Meditations

"The Jews had light [a dawn of new hope] and gladness and joy and honor."  Esther 8:16, AMP


I am almost finished with Esther:  It's Tough Being a Woman, by Beth Moore, and I really don't want to be.  She pushes me and asks me the questions I need to ask myself.

Today I just happened to use the Amplified Bible for my study, because it was within reach.  I love this version because it gives you all the meanings for the translated words so you can get the full effect.  And in place of "happiness," as in the NIV, was the word light.

Light.  Precious, glorious light.  In the Hebrew, this word is translated as happiness, light, and a dawn of new hope.  Excuse me while I bask in that for a moment. 

Thanks.  It's light that I'm needing these days:  sunlight to warm my skin and lift my mood, just the right light for pretty pictures of my girls, and especially, the Light of Hope to bring happiness and a newness. 

While I realize that happiness and joy are different, (happiness depends on what happens to us; joy is an inner light that isn't dependent on circumstances) there are clear moments in life when we need to just be free to be happy.  As Beth puts it, "when God intervenes in our circumstances and we get a chance not only to know we're blessed but feel blessed, nothing is more appropriate than seizing the happy moment."

In Esther, the Jews' mourning was turned to light/happiness, their fasting turned to gladness, their weeping to joy, and their wailing to honor. 

In Jesus' name, may His light shine on us.  May He free us from all the expectations, judgements, and wishing and put us on the right road, united TOGETHER.  May we seek not the approval of others, but only the will of the Father. Amen.

 

Outside Time




A pensive look from Yo Yo the Cat.



Hurray for actually doing something outside today.  The cool weather and the cloudy days make me want to curl up on the sofa and drink coffee--all day, every day.  Tim and Annie are content with hours of television. It's when I actually get my behind in gear and do something different that I feel better.  So, on this day, while sitting on the swing set, I got the idea that we might make some s'mores in the old outside fireplace.

Annie was delighted to pick up sticks for our "camp-out" fire. 

Suddenly, the whole family was astir.  Annie and I collected sticks for kindling.  (And tidied up the yard-bonus!)  Tim cleaned out the fireplace, and we all soaked up a little sunshine in the process.  Even Yo Yo tagged along for the adventure.  I meant to take some pictures of the fire and s'mores, but I was too caught up in enjoying some much-needed family time and eating myself silly.

Quick tip for s'mores:  a clean, unused fly swatter makes a perfect marshmallow roaster.  Just pop off the plastic part and you have two marshmallow tongs, a nice handle, and the perfect length to keep hands from getting hot.  But be sure to pick up an extra one in the spring, cause I didn't find any at the dollar store this week.



Pinecones are great firestarters!



Beginning again

Life is messy.  Keeping house and being a wife is messy.  I won't even go there with motherhood.  My life, though, goes way beyond messy.  It's been to filthy and back, for crying out loud.  But the thing about messes is, they can be cleaned up. 

Recollections...what I can recall about my life's journey.  I remember running barefoot in hot summer grass, a protective dog by my side wherever I went.  A mean old goat named Cobber Jones that I insisted needed a house.  An afternoon in quiet woods, sitting on a tree stump while the pouring rain camouflaged my tears.  Perhaps my memories are skewed by time and perspective, but they tell a story about hope, healing, and lots of lessons learned along the way.

Yet my heart is recollected, like a shattered vessel, painstakingly pieced and glued back into shape by my Savior.  Maybe even a different shape! A glorious, new, and maybe more useful one.  He has pursued me through every heart-pounding moment and I have no doubt that the adventure has only just begun.