Inspirational Picks of the Week

If you’re my friend on Facebook, you’ve very likely seen my posts on these things already.  But I was so inspired by them that I wanted to extend them to those of you who are friends here in Blog Land.  I hope you find at least one thing here that makes you smile or stirs your heart (or both)!

Let’s start with a little music.  Here are a few selections to put you in the mood to celebrate Christmas and worship Jesus...

Silent Night:  This is a beautiful rendition of this song, and here it is accompanied by a gorgeous, flowing ballet.  http://artofeloquence.com/selah/

Christmas This Year:  I love Christian music artist Toby Mac and this fun Christmas song doesn’t disappoint.  I just makes me want to get up and dance and clap my hands! 

O Night Divine:  If you watched America’s Got Talent, you no doubt have heard of Jackie Evancho.  At the time of her appearance on the show, she was 10 years old – but God has blessed her with the voice of an angel far beyond her earthly years.  Here she is singing at the National Tree Lighting (and listen to the short interview at the end – she is a delightful young lady)!

  

And now, let’s move on to some things that will make your heart swell with joy and will give you hope for the future generations to come!

The Biggest … Loser?  Well, Dan (and his mom Jackie) may have been big losers when it comes to their weight, but when it comes to getting over life’s hurdles and passionately pursing his dream – I’d say Dan is definitely a Big Winner!  

Here’s their story:  http://vitality.yahoo.com/.  
And here’s his first music release:  

Tags: Goin' All Out, Dan Evans, Dan Evans Videos

Victoria’s Not-So-Secret – Sure, supermodels make selling clothes, make-up, and a million other things very profitable.  But what is this standard of beauty doing to our youth today?  Here is a young man who attends Baylor University in Waco, Texas – he has a different outlook on what a REAL woman is:  

Ever been to a poetry slam?  I haven’t, but I’ve watched a couple of videos and this one is one of my favorites.  I may be old in years, but never too old to learn (and pass on) this lesson:

And from Blog Land, my favorite post this week:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/when-christmas-gets-radical-whose-birthday-is-it-really/


May you all be richly blessed through this next week, and continue to remember what CHRISTmas is about.

Standing on the Edge of Darkness

When you come to the edge of all the light you know

and are about to step into the darkness of the unknown,

faith is knowing that one of two things will happen:

there will be solid ground to stand

on or you will be taught to fly. 

--Author Unknown

In my “feeling” heart, it feels like all light has gone out.  I feel rejected; lonely; completely discarded and unwanted.

Behind me is a small glimmer of light; of what used to be.  Before me looms the darkness of all that is unknown.  My eyes search desperately into the depths for something…anything that looks like the slightest ray of light, of hope.

I bow my head in great sadness, with tears that stream down my face and fall at my feet, the sound in my head like shattered glass.

It’s when I open my eyes, in this bowed posture, that I see the light at my feet.  I look up and around and find myself immediately enveloped in soft light.  Just enough for one step.  That’s all that is required.

One.

          Step.

                    In.

                            Faith.

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

So even though my "feeling" heart senses that all is lost, my "faith-filled" heart knows there is something better. 


As I move forward into this life that is not what I had hoped for – not what I had dreamed about for so many recent years – I know this light will wrap around me like a blanket, warm and protective.  It will comfort me amidst the darkness and it will guide me through it.

I don’t expect it to be easy; I don’t expect the pain to go away immediately.  But I know there will come a day, when little by little as I grow stronger, more light will be given to me and the path will be made clearer, and I will fly like an eagle in freedom.

Until that day, my walk will be slow – it will become more sure and steady and strong with each small step I take forward.


What darkness are you walking through?  Won't you allow the light to surround and comfort you as well?