of her photographs.

  JENNA MACE PHOTOGRAPHY

  

  Day 11 – We’re getting closer to the light. If you’ve been “walking” with us this Advent; you are learning a bit more about God and a lot more about the many ways He is trying to get your attention.

  Today let’s be aware of our perspective and adjust as needed.

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Advent, How the Light Gets In, Jenna Mace Photography, Jesus

• What If…

  Posted at 4:03 pm by How the Light Gets In, on July 14, 2019

  The story is not new. Maybe you’ve heard it already… the one about Mr. Yates? It was new to me but it has stuck with me ever since I first heard it.

  As the story goes, Mr. Yates was an unsuccessful farmer during the Great Depression. He owned a good chunk of land in Texas but no matter what he tried or how hard he tried; Mr. Yates could not produce anything from the farm. On top of that, the bank was threatening him with foreclosure. But then, a man came knocking at the door. He told Yates he worked in the oil business and offered him a partnership to drill for oil on Yates’ land. Crops were dying, debt was growing so Mr. Yates said “yes” to the deal.

  Right away, the oil company began to drill. And, they hit a gusher – an unbelievable 82,000 barrels in one day!

  Think about Mr. Yates working on that land, trying soils, fertilizers, watering patterns, different tools; trying everything to do life right. He had to have been tired, frustrated, desperate, sad. And all the while, thousands of gallons of oil were bubbling just underneath the surface.

  Okay, stay with me now.

  WHAT IF – You are Mr. Yates. I am Mr. Yates. We are all Mr. Yates.

  That means the person asleep next to you, the person begging on the street corner, checking out your groceries, managing your financial portfolio, snubbing you, checking in on you, competing with you, trying to get in the country, fighting for his life in Sudan, marching in Pride parades, your baby, people of every color, affiliation… we are ALL Mr. Yates.

  WHAT IF – The land is your life; including your family, job, hobbies and habits.

  WHAT IF – That oil and its wealth, the subsequent freedom because of that wealth, is God in you.

  And

  Knock, knock, knock

  WHAT IF– The oil man at the door is Jesus.

  Clear away all the metaphors and we’re left with this; God is in you, God sees you and wants to live, work, struggle, win with you to bring you a wealth of freedom, peace and confidence.

  The truth behind this story breathes with urgency as the climate of our world breeds isolation.

  We are all bound together by Divine DNA. And so, Humble healer, Story-teller, Defender, Rescuer Jesus is knocking with this offer for us all: “As the Father has loved me, I love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:9-12)

  A scripture verse like that isn’t true for me just because I was baptized in a Catholic Church. You read them. The words are true for you. You just have to accept them 🙂

  WHAT IF – Mr Yates had said no? Oh my gosh right? His life was changed with one yes. If he had said no; he would have lost his farm and been left homeless to starve. The world is full of starving, struggling Mr. Yates’.

  The words are true for you. You just have to accept them.

  Also, just because I go to church or profess a faith doesn’t mean I’m not pulling a Mr. Yates. I know I can turn to worry and emotional eating and panic when things get hard; working the “fields” with my bad habits. And Jesus still comes knocking.

  The story is sticky. I hope it sticks with you too. Because

  WHAT IF – everyone you see is Mr Yates.

  WHAT IF – the words are true.

  WHAT IF – you say yes.

  Posted in JULY 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged How the Light Gets In, Jesus, John 15:9-12, Mr Yates