O, what a glorious night, the
night of the Savior’s birth!But a
silent night it likely was not.Remember,
Bethlehem was bursting at the seams with all that came for the census; hear the
sound of shouting voices and shuffling feet.On a dark hillside, a multitude of angels astounded a band of shepherds
with their hallelujah chorus.Even in
the solitude of the stable, a donkey brayed, sheep were bleeting, a woman cried
out in pain, a man prayed, and the cry of a baby was heard.But there was joy and purpose resounding in
this cacophony!Heaven had come to
earth, and there was no keeping quiet!
Now consider an average evening in
our homes.We settle in for what we
think will be a quiet evening after a long day at work or school, ready to just
put up our feet and rest a bit, and chaos breaks out.The phone starts ringing, TV starts blaring,
the kids start arguing, the microwave beeps, the oven buzzes, and then, sirens
start screaming from somewhere down the street.All we want is to find a quiet place, maybe even a place to pray or just
reflect on our day in peace.But silence
is scarce, and for some it’s even scary.We fill our moments with mayhem, then wonder why we’re so frayed and
tired.
Good news!Jesus is our quiet resting place!He is our Peace!The clamor of our lives is unavoidable,
but it does not have to wear us ragged.In fact, a quick and quiet prayer, breathed in the middle of a storm is what
Jesus waits to hear. The busy bustle of Bethlehem on the night of the Babe’s
birth welcomed Him, it did not deter His coming!It did not interfere with the angels’ song;
it did not keep the shepherds from their faithful watch.Each individual in the Christmas story
entered into the fray, accompanied by the knowledge that the God of the
Universe was doing something magnificent.And certainly He was.It may have
been a strange way to do it, but He was beginning His promised work of
salvation, His gift to the world He created.
“Then in despair I
bowed my head; There is no peace on earth I said,
for hate is strong, and
mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men!”
Then peeled the bells
more loud and deep; God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men!”
So,
when you find yourself this year wondering where the peace and quiet is, pause
in wonder at the Peace that Jesus is.When all the world would say “there is no peace”, when they search for
it in all the wrong places, be His reminder that Peace is real and it can be
found in Jesus.
May
this be your Merriest Christmas ever, and 2015 your best year yet!
Psalm 103:4-5,“He redeems me from death,
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things.”
I had to stop my reading and
just let this sink in.I am awed and
humbled that God has chosen to show Himself so gracious towards me.My life is so full of good things, and the
good things just keep coming.
In July, Roger and I had the
privilege of having all our children and grandchildren, our parents, and most
of our siblings, along with some dear friends, gather with us to celebrate
thirty-five years of the life that God has given us together.And celebrate we did! For a week as a family
we ate together, played games together, hung out at the pool together and
around the firepit; there were laughs, and stories, and time spent just sharing
our hearts, burdens and prayer requests.We sang together, and we worked together to see the week culminate in a
beautiful ceremony of shared commitment and renewal to the future God still has
in store for us.Everyone pitched in,
from the youngest with rakes and brooms, to the older ones with weed-eaters and
lawn mowers, and from cleaning to cooking, to make sure everything was ready
for our special day.And when it was all
over, we hugged and cried, said our goodbyes, and began looking forward to the
next time we’d all be able to be together again, not knowing when that might be
or what might change before that next time.
We believe what we have as a
family is something to be treasured.But
maybe like your family, we’re not perfect.We have our moments.We don’t
always agree on everything, nor do things quite the same way.In fact, we can be quite opinionated and
passionate about a lot of different things, and the family setting has often been
the place those things have been “loudly discussed”.But that is part of what makes it so
great.We all have a desire to honor
God.We all love and respect each other.Our love and commitment to Christ keeps our
love and commitment to each other strong.He always brings us back to what is right, and what may need to be made
right with each other.He makes what we
have worth any effort it may take on each individual part to keep the whole
intact.
Two take-aways:1) People matter, and 2) It’s not about “stuff”.
People matter.
