Month: June 2015

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

My good friend looked at the little wooden sign sitting in my living room. And they lived happily ever after.

“Well,” she said, “I guess that was a lie.”

I was taken aback. “It’s not a lie,” I said.

“Seriously, Milinda, you call this happily ever after?”

Perhaps, I am naïve.

I do understand her point. We are at a place in our lives when our children have just left our safe nest, our parents are ageing, and so are we. Life is not easy. Tragedy befalls us.

But that doesn’t stop me from believing that I am living happily ever after. God never promised things would be easy. God promised he would hold my hand through my journey. And that gives me joy. That’s my happily ever after.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22

“I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It’s amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor.” D.H. Lawrence

Feeling blue can sometimes be remedied by a small task whose conclusion offers results: cleaning a toilet, sewing a pillow, cooking a meal, preparing a lecture. It’s such a simple solution, I often ignore its truth. But the Bible reminds me that finding satisfaction in our work is a gift from God.

“That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Luke 12: 34

My children are my treasure, and they have my heart.  And yet, God calls me to seek his kingdom first, to desire his love most, and to send my children to him. I so want to cling to them, I so want their love. But, I have to let go. I have to send my precious children into the loving arms of a gracious god. My thirst must be for God’s love above all.

But seek his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.  Luke 12:31

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. Psalm 98:1

Singing praise and worship songs might be my favorite part of church. Our congregation raises its voice to God, the holy spirit like a protective cloud surrounds us. Music brings the blessed catharsis of tears and laughter, twin soul-soothers.

Make a joyful nose to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Psalm 99:4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Hebrews 12:1

I love this image, being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses in those who went before me—my grandmothers, my grandfathers, aunts and uncles, my father and great grandmother, all of whom, I know, loved God with all of their heart. To know that they surround me as I struggle, with my eyes on Jesus, to reach that heavenly peace comforts me.

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2-3

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

Last night at dinner with dear friends, I stumbled over words meant to share a miracle God had recently worked in my family’s life. After the fervent prayer of loved ones, my son was given a second chance. I wanted to say that the prayers of the righteous are, indeed, powerful and effective (James 5:16). I found it easier to talk about the circumstances than I did in God’s hand in the miracle. If I had been more courageous and shared God’s miracle, who knows what needed blessing God might have revealed to my friends? I am in need of the first half of the verse today: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16a  I confess my weakness and pray for discernment and the courage to share.

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Psalm 119:35

How can I know what God directs me to do today?  Am I writing what God would have me write? Or, am I writing for selfish gain? I pray David’s prayer: Turn my heart towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain (Psalm 119:36) and hope I have enough faith to allow God to guide my words.

 

 

Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Let go and let God.

It’s a cliché, right?  But like most clichés it has its foundation in truth. Daily, I reach a point when even after I’ve worked as if everything depends on me (St. Augustine), I must pray as if everything depends on God (St. Augustine). I find this especially true in raising my children. I can only do so much. I have to pray and trust God to do the rest. And God is faithful. Always.

The Lord will guide you always. Isaiah 58:11