The Righteous Sing

We recently refinished our wood floors. They are beautiful to behold! In fact, I’m so excited I can hardly sleep at night. I feel revived! Excited about life! Encouraged in the journey! It’s a gift, a gift from God. I prayed for the money and God answered. Does God always answer “yes”? Not always, but He did this time! Desire realized is sweet to the soul! It’s a time to rejoice in God’s provision, God’s gracious concern for our temporal desires. Amazing.

Last night, my husband, pointed out how there is an amazing differenc e in my countenance. He said that usually I’m grumpy and upset, but now I’m skipping around happy. He says it’s the hardwood floors!
He’s right. This bothers me.
Sadly, I don’t seem to skip around the house singing because I’m excited about my salvation. Nor have I ever lost sleep because I’m forgiven and free.
Why not?
Why does the temporal thrill me and the the gift of salvation does not?
Proverbs 29:6 (Ps 119:14)
…..the righteous sing and rejoice. For some reason I don’t think this means the righteous sing and rejoice only when his floors are renovated. No. I think it has something to do with the constant, continuous condition of his heart. A heart that is right with God. Forgiven, cleansed, guilt-free. Therefore, the righteous sing. They rejoice.
How do I change? It will certainly require discipline on my part. Reflecting daily on the Gospel. Meditating on the grace of God and what it means to me. Listening to cross centered music. Listening and feeding on Gospel centered preaching.
Lord, I’m living on a “high” right now regarding my house, but Lord help me to live on a “high” regarding my redemption. Thoughts of finished work of Christ should be my constant consolation.

Life's a Beach!

My Beloveds!

I recently saw this quote on a plaque. I thought nothing of it.
However, fresh from the beach, I’ve decided they’re right! Life is a beach! (for me anyway) Let me explain. We were blessed and fortunate enough to go at just the perfect time. The weather was ideal. Not too hot, not too cold. The breeze was not too strong, not too weak. It was a divine opportunity to rest and relax. However, as ideal as the circumstances were, I was not relaxed. As usual, I was the worried sick mother. Constantly counting heads, screaming for everyone to remain knee deep, looking out for sharks, trying to convince my husband to be a good example by staying close to shore.
However, one day, by God’s grace, I had a divine moment. Surprisingly, it happened while sitting in my beach chair. Something I don’t normally do! While sitting and gazing over the vast ocean with a cool breeze on my face, a supernatural peace and calm suddently washed over my soul. For a few moments, I sat quietly, closely communing with the Lord and praying for my children. Did I mention a few moments?!!! While enjoying this brief euphoric moment, abruptly my daughter walked up crying. The little girls she was playing with had rejected her. She was “starving”. The sun had wearied her. Her skin was beginning to burn. I knew she needed to go home. So, off we go, trudging through the thick, deep sand with my “out of shape” legs. We finally arrive home. Sand, salt, and grime from head to toe. After hosing off with cold water, we go in, take a bath, only to find even more sand caked up on the sides of the tub. Exhausted from the day, we cleaned the tub.



That’s life. Trials, hard work, disappointments are inevitable. The moments of euphoria are usually brief. The trials long.



However, for every single trial, there is grace. For every trial! Troubles are as varied as the colors of paint chips in a paint store. But, the grace to endure them all remains the same. It comes from an endless fountain, the fountain of God’s grace. It’s sufficient. It never runs out.
II Cor 12:9-10
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness: Most gladly, therefore, I will boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.