Relationships matter, but
they take work to be good and strong.Relationships need mutual respect and consideration, selfless giving and
honesty, humility and forgiveness.The
Scripture says that “if it be possible, as much as lies within you, live peaceably
with all men,” (Romans 12:18).This
infers that in some situations with some people it’s just not going to
happen.We cannot control how others
choose to handle themselves.All we can
do is determine to love like Jesus loves, forgive like Jesus forgives, and pray
for those that would choose not to “live peaceably with all men”.
In a recent conversation with
someone in a rather desperate situation, I was being asked for help.But they also explained they did not want to
hear any of my “Christian hogwash, since my life had been so perfect” (and that
was the decent version of their comments).Yet, they were calling me!And I
wanted to say, “NO, MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT, BUT IT SURE HAS BEEN
GOOD.And you may not want to hear it,
or acknowledge that God has had anything to do with the fact that my life has
taken quite a different turn than yours, but at least I know that my choices to
honor God and live to serve Him have kept me from the many hard times and
heartbreaks that have come as a result of nothing more than selfish and sinful
choices."
Some hurts are
unavoidable.Some situations are beyond
my control.But even those times, if not
intrinsically good, I can trust God to bring good from or work to my good as He
promises to do (Romans 8:28, James 1:17).So I said the only thing I could say to this person, “You know me.You may not want to hear it, but it’s all I’ve
got for you. You need God.You need His forgiveness.You need to allow His love to really penetrate
your heart and give you hope and a future.He can, and He wants to, but He won’t do it against your will.I love you, and I’m praying He will intervene
and give you a chance to know His mercy and grace.”That person is still living in a despairing
and miserable situation, but only because they won’t choose to do
otherwise.And at the same time they
want me to feel guilty and accuse me of thinking I am better than they are
because I have a good life.I refuse to
do it!!I will praise God for filling my
life with good things.
It’s not
about “stuff.” For some,
having a life filled with good things is all about “stuff”.They can never have enough stuff.We have had times with very little and what
would not be considered, “nice stuff”.We’ve had times when we have been able to have nice things.“Stuff” can make life a little easier,
pleasant, less stressful maybe.And don’t
get me wrong, I’m grateful for all the “stuff” God has blessed us with. But it’s
not about “stuff”.It’s about being able to go to sleep at night
content with the day you’ve had, happy and at peace.It’s about loving others and knowing you are
loved.It’s about this deep joy inside
even when you are hurting, that just can’t be explained.It’s about being able to trust in Someone
greater than yourself when your inadequacies are overwhelming, when your limits
are stretched, when the situation seems hopeless.My heart is weary for those that, with disdain, shun this type of goodness, goodness
of the purest sort.Stuff is ok; stuff
is nice to have, but having lots of stuff doesn't constitute a good life.
“It’s a
wonderful life!” “Life is good.” “Living the good life.”You know the cliches.However you want to say it, it’s all good and
I’m grateful.I can say that mine is a
wonderful life.I can say my life is
good. And I really hope you can
say withme, “He fills my life with good
things.”
Psalm 109:22“For I
am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, my heart began to pound in my
chest.I could hardly swallow.I would not cry again, so I fought to hold
back the tears and tried to quiet my mind.It seemed the hurt followed me everywhere.I was at my happy place, the beach!It was early morning.I had my coffee in hand, my Bible in my lap
and I was watching the sun brighten up the morning out over the ocean.It had only been a little over a week since I
had the joy and great privilege to experience one of the happiest times in my
life. Roger and I had just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary
by renewing our vows; our four sons and their families (16 grandchildren in all
now!) with us for a whole week, my parents and brothers and their families,
Roger’s mom and one of his brothers and a nephew, close friends in the area,
and some of our church family all with us to share in the joy…it was an amazing
week.Still, the hurt found me. And it
had been nearly three months.
