Prayerful Words

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:11

Today’s blog is brought to you by a guest author I happen to think is pretty amazing!  What you’re about to read is a prayerful meditation written by my daughter, Shannon.  She wrote it to read last Monday night when more than 100 high school students gathered for a night of praise and worship. She will tell you it was completely inspired by the Holy Spirit and its only purpose was to help guide herself and her peers as they gathered to pray.  She didn't want anyone to know the words were hers  but her mamma thought they were too powerful to leave on her IPod.  I hope they help you in your search for Advent patience and peace.

Some were dragged here tonight; some are here because their friends came; and some really are excited to be here. Maybe you’re sitting in your seat and see people kneel and prayerfully lift their hands and you think to yourself "What am I missing?? Why don't I feel anything? Where is God for me? I struggle too!" Maybe you want to be close with God but you’re scared what the people beside you will think if you bow your head to pray.  Maybe you’re thinking “Who is this God anyway?” In church maybe you just say the words because it's what you’ve said since you could talk...but those words mean nothing.  The gospel yesterday was something about "being alert and waiting" but you’re not even sure what you should wait for or what you could even do to start. Besides you don't even know what a guy that lived a couple thousand years ago can do for you! 
 
If you’re thinking things like this, don't worry because God wants to let you see how good he is tonight! So let's start from the beginning...prophecies said "there's a king coming!!! And he's gonna be awesome!!" So the news is that Mary's gonna have a kid!  Months go by and it's time to have this lil guy and where is he born; a huge palace with jewels and gold?! No. he was born in a barn and laid in a manger-a feeding trough for cows! People we're wondering when the "awesome" was comin in.

Time goes by, he preaches and proclaims how great his dad is and how heaven is so great! But he was a just a regular guy, nothing awesome and at 33 he prepared to be whipped and face the biggest amount of humiliation and rejection ever imagined! "Awesome"??? Not seeing it and God says look closer...
 
"Why do you think I was born in such a low place, a cows feed pan! I did it for all the people that think they’re too far away and too low for me to take care of them! I did it so when people think they’re too dirty and too low down on the holy totem pole, I could then show them my life and they will see that I lived the most humble and lowly life there ever was! The reason why people pray to me isn't so they can be high up; they do it to learn how to be as humble and simplistic as possible. But you know why I did what I did and lived how I lived?? Because you are worth everything to me! I believe in you like no one else! I'm your number one fan and when you feel scared bow your head or raise your hands, let me meet you there because what I'm seeing in your soul right now is awesome; not because it's filled with jewels but because inside of you is a dirty feed pan of sins but guess what rests in that nasty dirty feed pan?? ME…IT’S ME… I dwell in your mess because I know what it's like to be surrounded by dirt. I believe you’re here sitting in your spot for a reason and I'm so proud of you for being here! Thank you! Let me meet you here right now!" 

Come Holy Spirit! Let this Advent Season be about us giving our messes and burdens to Jesus who wants to make us stress free! 

A Seed To Plant:  The next time you sit down to pray, take these words with you and read them slowly imagining Jesus saying them right to you!

Thank you Shannon & Blessings on your day!