Clothed With Joy

Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Pink, purple, red, and yellow flowers bobbed their heads.

On our trip to Lake Erie, blooms exploded with color. The hydrangea bushes waved blue, pink, and purple heads. The bluemink or flossflower complimented the golden buds of the oxeye chamomile, and the prairie sun blooms. Purple salvia nodded in the sunshine while red petunias rested at their feet. Everywhere we looked vibrant hues filled yards and gardens.

After we returned home, I visited my mom. She has planted flowers for as long as I can remember. Even though she doesn’t do the physical planting now, she has a little flower garden. Family helps her take care of her butterfly bushes, lavender, and many other blooms so she can enjoy their beauty. As I walked with her along the driveway and watched butterflies and bees sip nectar, I thought about how much joy those plants brought my mom.

Just as God’s beautiful creation brings delight, so does the love my Savior gives.

In the Psalm, David mourned his losses and mistakes. But because God loved him and forgave him, David wrote how the one who created the universe turned his wailing into dancing. He replaced his sorrowful cries with blissful steps. He took away his sadness and covered him with joy. As a result, David vowed to sing praises to God forever.

As the colorful beauty of the flowers bring delight, God in all of his glory brings joy. Not just happiness, but pure joy.

A heart full of delight radiates to the face through a smile.  And like the beauty of the flowers, a smile is a gift we can give to anyone.

Be filled with joy!

The Assurance of God

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am the most peaceful—when I’m by the water, listening to the waves lap.

We spent a couple of days at Lake Erie. I could sit and listen to the water race to shore and lap back out all day. There is something about the sound and the motion that covers me with calm. Perhaps the lull or the push and pull, or maybe the overwhelming feeling that God is in control, and I don’t need to worry about one little thing—because the crashing waves remind me of the incredible power of God and his love for us.

As I sat by the lake, on a huge rock at Marblehead State Park, I closed my eyes and my mind painted a picture of the Father who loves me. I imagined him reaching over and giving me a hug. At that point, I understood, a little more, the peace that surpasses my comprehension—the peace I feel in times of trouble. Only then did I get a glimpse of Jesus’ gift of calm.

In John 16, Jesus preps his disciples, the twelve he chose, to understand his future. He laid out God’s plan and assured them that whatever happened to him, he was with God. He revealed to them their future, too. They would all go to their own homes, their villages, back to their work, and he’d be with his Father in heaven. Even as Jesus assured these men, who traveled and taught with him for three years, that they’d experience peace, he reminded them they’d have trouble.

The presence of trouble doesn’t mean we are without the assurance of God.

Isn’t that the way of the world? We all experience problems, obstacles, and doubts. Yet, Jesus offers peace. As his followers, we have the same assurance as the disciples. A peace planted in our hearts by God.

Seek his peace.

And God Created Egrets

On one of our trips to Lake Erie, we stopped by the Port Clinton Lighthouse. 

We walked along the beach and searched for lake glass,

 then sat on a bench and watched the waves.

We were preparing to leave when I turned and 

looked toward the two ponds that sit in front of the lighthouse. 

A speck of white caught my attention. 

As I moved closer to the water, an egret stood. 

What a beauty. I am partial to these remarkable birds, with their graceful movements. 

As with any of God's creation, I love to watch them and learn their ways. 

Fun fact: they build their stick nests near the water, but high in the trees. 

Fortunately, this bird was photogenic!  

My Happy Place

Psalm 62:1-2

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Let me tell you about my happy place.

I love my home and hanging out with my family and friends. I enjoy attending church and worshipping with the congregation. But the one place I love to sit and pray, think and listen is miles away from home.

Large rocks rest on the shore of Lake Erie, around Marblehead Lighthouse. We visit the park once or twice a year (more if we can squeeze it in.) After we tour the grounds and maybe climb the lighthouse, we wander to the shore where the water meets the rocks. I ease onto a giant rock and watch the waves slap the moss covered boulders. The seagulls entertain and the sound relaxes every muscle in my body. My mind settles, and I take in the beauty of God's creation.

No matter what season we visit, spring, summer, autumn, or winter, the rocks remain the same. The granite holds me above the ice cold water where I'm safe and secure. Many times I've taken my notebook and pen and written words from the inspiration.

Even as I find refreshment from visiting my happy place, true rest comes from a deeper source. The God I love provides the respite my soul needs. At times I find myself overwhelmed by the love God pours on me. I don't deserve his grace, yet he fills my heart with peace. No matter the circumstances, He's my refuge. He's my fortress in times of trouble, my strength when I need help. He's the peace and joy of my heart.

No matter what we go through, the ups and downs of life. God remains the same. He is the rock who calms my soul.

Do you have a happy place? Somewhere you totally connect with God? If not, find that place. Even when I can't go to my favorite place, the Holy Spirit settles my restless soul with peace and hope.

Even the Rocks

Majestic!

From Brokenness to Beauty

Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Waves washed the shore as we ambled on the sand, in the morning sun.

On Kelleys Island, Tim and I searched for lake glass and colorful rocks, along their small coastal beach. I love finding pieces of glass that the waters have tumbled and refined. The bottle, or whatever the glass piece is topples into the lake. Over time the fragile piece falls against the rocks and breaks. The ebb and flow of the lake's water tosses the glass back and forth, bumping it into sand and debris, replacing the sharp, broken pieces with beauty.

When I find an ideal fragment, the jagged edges are smoothed away and a subtle, frosted sheen covers the surface.

The sharp broken edges are transformed into perfection.

Like the jagged glass, the struggle with forgiveness results in broken edges for the soul. Anger results with more sharp edges and brokenness. Life hasn't turned out how you planned. Disappointment sharpens another edge. Friends turn away, church leaves you empty, you've tumbled down a hole of sin and destruction. Rejection and hurt cause the heart to break; the sharp edges to poke and injure.  

God who formed the lakes and oceans, wants to take the broken pieces of our lives and create beauty. Sorrow, sadness, anger, sin, betrayal, hurt; he will take them all and sand off the sharp edges through grace. In that grace, he offers hope. The hope of a new life in him.

God will fill the emptiness and turn the sorrow into joy. He loves the brokenhearted and wants nothing more than to heal the wounded soul. Pray to him for forgiveness, help, and guidance. He will takes the sharp, broken edges and replace them with peace and hope.

The Waters Churned and Tossed

Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

I sat on a limestone boulder along the bank of Lake Erie with my husband. The waters churned and tossed fishing boats up and down while waves crashed on the shore. Despite the rough surface and the strong wind, the people in the fishing boats held tight and waited for the perfect time to drop their lines. Around the corner of the lake we spied a man who cast from the shore. He watched as his line bobbed in the surge of the unsteady swell.

Two of the first disciples Jesus called were fishermen by trade, Peter and Andrew. They knew how to catch fish, but they didn't understand what Jesus meant when he said he wanted them to fish for men. With great patience Jesus taught them. He showed them through kindness, mercy, and example how they could teach people about Him. He showed them through his stories and words of truth how they could interest people in learning more about Jesus and the salvation he came to bring. As a follower of Jesus I'm called to be a fisher of men, one who tells others about my Savior and King. He's prepared me with the Bible as my guide and prayer as my aid. He's given me determination, understanding, and perseverance.

I remember singing the song in vacation Bible school, "I will make you fishers of men, if you'll follow me." As a child I didn't really understand the meaning of those words. But as a believer in Jesus I know now that I need to hang on in the storms and keep casting my line. Praise God for Jesus and his gift of love!