“Let me hear joy and gladness.”  Psalm 51:8

The challenges continue.  I wrote in my journal this week, “He’s still parting the waters!”  And God truly is still doing some amazing things, even amidst the clamor of life; Covid is still here, closures continue, educators, parents and students are exhausted and frustrated. Schedules are fluid and there is little structure and routine.  All of society seems on edge. 

But I don’t always see the amazing.  All of society aside, some days I’m consumed with what seems like an episode of Survivor…all the distractions and demands of an ordinary day that push me to my limits physically, emotionally…and spiritually.  I hear nothing but noise.  The noise of a culture consumed by selfishness, lying, laziness, disrespect.  

It’s often hard to return personal assaults with continued grace and patience and kindness….with love, the way Jesus loves me.  But it’s what He wants.  People, young and old alike, are frustrated and hurting for a variety of reasons. They’re often stressed and depressed.  People need the Lord, and I may be the only way they’ll ever see their need and find His amazing love for them.  I can’t let the negative noises be the loudest, tempting me to return unkindness with unkindness, or to begin to only think of myself. 

Psalm 51:8 is in the heart of a chapter about David’s great remorse over his grievous sin of adultery and murder.  He cries out to God for forgiveness and healing, for God’s Spirit to continue to be upon him.  David met with the consequences of his sin, but he met them with that forgiveness and healing that God made available, always makes available to his children.  He met the consequences with God’s promises and His unfailing love. 

Perhaps my sin wasn’t as grievous as David’s, but it grieved God just the same.  The consequences may vary, but sin is sin.  It needs confession and forgiveness.  And I’ll say it again because it is a wonderful thing…God ALWAYS makes it available. 

      “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (I John 1:9)

A few days ago I was hearing anything but joy and gladness.  But God met me where I was with His wisdom, His answers.  That day It came from one of my wonderful sons who listened to my hurt and frustration through tears, then chuckled and said, “Mom!  Don’t let their attitudes and actions change yours! Keep doing the right thing. Let God do the rest.”  He was right.

Today it came directly from this passage of Scripture.  “LET ME HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS!”  As I asked my Father to drown out the negative noises it became clear to me that with His help I can hear joy and gladness above all the clamor.  But it depends on what I’m listening to, what’s gaining my ear.

Listen to the noise of need.  Sometimes it expresses itself in hurtful attacks, disrespect, selfishness, rejection, sneering, unkindness.  React with kindness.  React with grace.  Take it to Jesus.  And when you take it to heart instead of taking it to Jesus?  Those times you blow it? Take that to Jesus too and find Him ready and willing to forgive and restore and move you forward by His grace.

 

What are you hearing?

Dressed and Draped

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation, and draped me in a robe of righteousness.”  Isaiah 61:10

 He has dressed me.

My granddaughters are at the age that they enjoy dressing their dolls.  In fact, two of the younger ones enjoy dressing up everything…, themselves, stuffed animals, the dog…!  And they want everyone to see how BEAUTIFUL their “dirls” look (that’s three year old Lily talk for ‘girls’) with EVERY outfit!  Such fun. 

I get overwhelmed easily.  I write quite a bit about being overwhelmed.  But this overwhelmed is a good thing!  It’s being overwhelmed with joy in the Lord, my God.  Let’s break it down.

Overwhelmed ---with JOY!

Overwhelmed with joy ----IN THE LORD!

Overwhelmed with joy in the Lord MY GOD!

Why?? What has me overwhelmed?

He has dressed me.
HE…THE LORD MY GOD…has dressed me.
He has dressed me with THE CLOTHING OF SALVATION!
He has draped me in a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Thinking of my God delighting in dressing me the way my granddaughters delight in dressing their dolls just gave me a whole new perspective on this truth.  I know salvation is of the Lord.  It is definitely more about Him than it is about me, I just enjoy the benefits of His great salvation.  But thinking of how it delights the Father to dress me in His clothing of salvation, to imagine Him draping me with His robe of righteousness, well, it does something to me. 

I remember the way my Dad looked at me on my wedding day, seeing me standing there in Mama and Daddy’s bedroom in my gown.  He teared up and couldn’t say much, just that I was beautiful, that he loved me, and that I would always be his little girl.  Then, “It’s time to go.”  He may not even remember it.  It was 35 years ago, but I remember it still.  It brings a smile to my face, and when he is gone it will likely bring a tear to my eye, and overwhelm me with joy. 

