Sunday, September 8, 2013 5:30AM

It still feels like summer here in Texas today. But September's promise is the cooling of the temperatures and I'm sure it will happen by month's end. It is definitely not a lazy day for the Burchill clan. Up at 5AM my sweet husband has already gone to work. He wants to make sure each detail of his portion of Sunday morning services is as organized and ready as it possibly can be so that it is easy for the volunteers and smooth sailing when the music starts to play. God shaped Tom like that.... concerned with musical excellence and serving others. We've already spoken to our son on the phone who is also up this early getting his Sunday morning ready for his volunteers and his church family too. I guess it is just part of the family business. This is the unique way God has wired us.

Tom will be playing with the symphony at Bass Hall today. They are doing an all American music concert and he is playing guitar and banjo. I've enjoyed hearing him practice the Gershwin melodies all week. What beautiful music! Then, this evening he'll be at TCU at a rehearsal for Joe Eckert's faculty recital which is tomorrow evening. I marvel that he does all that he does. And I am truly thankful for such a hard working, kind and talented husband. God made Tom Burchill uniquely and wonderfully.

He made you uniquely and wonderfully too.

I seem to hear an echo lately. Do you know what I mean? Margaret Feinberg calls them SACRED ECHOS in her book by the same title. I like that. A Sacred Echo is when you read something and it rings true in your heart and seems to spur you on to a change. Then, a day or two later a friend says something similar and you think, "wow, I've been thinking about that too". And then, a day later you listen to a podcast or hear a sermon and the same idea is spoken about. When this happens in my life I start to pay attention believing that I am experiencing a sacred echo. Maybe God is whispering something into my life.

The "echo" lately has been something so very simple. It is about being content being me. This is going to sound so Mr. Rogers, but maybe we all need a little Mr. Rogers from time to time.  God created each one of us to be a unique and special individual (do you hear Fred in his sweater?) And once we become  children of God He continues the work in us to conform us into Christ's image. Sometimes people seem to believe that means every thing you think should conform to a cultural idea of what a Christian looks like;  even down to details about how one dresses. Certainly, we all know that there are those who believe you have to be in a certain political party to be a Christian and there are those that think you have to worship a certain way and honestly, sometimes I think with some Christian crowds they actually believe you have to wear skinny jeans and have black glasses and shave your head and you can't know anymore than 4 chords on your guitar. Sorry, I digress.

 God is so creative. He created a camel and a blowfish and a zebra and a lion and all those crazy fish in the sea and insects and birds and on and on I could go! He created each of us with a unique face and unique body type, unique hopes and dreams, unique gifts and talents. We have specific DNA and unique fingerprints. He is obviously concerned with lots of details, isn't He?

No two people are the same. I really believe as Christians we need to be embracing our uniqueness.  God made you as He made you so He could express Christ's love uniquely through you. There are people you can reach that I could never reach. There are people I can share with that you won't be able to share with. There are things in this life that only you can accomplish.

I think sometimes we are so busy working on the future version of ourselves that we forget how much God loves us right now this very moment. And how much He longs to do and accomplish in our life - right now! His unique expression of creativity that is you is loved more than you can hope, think or imagine and He wants you to be you. He loves you, as the song says, "just the way you are". Sure, He is shaping you and molding you and bringing circumstances and people into your life to draw you closer to Him and bring you closer to sanctification, but friend, He really does love you right now. Even with all of your mess and your questions and your worries. He loves you. He created you and He wants to express His love through you. He wants to express His love to you.

This is a wonderful gift. His unending, grace-filled love can be expressed through unique me and unique you. I think that is pretty amazing. And God...I thank you for the sacred echo!

Praise Him! Soli Deo Gloria