"If then you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above,
where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth."
Colossians 3:1-2
During this crazy, busy, commercial craze time of year I want to do only one thing...seek Christ!! My heart does not do this naturally and I can't do this on my own. For that reason, I come before Jesus and ask Him to fill my mind and heart with thoughts of Him and to give me one passion and one pursuit - HIM! If I am to set my mind on things above and Christ is above seated at the right hand of God, THEN I am called to set my mind of CHRIST!!
Tonight, I want to glory in Your goodness and all the ways that You have helped me see Your face throughout the past two weeks. Now, I didn't always stop and consider You in the moment but tonight I want You to point my heart and perspective to Your face and Your work alone.
The past two weeks have been full of music! In some normal ways for the Gurney household but also in some EXTRAordinary ways. I led 27 of my piano students in a Christmas recital at an assisted living home here in Winchester. What a blessing and hopefully a joy to all those present. The room was full of parents and residents from the home as I gave all glory to You for the gifts and talents of each student that performed. I gave you all the praise for Christmas and I asked You to help the children to play as unto You and not men. Thank You, Father, for the precious gift of teaching and connecting You to musical ability. I know I don't always thank You and praise You for the many hours I put in 4 days a week doing lessons, but it is a blessing and I know You have provided and given me the opportunity to do what You have gifted me in. All four Gurney children have sung on a stage either at church or at preschool over the past 2 weeks. What a picture of Your faithfulness as they learn songs and sing with smiles on their faces. No, the truth is not deep in their hearts yet, but they make a joyful noise unto You and I'm trusting that those words will be used to change their hearts as You woo them to Yourself. I think the best part of them singing in children's choirs is hearing them practice in the van at the top of their lungs!!! Matt and I glance at one another in the front and just grin (sometimes cringe at the volume) at the precious sound of them screaming "Prince of Peace, King of my heart" or "Bright star, bright star what do you see?" O Father, help them know You and love You all of their days!!! Help these sweet voices speak of Your name and fame to all those You put in their path. Take them places to spread Your truth and share Your gospel. Ok, and the next aspect of music that has invaded our home and world has been "The Sound of Music!!!" So crazy, but without knowing that the live version was coming on TV we ended up watching this movie as a family and my kiddos loved it!!! For whatever reason this just warmed my heart to goose bumps!! I'm sure it connected with the love I have for broadway tunes and reminded me of the countless hours that my sister and I spent "performing" when we were younger. But, whatever the reason, I have to attribute the laughter and gladness when singing these songs with my kids to a work of Your hand and Your goodness. ALL good and perfect gifts are from above. I just love hearing the "Doe a deer..." and "these are a few of my favorite things..." Ultimately, You have used music from artist that basically put Your truth to song to stir my affections for You! I know that You have created everyone in a unique way and music doesn't connect with everyone, but I thank You, Jesus, for the songs that You have used in my walk to help me ponder You and Your glory more fully.
Father, thank You for the times of advent that we have been doing as a family over the past couple of weeks. It's interesting and humbling that I'm blogging about this now because we've fallen "behind" with our schedule. But I praise You for the days that we have done and the truth that You've used to spur on conversation with Matt and I and with our kids. Every ornament we hang on the tree with one of the many names of You is a chance for us to glory in Your beauty. I hope and pray that our children will hear the bigness and wonder that You are!! You are Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the Living Word, Lion of Judah, Morning Star, Everlasting Father, King of Kings!!! Wow!!! You are awesome and glorious!!! Thank You for the afternoons and evenings that we've been able to circle up and hear from The Jesus Storybook Bible to help connect the OT stories with Your rescue plan. Let the kids hear with heart ears and see with heart eyes their need for a Rescuer and the hope and joy that is found in You! Thank You, for the quiet moments before bed that Matt and I have been reading through advent devotionals. Father, thank You for reminding me that it is in the middle of every detail that You are present and in control. The census being carried out and Mary and Joseph having to go to Bethlehem did not catch You off guard. Herod searching to kill this baby King was under Your control and in Your plan! And I thank You, for showing me how you use others to point to Your greatness. John the Baptist paving the way for the Messiah and spending his life for the witness of Another is not usually a key point drawn out during Christmas time, but what a life plan! Jesus, give me undying focus and passion for my life to point to You and be a picture of the gospel.
I pray that these words would portray the truth and they would not attribute any greatness on my part. Jesus is great and He does great and awesome things!!! I am a weak vessel that screws up life so much of the time, but I seek and pray for God to reveal more and more of Himself to me. And that somehow, just somehow, His name would be known because of HIS WORK in me! I fight, not by my own strength, to pursue Jesus with everything I am and when I am weak (all the time), then He shows Himself strong. Thank You, Father, for helping me slow down and set my mind and heart on things above!!! You are a good and marvelous God!!!!
