Author: jenniferaufrecht

Music Box Dancer

On By jenniferaufrecht1 Comment

Many years ago, my pastor (Rick Kingham) said that he asked God to wake him up to a “song of the day.” Every day was a different song, and that was the song he would focus on throughout the day. It was a special way he communicated with God.

As I have recently moved into a new season of life with a little more time to focus on Jesus, I have started asking God to give me a song of the day because I love to sing. As I wake up in the morning, I pay attention to the song that is in my head. This morning I got up early to fly out to California for an all-staff retreat with my new company. As I was in the shower, I started humming “Music Box Dancer.” I thought, “What in the world, God? What does this song with no lyrics mean to me?”

I thought about a music box. When it is wound up and opened, the little dancer dances her heart out without any thought of an audience. And then God answered my question, “I want you to be who I created you to be. I want you to dance your dance without any regard to what other people think of you this weekend. I want you to let everyone see the real you. I know you are going to be out of your comfort zone with 30 people you don’t really know, but I want you to just trust me and be yourself.”

So I’m here in Oceanside, dancing my heart out. Well, not literally. But I am doing my best to be who God made me to be. Being authentic and letting my guard down. Not hiding behind the “introvert” label. Thank you, God, for holding my hand while I dance. Without you, I would fall flat on my face!

The Elf Shirts

On By jenniferaufrecht3 Comments

A couple years ago at Christmas, I found t-shirts that I purchased for my family. They were fun “elf” shirts that said things like “The Writer Elf” and “The Texas Elf.” At least I thought they were fun, but in reality, how often do we wear the labels that others give us? For years I wore “The Fat Elf” and “The Shy Elf” shirt because that’s either a label I gave myself or allowed others to give me. I actually had a whole wardrobe of elf shirts that I wore every day: “The Awkward Elf,” “The Unworthy Elf,” “The Bullied Elf,” “The Ugly Elf”…and the list goes on and on. So many things I believed about myself.

But Jesus.

When I finally stopped wearing the labels I believed about myself and started wearing the labels Jesus gave me, my entire wardrobe changed. And so did my face, my thoughts, my heart. Oh, my soul discovered what it means to love and be loved by God!

Which “elf shirt” or shirts are you wearing? Take off “The Shameful Elf,” “The Stealing Elf,” “The Adulterer Elf,” or “The Unwed Mom Elf” shirt. When God comes into your heart, he removes the labels we wear and gives us new ones: “The Beloved Elf,” “The Chosen Elf,” and most importantly, “This Is My Elf.” Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, this is what the Lord, your creator, says, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine!'”

What a precious discovery when you realize that God calls you “His child.” Stop listening to what others say about you and believe what God says about you!

This is my first post in my “Barefoot on Holy Ground” blog. Join me on my journey to find rest for our souls in the presence of Jesus. “The Captain of the Lord’s Army said, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet because the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:15 AMP).

Let’s take our shoes off and expect God’s presence to make this place holy.