That’s sort of what I felt when I read this verse and really gave it some thought, picturing a loving Father embracing me with His love this way.  I am overwhelmed with joy.  The Lord my God has personally clothed me with His salvation and draped me in His robe of righteousness.  Maybe you don’t have that kind of relationship with an earthly father; you can’t picture this kind of tender moment.  I’m sorry.  But I want you to know that God loves you that way.  He aches to have you experience the depth of that kind of love, one that would get personally involved in your life, and give you of Himself all He has to offer.  Believe me, once you grasp it, it with overwhelm you with joy too. 

 

 

 

Grandbaby Tour 2012

It’s slowly slipping into fall, that beautiful contemplative time of year. You know, when you can grab a cup of hazelnut or pumpkin spice coffee, sit down near a window and just enjoy the color and the quiet. And where do my thoughts go? Back to the summer. And what a whirlwind summer it was! My dear friend Val was the one that dubbed it the 2012 Grandbaby Tour. The grandbabies have certainly been coming, and coming quickly and close together for the last few years. Our oldest, turning 8 in just a few days remarked recently, “There was only two born in this round, Grammy”. Made me smile. She’s heard me refer to the cycles the babies have been born in as “rounds of four”!

The “tour” actually started in April when we made a quick trip up to Indiana to see oldest son Joshua and family; wife Christina, Gabe, Zeke and Josie. They relocated to Warsaw in late February from Utah and we could hardly wait to be able to drive to see them since we always had to fly before! It has always helped me to see where the kids are, where they live, learn about the area they are in, their ministry. It helps me feel more connected when we talk or see pictures. Did I say kids??? Is that typical?? Josh is 31 now with 3 children; Daniel is 30 with 4 children; Aaron is 28 with 4 children; and Seth is 26 with 3 children…yep, my kids. I guess they will always be “the boys” to me, or “the kids” which includes their beautiful wives. My four wonderful sons and their precious families; I’m so grateful. And now all these grandchildren! They make life so full and fun! As full and fun as it was, and continues to be for that matter, to be mom, it is multiplied over and over with the addition of grandchildren!

At the end of May and early June, once Jordan finished the school year, we headed to Texas to see Aaron and Martha and fam, Elisha, Arya, Emma, and the newest born early May, Adley Renee’. Jordan is the 16 year old “daughter” that has come into our home and hearts as part of the family now. The ‘tour’ was also an opportunity for her to get to know ‘the brothers’ and rest of the family better. She did much of the driving too and saw parts of the country she has never seen. It was a great trip. It was also the first time seeing where Aaron and Martha are now living and ministering. Whew! is Dallas a big and busy city! Although they live in Plano, their church is in south Dallas. We rode the commuter train into Dallas to the zoo…we love zoos!! After a super visit…always too short…we left for home, but decided to do so via Atlanta for a quick overnight stop with Seth and Rebecca. Coming into west Atlanta from interstate 20 was so beautiful! And Jordan was able to chalk up even more states traveled through.

In July it was back up to Indiana, this time for the installation service for Josh as the new pastor of Community Bible Church. Not only did Jordan make this trip, but we took Makenzie and Elijah with us, the two oldest grandchildren and Grandma Harding came along too. In Utah when Dan and Steph still lived there and ministered together with Josh and Christina, the cousins were practically inseparable. So it was priceless to see the looks on Gabe and Zeke’s faces when they saw their cousins! And they had quite the adventure in “the cat barn”…another story for another time. It ended with everyone needing a shower and having to wash their clothes, including Poppy once they were found. I’ll leave you to imagine! Then there was story time with Grammy to learn a valuable lesson.

The ‘tour’ ended with a trip to Atlanta at the end of August to be with Seth and Rebecca after the birth of their third, another little girl Evelyn Josephine. Isn’t that beautiful? You should hear big brother Ephraim say it; “This is my new baby sister Evelyn Josephine.” Side note: the daughter-in-laws middle names have been used with each other’s daughters, and I think it’s the coolest thing! Maybe because it is a blessing to my heart to know the sister-in-laws love each other and enjoy spending time with each other so much. Rare and sweet! Rog left me for a week to help with Ephraim and Ellie while Rebecca recovered. My what a special time. What a joy to be able to be able to help my kids.

