It’s late April in Kansas, which means—at least for now—that the dogwoods are blooming, the wind is blowing 28 miles per hour and the birds are chirping loudly outside my open windows.
Here on the blog, it’s once again time for Share Four Somethings. Heather Gerwing, the host of this monthly linkup, has adjusted the categories a bit since we last met. Along with Something Loved, Gleaned and Achieved, she’s added Something Saved as an alternative to Something Braved.
Three years ago today, my mom went to her eternal home in heaven. Naturally, thoughts of home are at the top of my mind this week.
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My mom spent a lot of time in the kitchen of my childhood home, cooking for her family of nine hungry people.
If Easter didn’t happen, we would all be in an eternally sad state of hopelessness. But—and of course this is the “but” upon which the entire course of history pivots—Easter did happen.
And because of that, we do have hope—in our joy, in our grief, in our anxiety, in our uncertainty. On our best days and our worst days. During the seasons of life that seem to go on forever and those that seem to be over before they’ve even started.
We were in the market for new seating for our family room a few years ago.
We had some pretty specific specifications in mind. We wanted a couch or sectional that could comfortably seat four people who are watching a television show. It needed to be firm but not too hard. Wide enough but still have ample room to open doors on either side.
Happy spring! I am a lover of winter, but even I have my limits. Here’s to daffodils and peony shoots and birds chirping loudly in the morning.
My college girl and I were busy thrifting and running errands and visiting an art gallery and French pastry shop last week, so I didn’t have much time to come up with the usual Four Somethings for this monthly linkup.
I missed a gorgeous sunrise the other day. It was during my younger daughter’s spring break, so my schedule was already a little wonky. Randy was home sick, which made it even more so.
I finally got outside to run just when the sky was finishing its glorious display. As I gazed at the last vestiges of gold and mauve bouncing off scattered clouds, I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Beautiful dawns don’t happen every day, and it had been a while since I’d seen one.
This week of all weeks—when it seems like so much is going wrong and getting worse—I would have welcomed this visible reminder of God’s magnificence, creativity and immutability.
And yet, as I craned my neck to see the fading splendor behind me, I knew in my heart that even when the heavens aren’t displaying the glory of God in a way that meets my expectations, He is still very much on His eternal throne.
It reminds me of a Psalm I read a few weeks ago. Since dawn is my word of the year, verses that mention sunrise or dawn or morning catch my eye these days. The rest of the chapter seems timely, too, for many reasons.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 113)
Whatever is going on in the world, at the gas pump and grocery store, in our churches and even on social media, God is sovereign over it. I can’t offer any commentary to put it all—or even a tiny part of it—in perspective, but I can say this.
No matter what happens, praising God for who He is and what He has done is always a good response.
From dawn to dusk. Come what may. Praise the Lord.
And, if given the chance, testify to God’s goodness in your life. For example, this Saturday is our 28th wedding anniversary. After all this time, Randy and I are still in it for the long haul.
Truly, God has settled this “childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.” And I couldn’t be more grateful.
♥ Lois
Even when the heavens aren’t displaying the glory of God in a way that meets my expectations, He is still very much on His eternal throne. Share on X No matter what happens, praising God for who He is and what He has done is always a good response. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with OneWord2022, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.