After taking a moment to pray and write down what I was
feeling in my journal, I turned back to the Scripture to try to finish my
morning devotional time.I have often
strongly encouraged others to be intentional and consistent with this alone
time with the Savior, because I know what it has meant to me.It only makes sense after all.Keeping any relationship strong means
spending time together, getting to know each other better, growing together,
communicating with each other.Because
this was now a “habit”, albeit a good one, in my life now, this time with Jesus
was my stay. I also knew that because I
had learned over the years that God is faithful to keep His promises, faithful
to be true to His Word, to His character, He would meet me now as in other
painful times past, and His healing would come.
The challenge was for
me to be faithful to continue to seek Him out, be in His Word so He could
use it to comfort and teach and strengthen. Stay connected to His people rather
than withdraw.Listen to music that
proclaims His truth, fosters praise in my soul and lifts my spirit when I don’t
feel like singing.It is not always easy
when you are hurting.For me even
breathing was too much effort some days or so it seemed.But God….did you hear that?!But God! (and boy am I glad there is a “but
God!”)But God is strong.But God is always there.But God is faithful; I can depend on Him to
carry me through, strengthen me in my weakness, dry my tears with His Words of
comfort, send a shoulder for me to cry on, hugs just when I need them.When I am in His Word on a regular basis He
uses it to say just the right thing at the right time to speak peace to my
wounded heart, just like He did today.It
is one of the ways I know it is Him that is speaking, I didn’t just pick and
choose favorite or familiar passages, although I do that too after my “routine”,
if you want to call it that, Bible reading because just reading His Word brings
calm and hope.
Oh, the ache of a wounded heart.It happens.We are rejected; we are used, taken advantage of.We love and extend ourselves only to have it
thrown back in our face like it meant nothing.Then there is the heartbreak, the burden of knowing that someone you
love has made wrong choices and will have to live with those choices.Even if they don’t ever want to make things
right with you again, what about God? What will it take to bring them back to
God? This was not just hurt feelings.Sin is involved.Roger and I were
just hurt in the process.How did they
allow themselves to inflict such hurt and still claim to be following the God of
the Bible?He doesn’t treat people that
way. Well, that is God’s concern,
especially if they truly belong to Him.I have to leave it with Him!
Keep reading, Ang.How does Psalm 109 speak to my wounded heart?It directs my heart, and my emotions…since
that is really the problem, how I am feeling right now…back to Him in two ways:
1) Pray; I’ve already done that.Yes, but I must keep praying, keep giving it
back to God when the hurt creeps over me.And the anger,. Yes anger.That’s
just part of the “hurt” territory, anger at having been treated so wrongly and
so carelessly.Psalm 109 is one long
prayer.
“God,
don’t close your ear to my prayer!Wicked people are telling lies about me.They are saying things that are not true.People are saying hateful things about
me.People are attacking me for no
reason.I loved them, but they hate
me.So, now I am praying to you, God.I did good things to those people but they
are doing bad things to me.I loved
them, but they hated me.”(verses 1-5
ERV)
The prayer continues, and I must say, as I read I begin to
think, “Wow, maybe what happened to me is not so bad.I know the psalmist is speaking out of hurt,
and that is so easy to do.But I really
don’t want bad things to happen to them because of what they did to me.I just want God to heal my wounded heart.My prayer
begins to change to one for them as well as what I’m asking God to do for
me.Reading His Word and praying
begins to change me.
2) Praise; hard to do.Yes, it is but start.Just speak
His name, even in a quiet whisper.“Jesus!”He hears.The psalmist got to this point.Consider verse 30:
“I will
greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the
multitude.”
Casting Crowns sings a song, “Praise You In This Storm”It is
just one of many songs that helped me during this time.Keep praying, keep praising.Let Him help you rise above the hurt.Let Him heal your wounded heart.
He is healing mine.
"Praise
You In This Storm"
I
was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
[Chorus]
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
I'm up early, like 5:00 a.m. early...couldn't sleep. But I needed this time. Been thinking all night on Psalm 104:1; "Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great."
