little deaths that bring resurrection

Hey, this isn't more than just a thought, but I was thinking about how very few people come to the end of their life with hope. I mean, a lot of people older than me (and my age) are living jaded--with disappointments, fears, despair. Its so difficult not to want to give up along the way. Its easy to stop making the choices to get healing from the scarring that this world causes me. Sometimes it just seems so difficult to put down the anxiety and responsibility I feel. For some reason it just seems better to hold onto it--to the little deaths I feel inside--and never get healed.

I have blogged about this before, but I have more thoughts.

First, a song. Please listen. Its so life-giving.

Dress us Up
by John Mark McMillan
Dress us up in your righteousness
Bring us in with a ring and a kiss
When you walk into the room you know we can't resist
Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor in a mess

You make us sparkle and you make us shine
Like the stars who sing on your chorus line
Through space and time we'll harmonize
Where deep meets deep like the ocean meets the sky

The sun and the moon
They come out of their grave just for you
The dead man and the cynical too
They're coming out of their grave
And it's just for you

Cause the love of God is stronger
The love of God is stronger
The love of God is stronger
Than the power of death

Dress us up in the blood of a son
Who opened up his veins so that we would overcome
Hell and the grave in the power of his love
After three dark days he showed us how it's done
And he still does

You make us sparkle and you make us shine
Like the stars who sing on your chorus line
Through space and time we'll harmonize
Where deep meets deep like the ocean meets the sky
Yeah

The sun and the moon
They come out of their grave just for you
The dead man and the cynical too
They're coming out of their grave
And it's just for you
Cause the love of God is stronger
The love of God is stronger
The love of God is stronger
Than the power of death

His love is stronger, his love is stronger, his love is stronger, his love is stronger
His love is stronger, his love is stronger, his love is stronger, his love is stronger

I was really hit by the fact that God can resurrect even the most cynical of hearts. Whatever we feel—the death of hope, faith, a friend, an animal—God’s love is powerful enough to bring us through the death we’re facing, even if its only saying goodbye again.

Without death there can be no resurrection. No triumph. No victory.

He makes all things new.

Lord, renew us today.

A Change is as Good as a Rest

I have heard that in the UK there's a common saying that goes like this: "A change is as good as a rest."

Today we're visiting friends who live half-a-day's drive from us. We've laughed and cried; we've been out all day with our crazy kids climbing mountains and playing in waterfalls; we've stayed up late catching up after the kids are all in bed and gotten up early to spend time with the Lord. All of that makes me really sleepy, but again I am reminded that sometimes what I need is not sleep, but rest.

Sometimes in the middle of parenting and work and relationships, we're so weary that doing anything that takes energy just seems not worth it. I'm tired and overwhelmed, but sometimes just getting out and getting some perspective is even more renewing than getting sleep.

What do you think? How do you find rest in the middle of parenting? Living overseas? Doing "ministry"?