Shaken not Stirred

So yesterday was my church's Ladies Christmas Party. I've got to say it is probably my favorite event of the holiday season. When else do almost all the ladies of the church get together for fun and fellowship? What a delight!! This year was no exception. Before braving the winter cold I spent the day at home trying to make Flan. Being a culinary novice it was more of an adventure than it should have been. I learned that sticking your finger into boiling caramel is not only dumb its painful (Don't try it at home kids), but after starting over once, then breaking the Flan in half, and piecing it back together again I was set to go.

I was very thankful to carpool over to the party. Not only is carpooling one of the best things ever!! Laura's snow tires are so much better than my "we may be completely flat at any moment because we hate you" tires. Ok maybe my tires are inatimate object not capable of hating me, but sometimes it seems like they do.

The party itself consisted in a buffet of incredible food since the cooks at my church are second to none, music including a flute duet which made me wonder if it would be possible to sing Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent as a round because they played a verse that way and it was lovely. There was also a devotion that really hit home.

The speaker talked about Mary's response to the announcement that she would bear a Son conceived by the Holy Spirit and how her response revealed what was in her heart. She challenged us to think on how we would've responded and how we do respond when we're shaken in this life? How do we respond to the stresses that come in and press us? She brought out a minature well and asked us if the bucket was lowered into the well what would it draw out. The first response was (you guessed it) Water!! To which responded "What else?" so the guessing continued "Mud" "Leaves" "Dirt" "Dead Bugs" (that was mine:) "Dead frogs" Before the guessing descended any further into the realms of "gross things you find in wells" She asked how would we sum all of that up and the answer was "Whatever is in the well" Whatever is in the well will come out of it. It was a great visual of "Out of the depths of the heart the mouth speaks." When we are shaken whatever is in us is what will come out.

I was definetely challenged by this thought. So often my responses do not show a heart that loves the Lord and loves my neighbor, but a heart that loves my own way. I grumble and complain when I should be full of thanksgiving and joy. Instead of seeing my responses as they really are, sinful out pourings from a sinful heart, I try and excuse them by saying things like " Its just stress" The stress isn't the cause, the stress just reveals what is already there. So what's the cure. A change of the heart and no one changes the heart but the Lord of the heart? As the Psalmist writes "Create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew a right spirit within me!"