I don't praise Him nearly enough. And lately I find myself just crying out to Him for one thing or another. Just in the last few weeks I have been weighed down by concerns for personal health issues; concerns for my parents and challenges they are facing because of age and health; major changes and challenges at work that bring demands both physically and emotionally; and then heartbreak over the choices of those I love, feeling rejected, used, betrayed. Being in the parent role we're in to a number of young people has its rewards, but when you love deeply, you hurt deeply. There's no getting around it. Yet God knows that. He is a loving Heavenly Father who has given greatly for our good, and His love and wisdom and help are not always accepted or appreciated by the likes of His stubborn children. So I draw even closer to Him and with His help just rest in His love for me.
But I'm not in prayer long for my own needs when my thoughts and prayers turn quickly to so many other precious people going through so much...sickness, loss, concerns over jobs and finances...hurting, burdened people. So I pray more. I know it matters. I know God hears. I trust Him, even though it's not always easy to patiently wait for Him to answer...and even harder to accept His answers when they may not be what I would want. But that is why I am who I am, and He is Who He is....very great. And I have allowed my circumstances, and even the concern I have for others, to overshadow that greatness. I see it. I know it to be true. He has saved me. He loves me in spite of myself. He has been so gracious to allow me to have experienced such a full and wonderful life. He has brought so many wonderful people across my path. I am awed by His creation...looking out over this mountain ridge this morning, seeing the fog lift and sun break through...what beauty! I close my eyes and I can almost feel an ocean breeze blowing across my face and the calming affect of the waves rolling in as I sit on a sandy beach. It blows me away every time I get to experience it, and my God created it. Yes, He is great.
O God, I praise You today. I just lift my heart in awe of Your greatness. You are still in charge, of all the intricacies of life, the workings of man, the nature of governments, Your creation. Today I want to set aside the tendency to see all the negative, and just embrace all the beauty and the glory around me, letting it recharge my soul and enlarge my hope and expectations in You. I praise You for so many answers to prayer and that You are even mindful of my needs and concerns. I praise You for giving Your powerful and alive Word to live by and trust in; I am so very grateful for our precious ever growing family. I praise you for sweet fellowship with other believers, and for the blessing of friendship, and the promise of heaven and Your return.
"Bless the Lord O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou art very great."
Riding back to the farm in the back seat, holding on to Abby
the goat, I smiled to think how much my life has changed.I am so utterly humbled to reflect on where
God has brought us from, and what He has brought us to; what He has done to us,
given to us.My dream from the time I
was a little girl was different than most I guess.When someone would ask me what I wanted to be
when I grew up, a nurse perhaps?A
business woman?Yes, I thought about
those things as a young girl.Never any
dreams of a ballerina or rock star or anything like that! Mechanic, yes…racecar
driver…yes. But as I moved into high school and began to think more seriously
about my future, all I really wanted was to have a family.My dreams were of a big farm house with a
wrap-around porch, lots of critters, and lots of children.
When Rog and I first stepped onto the property we knew it
was something special.I wondered at
first if it could even be possible to ever call it home. It was the big
farmhouse of my dreams, with a wrap-around porch.There was a beautiful barn, and room!We are so grateful to God that we now call it
home since last August. The addition of critters was not even questioned since
kids and critters have pretty much been our life.In fact, our “boys” (our 8 alpacas) moved
onto the property before we did, part of a rescue of sorts that we took on when
presented with the opportunity.Since
that time we’ve added laying hens, rabbits (not just pets but will be producing
for meat), and now Abby the goat who is with child, or “kid” I guess I should
say.And I can’t forget the two dogs and
the big gray barn cat. I’m pretty sure there will be more to come as we commit
to care for whatever and whomever God brings our way.
In July Roger and I will be renewing our wedding vows here
on the farm, celebrating 35 years together.God has been so gracious and faithful.We’ve taken a few twists and turns on this wild ride.I don’t know that I ever looked into our
future and saw Rog and I coming home to our own farm with our oldest
granddaughter (of 16 grandchildren) and a goat in the back of a Jeep! I must
confess, my daydreams were a bit more uh, dreamy than that! But here we are.
