Welcome to my home:
a place to rest,
a place to revive,
a place to pray.

In my soon-to-be-released children's book Christmas Morning, a little girl delightfully opens one gift after the other. Each gift takes her on a wonder-filled adventure which is portrayed through the whimsical illustrations. The third gift, wrapped in vibrant paper, is one of my favorites. The little girl reaches in and pulls out a..."happy little music box."

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When the little girl opens it, music like she has never heard before begins to play. It's so melodious and inviting, she can't help but rise up and dance all around her living room. She is filled to overflowing with JOY! This opened-up music box and the dancing little girl is meant to symbolize the joy that Jesus brings to all those who know him as Savior.

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All too often, we go about our days with our hearts closed up. We're all business. We're in a hurry. We're stressed. Pause for a moment to spend time with the Joy Giver? Not an option because there's just too much to do.

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But listen to what Jesus says in his word about joy:

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You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

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A joyful heart is good medicine... Proverbs 17:22

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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

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‍Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music. Psalm 98:4

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For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. Psalm 63:7

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I think one of God's greatest desires is to see his children worship him with a heart that's full to overflowing with joy. His joy is not merely a fun emotion. Nor is it based on circumstance; rather, it's rooted in knowing God and believing in his promises, no matter the circumstance. There is both depth and height to this fruit of the Spirit!

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What song can you listen to today that rhythmically proclaims God's truths? Do you need to be reminded of his goodness? his love? his presence? his power? Pick a song, turn it on, and rise up! This choice song may be the very medicine you need!

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Become the little girl in this story. Open up the vibrant music box. Get off the fast track, take some un-wasted time, and dance.

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...For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

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A long time ago when I was in college, I had a baby blue comforter that covered my twin bed in my dorm room. In my opinion, this down comforter was the best bedspread ever! I loved it so much that I kept it for years. It moved with me from my dorm room to my first apartment, to my first home with my new husband, and then to our next home together with our four children! I remember wrapping my little ones up in it, holding them close, embracing them with all the love I had in me.

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This is why this second gift in my children's book Christmas Morning is so sweet to me. The little girl in the story delightfully unwraps a bright blue package with a shiny white bow and finds... a soft blue blanket. And as I mentioned in my previous post , each of the seven tangible gifts in the story are meant to represent different intangible realities that we have been freely given in Christ.

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The blue blanket is: the blanket of peace.

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Have you ever been given news that stops you in your tracks? Your world is turned upside down and you're not sure how to cope? In this place, and in the moments, minutes, months, and years following, God wants to wrap you in his peace. The way I held my little ones in the soft blue comforter is the way that your heavenly Father wants to hold you, now and always.

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Allow God's word to speak into this truth. Read these verses slowly; unwrap his gift:

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‍Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

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‍You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you. Isaiah 26:3

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‍Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13-14

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Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

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For he himself is our peace... Ephesians 2:14

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Unlike my down comforter that finally fell apart (feathers everywhere) after a decade of good use, God's "blanket of peace," will never wear thin. It's eternal, but it's meant for today. It's other-worldly, but it's meant to help us in this world.

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Envision yourself wrapped up in God's strong, caring arms. In this safe place, pour out your heart. Weep. Be held. Be loved.

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For there is no real rest for the soul, except for the indwelling presence of God's perfect peace.

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In my soon-to-release children's book Christmas Morning, a little girl opens one gift after another, and each one of these presents take her on an exciting and whimsical adventure in her very own living room. These tangible gifts are meant to symbolize deeper intangible truths that we all have in Christ.

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The first gift the little girl opens is a crown. This is not an ordinary crown --the kind that eventually gets lost in the bottom of a dress-up container. Rather, it symbolizes the crown that we are given through our faith in Christ. When the little girl puts it on her head, a thrill runs all the way down to her toes and then her living room is teeming with LIFE--a vibrant tree, birds, butterflies and bunnies appear. She freely sings, skips, hops and does cartwheels all around the room! When all of these things eventually disappear, the thrill that the crown gives her does not.

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May I remind you that if you believe in Jesus, he has given you a CROWN OF LIFE? All too often we strive to put tangible crowns on our heads--crowns of beauty, fame and fortune. These headpieces only weigh us down. In stark contrast, the crown that Jesus gives us lifts our chin and causes us to walk lightheartedly as his winsome ambassadors. Who wouldn't want this crown? Well, we have it! Jesus gave it to us!

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LET'S PUT ON OUR CROWN OF LIFE, and by faith, let's freely walk (sing, skip, hop, and do cartwheels) because of these biblical truths:

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Psalm 103:4

(Bless the Lord)...who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

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Psalm 8:4-5

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

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Isaiah 61:3

(The Spirit of the Lord is upon me)...to grant those who mourn in Zion--to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

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John 10:10

...I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

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Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

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Like the little girl in the story, we can say with delight, "My chin is up, because I'm wearing his crown."

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