My Story Reflection as I Welcome the Christmas Season

My family loves to tell stories. I grew up hearing stories at family gatherings. I never intended to grow up being a storyteller. Honestly, I didn't even know it was a thing. I just did it because it was what my family did. It was fun! 

Did you know I am the first in my family to go to college and God put it on my heart at 5 that I would get a doctorate? I didn't know what it was but I liked the way people treated our neighbor when he got his. That one little moment set the course for my education. Yes, it was for the wrong reason. Lol. 

I forgot about that goal until I was counseling a friend to further her education. I then heard that still small voice say in my heart, "Get your doctorate!" I told Greg and he agreed. He has always supported my dreams and never put boundaries on my gifts. I am so blessed. So as young mother I went back to school.

I am proud of my education, but what really blesses me is that it took me right back to my roots and now I get to tell stories all the time. It wasn't about the degree, but about God getting me to where He knew I would need to serve Him best. INCREDIBLE!

This my favorite story to tell. Welcome Christmas season!

Here is my Christmas story playlist. God check it out! 

Christmas Story playlist

Maranatha is the cry! A Psalm of Tara Rye

Maranatha! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! (A Psalm of Tara) 

I seek a Psalm that cries Your Name, Seeking Your Face Coming from a Holy place! 

I seek a Psalm that welcomes You home, Invites You in And makes You priority from within! 

I seek a Psalm that speaks to my now, A media-soaked generation trapped in its veneration! 

I seek a Psalm that cultivates hearts, awakens the senses and refocuses the imagination! 

I seek a Psalm that is written about Your coming! There are four that I can see… 

  A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

  A Preacher, Teacher, Healer, Redeemer,   

  A Witness through man living out Your plan, 

  And at Your return, You turn our weeping into dancing! 

I seek a Psalm that brings You glory, I scan Your pages and cannot find what is burdening me! I realize it must come from within me! 

I write a Psalm that cries to the nations, Do you see what I see? Can you hear His voice? Are you willing to ask? 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

As you face the rage of the nations, And COVID propaganda cloaked in protocol, political upheaval, evil running amuck… 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

As confusion escalates and lies abound, There is one truth that can be found! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

I write a Psalm that cries of Your return looking for the protection of the innocent and deliverance from evil! Confuse the ones that determine to thwart Your return! 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

I write a Psalm that praises You, 

A babe that gave His life away, Emmanuel, God with us! You are here to stay! The seal of the Spirit marking hearts forever, waiting expectantly.   

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

I write a Psalm that sings, You are the Bright and Morning Star, 

The Foundation of the world with the earth as Your footstool. 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

I write a Psalm that rests, For Nothing is too hard for You, For Your truth sets us free… 

  “Follow me I will make you fishers of men! 

  Go! Your faith has healed you! 

  Rise up! Come forth! 

  Worship in Spirit and in truth! 

  Go make disciples of all nations! 

  Be my witnesses to the ends of the earth! 

  I give you authority to teach, heal, cast out demons!” 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come! 

I write a Psalm that celebrates, You as Creator, Founder of all The One Who Inhabits Eternity, Who promises to heed our call! 

Come, LORD Jesus, Come! Maranatha is the cry! Come, LORD Jesus, Come!

November 27, 2021 Maranatha! Shalom Y’all!

TRANSCENDENT PEACE

My mind is often in way too many places at one time. This moment for me was a holy moment. I am in church blessed by the colors around me, holding hot citrus, honey, ginger tea I made. I'm sipping it as it's warmth fills my body on a cold day. I really am  listening as Elvin O. Torres  preaches on peace. Yet, I am thinking of Naomi Bates Frizzell. She gave me my mug because it says, "Be you". I am always saying, "Thank you for being you. When she saw it, it made her think of me. I smiled inside as the memory filled my heart. I am following along reading the verses as Elvin reads them and taking notes on his four points of peace.

Then I heard Elvin say, "His peace which surpasses all understanding. It is transcendent."

Oooh I liked that! 

TRANSCENDENT PEACE

TRANSCENDENT PEACE! 

Go ahead and just say it aloud, 

TRANSCENDENT PEACE

Now that is a prayer worth praying.

Life crazy? Father, help me to rest in your TRANSCENDENT PEACE and get off the crazy cycle.  

Lots of pain got ya down? Father, You give me TRANSCENDENT PEACE. I will look up to You.

Illness plaguing you? Father, Your  TRANSCENDENT PEACE will help me move through this. Cover me and move through me with Your TRANSCENDENT PEACE.

I have always prayed for the peace that surpasses all understanding, but to say transcendent makes me feel like I am tapping into the beauty of the mystery of God's peace. I know that neither word makes a difference. It is all about who He is and what He gives us even when we may not deserve it. 

But in His goodness God chooses to give us TRANSCENDENT PEACE.

Peace that doesn't make sense. 

Peace that makes us strong. 

Peace that helps us hold our heads high and walk through. 

Peace that gives hope.

Peace that is present. 

Peace that shuts the enemy up because it is evident God is with us. 

So I marked the moment God blessed me with the prayer of TRANSCENDENT PEACE!

Will you pause and pray for His TRANSCENDENT PEACE to be evident in you today? I know I am!

Shalom y'all.

Christmas: Uninvited Guests

Listen to the story: The Angel Tells Mary she will have a Son

I love preparing for guests to come over. As I bustle about my house, I consider their needs and how I can care for them. My heart overflows with goodness and I cannot wait for them to enjoy our time together. Yet, sometimes when a guest arrives uninvited it is easy for my response to be fear. My fear may come in many forms. I am not ready. I am not prepared. I am too busy. I am tired or my house is a mess. Ugh! 

As we enter the season of Christmas, I wonder at the bustle of heaven in preparation for Jesus' visitation on earth. People had been praying and anticipating His arrival, but it did not happen as they expected. 

I imagine God was so excited about inviting us to join Him that He sent on three different occassions messengers to prepare people.

The angels visits were not expected. In fact, they caused fear. The people were not prepared and most definitely did not expect it to happen as it did. Yet, each one responded to their uninvited guest with a yes.

How do you respond to uninvited guests? How do you respond to God's unexpected messengers? Have you allowed your bustle to get in the way of seeing the uninvited guests? Have you been preparing for God to come, but not welcomed the gift of His Son? 

I'm praying I am ready! How about you?