Friday, November 30, 2007

Breath of Heaven

BREATH OF HEAVEN
Words and music by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant

1.
I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father You have come
And chosen me now…to carry your Son
2.
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now….be with me now….
3.
Do you wonder, as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong…
Help me be…
Help me….


Five years ago, at Christmas time, I read the words of the angel to Mary as recorded in Luke 1:45

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Many times in the Bible we read the words, "Blessed is HE..." so the words, "Blessed is SHE..." sort of jumped out at me...and it occurred to me that the words while they were directed at Mary in the first place....were also directed at me....

Like Mary, I had been given the wonderful priviledge of making my life available to the use of the Holy Spirit of God in bringing forth the life of His son. And as in the case of Mary, the priviledge was not without suffering rejection and suspicion from those one loved most, and the loss of one's own persona to become identified with that of the Son of God. The song quoted above, spoke to me at the time in conjuction with the wonderful promise of Luke 1:45. This is the meaning it had for me.

1

Obedience is costly sometimes but there is a blessing promised which causes us to follow on even if the way seems dark and cold and lonesome at times.

2

Sometimes obedience sets us apart from those who we have come to hope would always be beside us as a friend and help, and we have to come to the knowledge that our Father is all we have......but He is more than enough

3

Father chooses us not because we are especially wise or wonderful, but because we are available and obedient. I like the phrase, "...for the mercy of Your plan", because I have come to see that God's plan is more merciful than I once thought, and I'm sure, more merciful that I can imagine even now..... The threefold prayer at the end....is just as I often pray. First I pray for what I think I need...."Help me be strong"..... then I realize that I'm not sure exactly what kind of help I am in need of..."Help me be...(fill in the blank)"...And then at the end of the day, I realize....I just need help for the simple reason that "Without Him I can do nothing."...."Help me."
Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness,
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are Holy
Breath of Heaven
In the words of Mary, I say:
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

3 comments:

mamazee said...

Mom, this is what i was thinking the Christmas we conceived silas. I felt, when we were singing "come into my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee" - that God was asking if there really was room? What could He have? Everything - anything... and then i found out that my gift to Him was also His gift to me - a new little baby - i was on the verge about having more babies, what did God want? and really praying hard about it, bcz i didn't want to follow a trend and be foolish, but i really felt led by Him, and He used the picture of Mary for me, then, sitting in the choir, watching the play unfold around me, as i realized how unsure she might have felt, too - not sure how it will turn out, unsure of how people will treat her, or what they will say, and yet, knowing that God had chosen her and honored her in a way no other woman would ever be honored...

paige said...

mama, thank you for this post.

jessica jespersen said...

Beautiful... I love the thought that like Mary, we are all, men and women alike, called to carry His Son....Being in the last week of this pregnancy and the physical weight and strain that this brings is a reminder of the spiritual and emotional struggles I face as I come closer to His face, and He comes into focus...One day, the fruit of this journey will be revealed. The pain of the burden will be washed away with the joy of seeing His face... So much to look forward to. So much comfort in that thought.