A New Song
This morning I awoke discouraged, disheartened – and I don’t know why.
Was it the heaviness of Covid-19 quarantine? The seemingly never-ending issues surrounding my dad and stepmom in senior-care-lockdown? My concern for Keith as he works on infrastructure in Long Beach? Or was it just plain old w-e-a-r-i-n-e-s-s?
I prayed, asking the Lord to give me His mind and His joy once again, then headed outside in my robe and slippers, coffee in hand.
I saw a hummingbird nearby feeding on a red salvia that had a branch that had turned light pink…a yellow warbler singing in the top of a tree…an oriole in the neighbor’s trees waiting for me to sit down so she could eat breakfast at our grape jelly feeder.
I thanked God for these sweet sights and sounds – creatures for whom God provides without their asking.
My devotionals all talked of joy in the Lord – the joy He gives, the joy of giving to others. But the last one brought it all together…
Praise.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord at all times.
Praise the Lord, even when I’m discouraged or disheartened.
Choose to praise Him – resetting the eyes of my heart to look at what He’s done…given…provided…His unfailing love…His Son, Jesus.
So I did.
“Praise the Name of the Lord our God…for endless days I’ll sing His praise!” He is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness. He is my God. He’s working even when I don’t see it or feel it.
And He put a new song, His joy, in my heart once again.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” Psalm 28:7
Why Do I Celebrate Easter?
The question was asked this week, “Why do you celebrate Easter?” The answer was to be given in one sentence. My short answer? Because Jesus rose from the dead, giving life and salvation to all who believe.
But what does that mean? Especially today. Today, when everything we thought was under our control has been turned upside down by an enemy we cannot see. Today, when we’re realizing we really haven’t had control over much in our lives but were deceived into believing we did.
This morning my dad was admitted to the hospital with some serious health issues that, at this time, do NOT appear to be Coronavirus related. My siblings and I pray for our dad daily and have been in regular contact as he and his wife have been in lockdown in an assisted living facility 1 ½ hours from my home. We’ve fallen into a pattern of checking in via text, phone calls or facetime. We send groceries through a grocery service. We communicate with their caregivers to stay on top of their care and their issues. I started feeling comfortable that we were doing well controlling what was happening in their confined world. But an unseen enemy had infiltrated, showing the amount of control we had, and it wasn’t much.
But God…
But God is in control and was already working on Dad’s behalf. Through our prayers for wisdom, guidance and protection Dad had prearranged for an extra caregiver to come in to help our stepmom this weekend, since he was feeling weak while fighting infection. Through our prayers for healing the nursing staff at the facility insisted, over Dad’s objections, on additional medical care. His midnight trip to the ED has provided that care.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know that the One who holds the future has overcome the unseen enemy of our souls. When Jesus rose from the dead that first Easter Sunday, He defeated death, the ultimate enemy. He died and rose from the grave so that we, too, could have life when we believe in Him. As it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He told his followers, “I have told you these things so that in Me you would have peace. In this world you will have trouble (distresses, tribulation), but take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33
When my mom was battling cancer, I was so blessed to celebrate her last Easter with her. As we worshiped together that Easter Sunday we cried joyfully as we sang these words:
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living, Just because He lives.” (William J. and Gloria Gaither)
And those words are also my longer answer to the question “why do I celebrate Easter”.
What is your answer?
HE IS RISEN!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!
God bring Your peace, power and purpose into all of these things we are facing today. Thank you for taking what the enemy meant for evil and turning it for good for all those who love You. Thank you for giving Your life and rising from the dead so we, too, can live in You!
Please contact me if you’d like to discuss any of this in greater detail, or if I can pray for you in any way.
Go to https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/jesus.html/english.html if you want to learn more about Jesus.
Super Moon
These days of sheltering at home against the coronavirus have seemed dismal and dreary, at times, like the clouds and rain that have poured down on Southern California these past few weeks. But Spring is also in the air and new life is sprouting from the abundant waters that have showered the earth. God is still at work…though we may not always see Him in every moment.
This morning I got up before 6 and sat down with my cup of coffee to pray and read from God’s Word. As light began trickling in, I looked up at the perfect moment to see a break in the clouds. There in glorious splendor was a full moon shining brightly, filling the sky with light.
My iPhone camera doesn’t do it justice
This wasn’t just any full moon! This was a super moon, at its closest point to the earth in its monthly orbit, making it larger and brighter as it reflected light from the sun. NASA says this was the largest of the full moons of 2020!
What a special gift…and another thing that assured me God is still at work. Even though I may not always “see” Him, when I look for Him I can – and will – see the evidence of what He’s doing.
Like this super moon, I am reflecting Jesus to the world around me. The closer I am to Him the brighter and fuller the reflection! And it’s when times are darkest, that He shines brightest.
My prayer is that I would reflect Him accurately, in every thought…every word…every action, remembering I might be the only evidence some will see of what He’s doing. I want to reflect His beauty so others can see God is still at work and that new life is sprouting up from the abundant waters that are showering the earth…so they can find new life in Him.
Isaiah 55:10 – 11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty.”
Isaiah 66:23 “”From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me”, declares the Lord.”
Lord Jesus, help me stay close to you so I can reflect your love and grace and peace to everyone around me. I love you so much. Thank you for loving us more.