And where is “here” exactly, I mean really? Because home for
us has never actually been about a place. “Here” is together. Home has always
been wherever we were as a family, together…a small, desperately-in-need-of-renovation
apartment; a camping trailer; rooms above the kitchen of a church gymnasium; a
retirement complex (that one was especially interesting, since we weren’t the
retirees at the time).Why together?Because we have chosen to be.Doesn’t love have anything to do with it, you
ask?Don’t misunderstand, it has a lot
to do with it.I love my husband.I am in love with my husband.I still remember admitting to myself for the
very first time that I loved him.I
didn’t want to at first.You see, I
wasn’t one of those girls that threw that “I love you” phrase around like lose
change.I had observed first hand too
many couples, shipwrecked, broken, that I thought would never be torn
apart.Family, people I loved, had hurt
so deeply.I decided pretty quickly that
“I love you” was going to mean something when I said it.That was largely insecurity and fear couched
in a conjured up self-confidence, and it could have cost me a life that dreams
are made of.Well, my dreams.I still see the torment of battered and
bruised relationships all too often, and it still affects me deeply.I want to just fix it!I want to say “Stop!! God can turn this thing
around!”I have seen homes healed,
praise God, but not often enough.
All that said, choosing to stay together no matter what (and
there has been some “what”!) has deepened our love.It has strengthened our resolve to listen and
understand and forgive. Every couple deals with “what”.Some just decide to bail rather than build, when
it becomes so complicated, when the hurt is so devastating, when the damage
appears unrepairable.We could have
bailed at a number of points along the way…and sacrificed a future that
includes too many blessings to count, and it’s not over!But many of those blessings came as the
result of a heart humbled by God that brought me to a place where I was finally
willing to surrender my stubborn will to His.I needed to be willing to change my life in order to experience His plan
for me.It meant a lot of letting go, a
lot of giving over to God as he shaped me and changed me into the person He
wanted me to be.It was the person I really
wanted to be and the life I wanted to have, but knew I could never get there on
my own.I’m still a work in progress.
I’m thankful that I stopped pursuing my own plans.I’m even more grateful that God has made His
timeless Truth available to me to rely on, instead of how I feel. My feelings
are totally unpredictable and unreliable when left unguided and unchecked.The wisest choices are made based on what you
know to be right and true, not on how you feel.And the Bible is the ultimate authority on what is right and true.This one life choice, acceptance of God’s
authoritative Truth and then, obedience to it, has made all the
difference.When I didn’t feel like
staying faithful, I did.When I didn’t
feel like I could give any more, I did.When I didn’t feel like I could say” I’m sorry, please forgive me”, I
did.When I did not feel like I could
say “I forgive you”, or “I understand”, or “We’re in this together”, I did;
when I felt like just walking away from it all, I didn’t.Not because I’m so great; but because God is
so great.
I’m far removed from a newly-married teenage girl of 18
in a Chevy Luv pick-up truck, coming across country with two dogs in tow, and
pregnant.I could write a book, maybe
only one that I’d be interested in reading but hey, that’s an idea…”A Life
Worth Living, (but not worth reading about)”!Actually, my husband has claimed this title first so maybe I’ll just
have him write the book!Years down the road, I’m sure I’ll find myself reflecting once
again on just how much my life has changed. I’ll look back and smile as I remember riding
back to the farm in the back seat of our Jeep with my granddaughter, and Abby.
Just one of a million sweet
memories I’ll have tucked away from a lifetime of days ---a ride home with a goat.
PS.Maybe you are one
of those deeply hurting people, or were deeply wounded at one time.You did all you could do, all you should do,
all God would have you to do, and life still turned out differently than you
had hoped it would.That’s ok. You can’t
control the choices/behaviors of others.God knows all about that.His Son
suffered horrendously because of the sinful and heartless choices of others
when He had done everything to honor the Father.But there was a purpose in it all, so God had
to allow it and Jesus endured it, knowing the Father’s great plan.Don’t give up hope, not on yourself, not on
your future, and definitely not on God.Just commit yourself to Him and embrace His love for you.Trust Him.Just as His Word promises, He will bring good from your situation.
