It was 10pm when I got an email from A Friend I Barely Know. 

“We're going to carol at your Train Stop tomorrow evening. Would you like to join us?” 

sigh. 

Really? 

I thought for a moment. 

Nope. 

Not in the mood. 

BUT I knew it would be good for me. Yes, it would. Just like broccoli. ha. 

So I said Yes. 

Promptly at 6pm, I went to the Train Station. 

Friend I Barely Know came hurrying up, with his violin under his arm. “Ready?” 

His Pastor passed out Gospels, the Friend played, and I sang as crowds of Cold, Busy City Folks hurried past.

 All I could think of was the Story of a Faithful Man who preached in an Empty Church… and how God brought revival because the Faithful Man preached in Obedience. “Well, God, you laid it on the Pastor’s heart to do this… so I’m just going to obey…” 

And do you know what?

My heart was warmed, encouraged, comforted as I sang the Christmas Story to people I didn’t even know. 

Then this nice older gentleman came up to me, “Will you be here awhile? Because our church is coming to carol here and we’d love to join you… And do you sing in a choir? We’d love to have you in ours…” 

So instead of just three of us, soon I was leading a crowd of 15 singers. Of all the nights they would come! We had no idea! They were glad we had 'broken the ice' and we were glad to have them...

He had blessed our Obedience, far and beyond what we could have ever Hoped or Imagined. 

People started stopping, pulling out cameras, smiling. 

One girl, a Complete Stranger, even stepped up to join us. 

One boy stood against the escalators for about 20 minutes, just watching, listening. 

 Yes. This is Christmas Joy… Proclaiming the Joyous News that the King has come… Amen. 

So if you are ever sad or lacking in Christmas Spirit… Go carol at a Train Station with People You Hardly Know.

For unto you is born this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

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When you have a check in your spirit, it doesn't mean you should totally freak out or always completely stop. It's God telling you, 'Hey, you're going into a Dangerous Place... Stay close to Me.'

Shepherd's Daughter.

There are friends you do not see for years... but somehow the connection is still there. Way back in the day, my family had started a Spanish Church with a small group of dedicated couples, including the Quiet Man and his Wife. We had not seen them for nearly 10 years.

---

It came out of the blue.

"You have Stage 4 cancer... You have less than 6 months to live."

The Quiet Man took a deep breath. He was a Man of his Word, faithful, quietly working wherever needed.

He left everything ready -- Youngest Son's college paid for, wrote a Love Letter to the Wife, made the Oldest Son promise to follow God all his days.

He fought all the way, but then came the day when he slipped away to see his Jesus. "Rejoice for me," he said.

The Brave Mommy was there that day, too, singing with the Wife, praising the Jesus he was soon to see.

The Brave Mommy told me about it later... about how she thought she would be afraid, but there was such a peace and holy joy.

¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro, tu victoria?<sup class="crossreference" value='(A)'> I Cor. 15:55

Much had been prepared, but still so much to do.

The Wife was no stranger to sorrow... Both of her parents had died less than a year ago, one in Latin America and one here in the US while visiting her, about a month apart. Her faith did not waver, but sometimes... the steps were hard to take.

"We need programs for the service," she told the Youngest Son.

"It's ok, Mom... God will send Guardian Angels to help us."

Then phone rang.

It was my Mom. She had not been in touch with the Wife for 10 years, but that didn't seem to matter.

"Patti -- What do you need?"

"Programs... Can you make programs?"

And my dear dear Mom, who barely knows how to check her Gmail, didn't skip a beat.

"Yes. Of course. Who has the Order of Service?"

It took about 6 of us chipping at various points to figure out Word, formatting, wording, pictures, with coaching both in person and over the phone,

but all that matters is that they were done on time.

Saving the world... Looks different every day. You just have to be willing.

"You don't have to live this way,"

the Shepherd's Daughter insisted.

"The TRUTH will SET you FREE."

That terrifying moment when I had to be honest, I had to face the Truth head on... and ask forgiveness for waiting so long.

The Truth can be Terrifying.

Yet, as I faced it,

I literally felt the chains fall off my soul.

Chains I had carried so long that I didn't even know that they were there... until they were gone.

Yes, it wasn't fun. It wasn't even pretty. Halfway through, I almost regretted it. Then I almost heard His voice,

"Are you having a Children of Israel Moment? Are you really crying for Egypt? You lived that way for so many years and look where it got you? I have set you FREE."

ha.

I found that I am literally walking differently. Hold my head higher because He lifted it up. Walking with a spring in my step because He had broken my chains.

"True obedience always brings us to the point of no return. This is where faith comes in." [A.W. Tozer]

that moment when you

realize that you have nothing left to lose and you announce

"This.stops.TODAY."

You turn to

face the Ghost that has Haunted you for so so so long...

and then find that when you Confront a Ghost head-on -- they go away.

What?! Really. Why didn't I do that sooner??

I find myself looking over my shoulder... but the Ghost is Gone. Really truly Gone.

I almost heard the Ghost groan as he faded away...

What took you so long? So tired... I just wanted to be laid to Rest.

Sleep well, Ghost. Sorry it took so long. Thanks for haunting me until I took hold of the courage to face you... and set us both free.

Since when does FEAR get to RUN your LIFE!? No! Look, you've got to face the Truth. You have been set free! Walk in it.

Somehow, the Shepherd's Daughter never gives up.

Bit by bit, inch by inch, step by step, the path goes upward.

Rules! Contract? You are UNDER GRACE. He wants to BRING you into HIS REST.

The Ghosts are laid to rest, the Chains start to fall.

You're walkin' it out, girl. Walking IN the Truth. Walking OUT of Captivity.

"The words and behavior of a person reveal a lot more about the heart of the person, than they do about the situation they are in." [Paul David Tripp]

You don't have to be anxious about the future.

You are being prepared, and you are already worthy.

You can't make things come faster by micromanaging yourself, or slower by softening your grip.

Trust in the Lord, and enjoy the journey.

[Kylar Aaron Dunn]