Good Afternoon Girls!  I know I already posted one message today but I've got something so strong in my heart that I believe I need to post it now!  And though it is not a continuation of my Divine appointment I believe that not only will you not be frustrated with having to wait yet another day, but you will in fact be blessed.........

I love Christmas music.  I am one of those people who has it playing non stop from Thanksgiving to New Years.  I have a different "favorite" every year.

This year my favorite is the Little Drummer Boy.  It was one of my dad's favorites and I have a cd from a live concert I went to with him 2 years ago.  It's my last "Christmas memory" with him that I can play over and over again.  I've always liked the song, but this year it has really settled into my heart.  

Today as I was listening to it, the song spoke something else to my heart.  I stopped and let the words sink in as I sang them, and I started thinking about that little drummer boy. That little drummer boy was wise beyond his years!

I'm just a poor boy too......he saw what he had in common with baby Jesus- not all the ways he was different, or didn't measure up.  How much easier is it to draw close to the Lord when we feel we share some "common ground" with him- that he is not some harsh God of judgement looking down on us!  He is waiting for us and will meet us at whatever level we are at!

I have no gift to bring.  No gift fit for a King.  Shall I play for you?  This little boy realized that there was no gift equal to the gift the Lord gives us.  However, he still wanted to give the Lord something to show his love and admiration so he used the talent, the "gift" he did have and offered it to the Lord.    

I played my best for him.  It reminds me of what my mentor tells us all the time: Do what you can, not what you can't.  Or for those of you who are p90x fans "do your best......forget the rest!"  Do you want to know what happens when you do your best?........

Then he smiled at me.  That's right!  When you simply do your best, and do it unto the Lord, He smiles at you!  He doesn't look at what you don't have.  He doesn't look at your lack.  He doesn't look at your errors.  He looks at your heart......and it makes him smile!

"But Jen, It's just a song.  There is no little drummer boy in the Christmas story in the Bible".  That's true, but there is a certain harp playing shepherd boy who the Lord anointed to be king over Israel and a direct bloodline to Jesus!  It's just that "harp playing shepherd boy" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as little drummer boy....and how in the world would you do the harp sound equivalent to pa-rum-pum-pum pum?  Seriously.......

So my little drummer Girls, if you feel like you have nothing to offer anyone this Christmas season- stop and think of the little drummer boy.  With a thankful and pure heart he went before the Lord and did the only thing he knew to do.......and the Lord smiled.  He is already smiling at you.....you just need to go before him so you can see and feel it!  Do your best......forget the rest........

1 Samuel 16:7  But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart

Moving to the beat of my own "drum"-
Jen