My Father's birthday is next month. He never wants anything fancy, or new. In fact, He always wants the same thing! I will tell you all about that soon.
Today, I am baking Him a cake. Of course, He always gives away every slice. He loves to see His children smile, as they get their piece. I can hear Him laugh the loudest when the babies use the icing as a hair product. Even though He always gives away every slice, I want it to be the perfect cake. I want to bring Him an offering of sweetness that fills the room with the smell of vanilla orchids, and butter cream. I think I will decorate the cake with tiny, golden sugar bells, and little red birds, made from frosting. White lilies will line the border. There should be three tiers...yes...we always need more cake.
As I tie bows around the cake pedestals, I think about how this reminds me of the way my life is tied up in my Daddy. I also think about the things that are not tied up in Him. How I tend to be greedy with my cake sometimes. How I don't always want to share my piece. I mean, I worked hard to make that cake. I took the time to choose the finest crystalized sugar, to make it sparkle and eye-catching. I had to make the mess, mix the batter, grease the pan...it's hard work! I should at least enjoy my piece in...uh...peace, right?
As I pipe the lilies around the edges, I can hear my Daddy's laughter in corners of my memories. It's contagious. It makes me want to hear more. I want to listen to that sound as much as possible. And I know just how to get Him started.....
...share my piece with a baby....
...and watch that little one use the icing as a hair product...
...and laugh until my sides hurt. No, WE will laugh until our sides hurt! This would be shared laughter, the best kind. The only kind that brings tears of joy, and makes your sides split.
My Daddy just peeked around the corner. He has already started inviting guests to His party. Are you going to come? There will be plenty of cake.
We'll talk about the GIFT soon.
Until next time,
The Carpenter's Daughter
P.S. My Father is the One who provided the ingredients for the cakes AND paid for the Gift! He invites you to the party to RECEIVE this Gift freely, AND to partake in the the sweetness of His glory. You are NOT going to want to miss this party!
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Rain
As I walk down the path that leads to the Carpenter's shop, rain begins to fall. At first, I am annoyed. I don't like my hair wet, my clothes soggy, and I really don't like the wet dog smell that is sure to stick. I continue my journey...uphill. Then, I remember! I have an umbrella! Digging through my bag, I find it. I quickly flick it open, continue on, and think about how dirty my shoes are going to be when I get there. Why on Earth, did I wear my favorite shoes? How could I have not noticed the dark clouds? When did they sneak up on me?
Trekking along, I stop. What's that noise? Frogs. Hmmm...I like frogs. I actually think they are cute. Not toads. Those are an entirely different story. But frogs...they sing. They just SING their hearts out, and they LOVE the rain! Those little guys find it as an opportunity to hop, and conduct happy choruses of joy. It makes me skip a little.
I am now in the little yard, that surrounds the carpentry shop. I stop at the bird bath. Interesting. Look at how my feathered friends joyfully splash about. They even seem to DELIGHT in sharing the water with their neighbor; spritzing and throwing droplets at each other. Instead of worrying about their shoes, they are basking in the crisp, cool FUN of it all. I notice that they are finding their lunch easier as well. Little worms are peeking out, perking up to the song of rain.
When did rain stop being a song? When was the last time I stopped, popped open my umbrella, and just stood in that little shelter...in awe? Wonderment? Worship.
Rain can do two things. It can make everything very muddy, or it can wash away impurities. It's all in how I choose to embrace it. I can see it as a huge obstacle, or an opportunity to kick off my heavy shoes, and dance in the puddles.
Which reminds me, I love twirling my umbrella in the rain...
It's a very colorful umbrella. I like the way its yellow top shines and drips, and looks like the sun. Yep, I give it twirl it. It's keeping the rain off of my head, but is making my heart joyful somehow. It's a shelter...a friend. A banner singing over me.
Oh, look! There is my Father, standing on the porch. He is smiling. NO! He is laughing! Big, beautiful tears of laughter! And He is delighting in the fact that I have stopped to stick my feet out from under the umbrella. Yeah, I hit some nasty, dark, ugly puddles...but the rain took care of the mess. My Father's laughter is like thunder. And I cannot help but join in. We hook arms, go up the steps, enter the shop...but we don't shut the door. No, not today. Today, we sing, laugh, and dance WITH the rain!
“May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.” (Psalm 20:5)
“Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)
Deuteronomy 32:2 (The Message)
The Song
Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you. Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words. My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain,
my words arrive like morning dew,
Like a sprinkling rain on new grass,
like spring showers on the garden.
For it's God's Name I'm preaching—
respond to the greatness of our God!
The Rock: His works are perfect,
and the way he works is fair and just;
A God you can depend upon, no exceptions,
a straight-arrow God.
His messed-up, mixed-up children, his non-children,
throw mud at him but none of it sticks.
Dear friends,
As we approach Thanksgiving, let us rejoice in the One who has brought us through the storms, and saved us from the mud of life.
Until next time,
The Carpenter's Daughter
Trekking along, I stop. What's that noise? Frogs. Hmmm...I like frogs. I actually think they are cute. Not toads. Those are an entirely different story. But frogs...they sing. They just SING their hearts out, and they LOVE the rain! Those little guys find it as an opportunity to hop, and conduct happy choruses of joy. It makes me skip a little.
I am now in the little yard, that surrounds the carpentry shop. I stop at the bird bath. Interesting. Look at how my feathered friends joyfully splash about. They even seem to DELIGHT in sharing the water with their neighbor; spritzing and throwing droplets at each other. Instead of worrying about their shoes, they are basking in the crisp, cool FUN of it all. I notice that they are finding their lunch easier as well. Little worms are peeking out, perking up to the song of rain.
When did rain stop being a song? When was the last time I stopped, popped open my umbrella, and just stood in that little shelter...in awe? Wonderment? Worship.
Rain can do two things. It can make everything very muddy, or it can wash away impurities. It's all in how I choose to embrace it. I can see it as a huge obstacle, or an opportunity to kick off my heavy shoes, and dance in the puddles.
Which reminds me, I love twirling my umbrella in the rain...
It's a very colorful umbrella. I like the way its yellow top shines and drips, and looks like the sun. Yep, I give it twirl it. It's keeping the rain off of my head, but is making my heart joyful somehow. It's a shelter...a friend. A banner singing over me.
Oh, look! There is my Father, standing on the porch. He is smiling. NO! He is laughing! Big, beautiful tears of laughter! And He is delighting in the fact that I have stopped to stick my feet out from under the umbrella. Yeah, I hit some nasty, dark, ugly puddles...but the rain took care of the mess. My Father's laughter is like thunder. And I cannot help but join in. We hook arms, go up the steps, enter the shop...but we don't shut the door. No, not today. Today, we sing, laugh, and dance WITH the rain!
“May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.” (Psalm 20:5)
“Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)
Deuteronomy 32:2 (The Message)
The Song
Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you. Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words. My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain,
my words arrive like morning dew,
Like a sprinkling rain on new grass,
like spring showers on the garden.
For it's God's Name I'm preaching—
respond to the greatness of our God!
The Rock: His works are perfect,
and the way he works is fair and just;
A God you can depend upon, no exceptions,
a straight-arrow God.
His messed-up, mixed-up children, his non-children,
throw mud at him but none of it sticks.
Dear friends,
As we approach Thanksgiving, let us rejoice in the One who has brought us through the storms, and saved us from the mud of life.
Until next time,
The Carpenter's Daughter
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