Well, coffee is gone. The afternoon has slipped away. My thoughts turn to autumn and how quickly it is approaching. It was just a year ago in October that our family was all together here at home in West Virginia. All the great-grands were even able to be here. The house was bursting at the seams! I don’t know when we’ll be able to make another ‘Tour’, or when we’ll even all be able to be together again. And I’m ok with that because I treasure the times we do have and have memories stored to hold onto. In the meantime, there are cell phones and picture texting and Skype and Facebook…thank God for technology!!

I’m ready to welcome another fall in all of its glory.

Reindeer Surprise

Our grandson, Elijah, has been quite fascinated with reindeer this Christmas season. Rudolph was the first Christmas special we watched. His stuffed Rudolph goes everywhere…everywhere! He can spot them a mile away, in a yard, a store window. Every animal from farm cows to jungle cats has imaginatively doubled as reindeer complete with names.

So when Rog made a trip up into the attic to check on the furnace and called down to me, “Hey, there are reindeer up here!” well, Elijah was at the bottom of the ladder in a split second, wide-eyed and waiting. I yelled up, “Sure there are!”

“No, I’m serious, there are reindeer up here! And a sleigh, and…what do you know, a Santa??? I quickly climbed the ladder only to meet the first reindeer face to face as he started to hand it down. Over 12 years we have lived in this house with no knowledge of reindeer in the attic. They obviously had belonged to the previous owners, but had evidently been abandoned or forgotten to the dark, cold attic corner.

Well, they are now in the yard…minus the Santa; he landed a spot on the back deck as a door mat. But the reindeer? They found a spot out front near the spiral lit Christmas trees that very night.

Life is just full of surprises, isn’t it? From our earthly perspective at least . I know God has a sense of humor. He used reindeer in my attic to remind me not to let the grinches and grumpies of this world rob me of His joy and simple pleasures that may be closer than I think.

I have a sneaking suspicion that outside of the grace of God and His joy made available to me I could easily become one of those grinches or grumpies. And I know exactly what “gets my goat”. Selfishness, rudeness, injustices, inconsistencies, arrogance…and I guess I should add being judgmental right? Hey, I look in the mirror often. That’s one reason I’m so easily frustrated. I know what the Word of God is capable of…it has transformed me. And even though many would likely say I’ve a ways to go, I’m not what I used to be, and don’t want to be. I can’t imagine life any other way. But I let God deal with that and continue to draw me closer to Himself. The greater the focus on the person of Christ, the less the fretting over things, situations, people…I cannot change or control. Especially the little things that might appear huge at the moment but really…they’re little in the light of eternity. But it’s not like God is unaware of even the huge things. How fruitless to fret! And I am the one that loses if my joy is sapped.

I’m not the only one who’s learned the power of this truth. Opening a Christmas card today from a dear friend was another welcomed reminder of how very much she taught me about joy years ago. And she’s never let it go. On the front of her card, “Joy” in large red script. Her message, her strength in very dark times, was and continues to be “joy”, joy in Jesus. Joy in Him, not in what He chooses to do or not do for us when we think we can’t go on, but a depth of joy that waits and trusts and prays, for years! It strengthens you to conquer the ups and downs, to accept what comes from His hand, and sees God do awesome things. And there are others…they have chosen joy in Jesus as a reality in their lives in spite of their circumstances, their hurts. They’re an inspiration and have taught me so much.

Sure, choosing joy is going to be challenged every now and then. And there are plenty of heartaches and hurts and headaches to go around. Read the newspaper, go to the mall, go to work! But don’t give up. Keep joy alive. Maybe this Christmas joy can reign, even with the same old ornaments, the same old Christmas music, the same old Christmas routine….Christmas programs, Christmas shopping, the cooking and baking and wrapping and rushing. And yes, the same people, maybe even family. Ask God to open your eyes to see differently. Ask Him to forgive the sins of irritation, frustration, impatience, doubt, anger, arrogance, whatever it might be. Tell him you want the joy. You might have to tell Him often. But you may just find it in a way you’re not expecting.

There may be reindeer in your attic.