My friend Misti invited me to go to Bible study with her tonight. “What should I bring?”, I asked her. “Yourself, your Bible, and Crayola markers” was her reply. Strange list, huh? I mean, who even needs markers at a Bible study? She then explained to me that in the Bible study, you talk about scripture then you color. You color a picture that the girl leading tells you to- not direct instructions, she just sets the framework. ‘I guess it’s always good to try something new’, I thought, inside being mildly sad that I was going to be working to stay inside the lines instead of watching Grey’s Anatomy.

Yes, I am framing this picture in my room.

Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great LOVE we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

Hallelujah. God is near.

I’ve never seen a photograph of Jesus, but I would guess He looks nothing like Shrek. But tonight I realized that Jesus and Shrek have more in common than I thought.

Follow me on this rabbit trail and I promise I will come back around. Fiona, our princess here, was trapped in a castle. Sure, she asked and probably prayed to be rescued over and over again. To no avail. Every morning, she woke up wondering if this may be the day that her Prince Charming would show up. He never did.

She never called Shrek by name. She never screamed out the window, “If I only had an ogre and a talking donkey to come to my rescue!” She didn’t sit in the castle feeling unworthy and sorry for herself. She didn’t think about all the wrong things she had done, how there was no way anyone would even want to rescue her. She didn’t call all her friends to try to find someone to save her. She just waited. And I wonder, if we could get in Fiona’s mind, if she ever gave up hope. Even for just a minute. I would bet she did. I know I sure would…I have before.

And Shrek- why did he even rescue Fiona? Sure, to get his swamp back (understandably… sweet place). It’s not that he was in love with her. It’s not that he heard someone call his name so he took off running. He risked his life for someone who did not even know him. I think there was, and later we know this to be true, a part of Shrek that is naturally a hero. He wanted to save the princess and save the day.

I was talking to a friend tonight and she was saying that God shouldn’t have to rescue her- she doesn’t deserve it. Her wrongs have put her in this castle, in this place of heartbreak, and God has every right to leave her there. She has done nothing to earn His heroism; in fact- she has done nothing but crucified Him.

But isn’t that what defines a hero? A hero doesn’t pick favorites- he shows up for anyone in need. He just knows how to rescue. Shrek just rescued because he had the heart of a hero. Firemen don’t run in to burning homes because all the people inside deserve to be saved. They just do it because they are heroes. Because it is part of their job description- rescue everyone every time.

And isn’t that just like my Jesus? He is the ultimate hero. He IS the heart of the hero. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said “All gave some, but some gave all”. Honestly, shouldn’t it be “All give some, but ONE gave all”? Not one hero on Earth gave what Jesus gave. No one has saved me like Jesus has saved me. And no one rescues my heart on a daily basis except Jesus.

So with my friend tonight, we prayed that Jesus would be her Shrek. That He would come and rescue her, not because she deserves it, but just because she is Fiona- stuck in a castle with no way out. That she would not even have to call Him, He would just come… because He LOVES her, because He LOVES to rescue. Because He is our Hero.

“Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.”
-Psalm 34:18 (The Message)

She has the best quotes. From last week-

“My brain is a wild jungle full of scary jibberish.”

I hear ya, sister.

Today is Sally’s 19th birthday. Tatum has done a lovely collage of photos for you to celebrate the Sal-ster, but where Tatum believes that pictures are worth a thousand words, I believe that pictures may need a thousand words to explain them.

Fear not, I’m really too tired to give you 1000 words for each of these, but I am pleased to give you a glimpse into the childhood that created this insanity that is me.

Let’s start here. I’m the one rockin’ the hot pink/black combo leotard. (I’ve always been ahead of the fashion trends- I knew pink and black was going to be huge.) There’s Doe, our nanny/maid lady, who to this day I cry every time I talk to her. Would you believe that Sally actually still sits on Mom’s lap like that every now and then?

Tatum wanted to be a model. Can you tell. Nice jeans. The wind is blowing. They are actually standing on a rock in our backyard. This one makes me laugh out loud every time.

The beginnings of a classic Downs daughter game called Road Hog. It looked like this- Tatum and Annie ride Sally’s plastic toys around the hardwood floors until Annie wins and makes Tatum cry. Sally watches. She asks if she can play, we say sure. Then we both get up and leave to go do something else. Game over.

I have a mullet. There is little to no shame in that. And let me tell you about Tatum’s pink boots. She loved them. One time, I convinced her that it was cool to swim in those boots. They died that day. And I’m pretty sure I got a spanking for that.

After I left for college, my family became Amish. A hard loss will do that to folks.

I came home, they recovered; if this is what “recovered” looks like. Can you even imagine what the Sears people thought when Tatum said, “Can I wear that raincoat?” and I said, “Can I be a fireman?”

In all seriousness, I’m pretty lucky when it comes to family. Strike that, I’m really lucky. And I do love my sisters. Especially for moments like this last picture. It’s rare, but it is sweet.

Happy birthday, Sally. I love you.

Tatum, sorry about the boots. Sorta.

This may be the most Annie art I’ve ever seen- so swirly, so abstract, so messy, so beautiful. Gosh, I love it. I can’t really stop looking at it. Focus, Downs, focus.

My favorite song that Dave Barnes sings is “Nothing Fancy”. As soon as I heard it, I thought, “that is SO me and God.” And I’ve been singing it to Him (with some minor changes) ever since.

Good songwriting. Well done, Dave Barnes, well done.

If I’m learning anything, it is this- there is absolutely nothing fancy about the way I LOVE God……but it is amazing, and quite fancy, how He LOVES me.

(You may be totally over me quoting lyrics, but think like this- Dave Barnes is a writer who sings. An excellent writer who has a fantastic grasp on the heart of God, I think. So I’m merely quoting another writer. You need to hear this song- buy it on iTunes. Buy all of his music on iTunes.)

NOTHING FANCY by Dave Barnes

There’s nothing fancy bout the way I love You
There’s nothing You could not find in any other [girl]
There’s nothing fancy bout the way I love You
But I love You as hard as I can

There’s no good reason for the way You love me
But You’re my walking dream come true
There’s no good reason for the way You love me
But I thank [You] God that You do

There’s nothing fancy bout the way I love You
It’s as simple as the stars in the sky or the blue in the sea
There’s nothing fancy bout the way I love You
But it sure is fancy how You love me
But it sure is fancy how You love me

If you don’t know Him, you should. God LOVES so well.

(Random “Fancy” fact- Candace knows every word to Reba McEntire’s song “Fancy”. Here’s your one chance, Candy, don’t let us down. Now she’s scream/singing it through the wall of our rooms and Kelli is joining in. I wish you could hear this- the roommates have lost their minds. Can you tell we all hope for snow?)