WATCHWORD:
Dedicated to all the mothers in the network. You know who you are! Thank you, you are a blessing in so many lives.
1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion’s exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn’t believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations!
“God was wonderful to them!”
God was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.
Psalm 126:1-3
Meditation:
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day, May 10, 2020, a perfect day for all of us. A day for joy, a day for the joy of the Lord to be our strength. Yes, a God-blessed happiness to all you mothers!
When the psalmist refers to joy, it doesn’t mean the tendency some people have, because of their temperament, to be happier than other people. For one reason or another there appear to be people who are more naturally wired to smile, who can wake up in the morning singing a cheery song, and who look at their breakfast cereal and simply clap their hands with delight.
When I was a freshman in college, one of my classmates was an attractive young lady who walked the campus, always smiling, even greeting others with a ‘hello, there’, and the impression was that of a happy person. It was not long before I realized that she was not what she seemed. In fact, she was in college as escape from a difficult home life that had scarred her. Her smile? A happy mask to hide behind. By the end of the first semester, I think she was gone. I don’t know her whole story, but I suspect beneath her smile was sadness. What I wanted for her was not just happiness. I wanted her to feel valued, a piece of her that was missing. Every now and then, over nearly 70 years, she pops up in my mind and on my prayer list!
I think we wish and pray for happiness for everyone, especially for those close to us. How about those that cross our path, and touch us briefly? Those, too, we can lift up.
Remember the Snoopy T-Shirt that was popular when Charlie Brown was all the rage: “I hate people who sing in the morning”. I would take offense at that because I am an early riser, and believe me when I say, I often break into song! John Denver, Kari Jobe, Andrea Bocelli, Alan Jackson, Beethoven, Jars of Clay, doesn’t matter, whatever strikes me and even if I don’t know the words, I’ll belt out something close! Not every morning, mind you, but often, just after ‘Good morning, Lord, thank you for this day.’ I think singing, especially in the morning hours, is a sign of happiness, don’t you?
Happiness is not an offense! Some people are morning people, some people are evening people, and some people seem to feel happier than others. They are wired that way.
However, and let me make this point clear, the joy and happiness I refer to here is not a matter of temperament, genetics, personality or good acting.
Instead, this joy and happiness is a result of being adopted by God, and knowing it, down deep. A contagious happiness because of what God has done for you, the assurance of His love. This joy is based upon an objective, real, God-given restoration. This joy is so good that when you experience it, you think, “I am living the dream.” More than that, joy, like love, grows as it is shared.
So, throw away all ideas that joy is found in things apart from God, or that God is the serious, gloomy, despondent, negative, critical sort who will smack you over the wrists with a ruler as soon as you step out of line. Re-read the opening psalm, and note that, first, it describes the dream and then, second, tells you how that dream comes true. Know that these are Words from God. Such is the joy of the Lord being our strength. Joyful Mother’s Day to all. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Thought for the day and every day – This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.
Hey, anyone out there being blessed? – Any happiness blooming on the network? Share it, let us know about it. Remember, your joy grows when you share it!
Grace before your meal – Bless the food before us, the family around us, here and beyond, and the love between us all.
Smile, it’s Mother’s Day — Daughter: Mom, what’s it like to have the greatest daughter in the world? Mom: I don’t know dear, you’d have to ask Grandma.
More smiles from one of our network mothers — Never laugh at your wife’s choices. You are one of them.
Or — Growing your own tomatoes is the best way to devote 3 months of your life to saving $2.17.
Sign at a pond — Frog parking only. All others will be toad!
If you are still not smiling – Not to worry, we are all praying for you. (There is a $10 fine.)
Closing Prayer:
Awesome God, I come before you today, with one thing to say:
Thank you Abba Father, for all you’ve given to me.
For my beautiful life, my family and my friends.
Thank you for the blessings you gave that I never deserved.
For the protection your hand provides.
For the forgiveness, you offer day after day.
Lord, you took my sin and my shame You took sickness and healed my pain
You took my darkness and gave me your light.
Father, thank you for all you’ve done in my life
And for all the blessings that I cannot see,
With gratitude, I come to thee.
Amen!