Words of Hope:Philippians
1:6; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 12:5; I Peter 2:23
Exodus 33: 17“For
the Lord said to Moses, I will also do this thing that you have spoken: for you
have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.”
There’s a measure of security and significance in the
fact that someone that matters knows you by name.As a part of this huge cosmos, it’s easy to
sometimes just feel lost, like no one really knows you and if they do, do they
really care about the things you care about?What about when you mess up?What
then?It’s comforting to have that
person that really knows you look at you with love and acceptance and forgiveness,
not disappointment and disgust.
Moses had this meaningful and transparent relationship
with God.They shared.They talked.They vented.And it was
okay.That’s the kind of relationship to
have, one of mutual understanding and commitment, acceptance and
belonging.They didn’t always agree, but
they were on the same page.And that was
what mattered.When Moses needed to be
reassured of where he stood in the relationship…and we all do from time to
time…God let him know He was still there and His grace was at work in his
life.
Now
therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way
that I may know
You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And He said, My Presence
will go
with you, and I will
give you rest.Then he [Moses] said to
Him, If Your Presence
does not go with us, do not bring
us up from here.
I am so amazed and encouraged that my God knows me by
name.He knows me, and still wants to be
with me.In fact, He says that the fact
that His very presence is mine to enjoy is how I can know I have found grace in
His sight (in other words, He loves me in spite of myself!).His Presence and Grace then provide the
purpose and direction I need in my life when I feel like I’m losing my
way.
It also gives me an example to follow in my
relationships with others.Sometimes the
people that are supposed to know you love them and that you are there for them
just need to hear it.They need to be
reassured.Sometimes it’s just your
presence they need, even if it’s across the miles…prayer can take you there,
and a quick text , message or note when you can’t be there to hug or hold can
mean so much. Your spouse needs to hear
it too, that you are there for them, loving them, supporting them, listening to
them.And as God extends His grace to
us, following His example, extend it to others.That means your care and concern may not be deserved or appreciated, but
that’s not the point.Grace is about the
other person.
O dear God, thank you for a
beyond-first-name-basis-relationship!You know me, better than I know myself, and You still love me and desire
to be my ever present companion.Thank
you for reaffirming our relationship with your grace and your presence, and for
showing me Your way.It’s always
best.
Like Moses, if You don’t go with me, I don’t want to
go...to whatever or wherever that may be.Amen.
"And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark..." Genesis 8:1a
The floodgates opened, just as God had said they would. There they were, Noah and his family and all the animals that God had instructed him to bring onto the ark...together, stuck on that boat! Not for days, not for weeks, but months! Over a year actually.
But they were on the boat. God remembered Noah. In obedience and faith Noah built the ark "to the saving of his family". All those that scoffed at it were lost in the deluge.
Some days I find myself whining about some situation Rog and I are dealing with, whether it's at home with the farm, at the church, a family concern, or our job at the ranch. Sometimes I am fearful and anxious about how something will turn out. Satan would have me think we're all stuck on this boat and it's gonna go down!
But it's not. God's got this.
"and God made a wind to pass over the earth and the waters asswaged," Gen. 8:1b
Asswaged! Is that an awesome word? (Gotta love the KJV) The wind blew, and the waters began to recede. Emphasis on began. The waters did not disappear overnight. They had to ride it out for quite some time. But when the wind blew something began to happen. Even before they could see evidence of the waters going down, it was. They did not know where they would eventually land, but Noah was confident it would be safe and completely dry!
I can have that same confidence. God is that way. He begins working and I don't often see it or recognize any change. But it soon becomes clear that He is definitely at work. I just have to be patient and "ride it out", knowing that I will safely land.
“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.
