Happy Rejoicing Day

1. Come, Christians, join to sing,

Alleluia, Amen!

Loud praise to Christ our King,

Alleluia, Amen!

Let all with heart and voice

Before his throne rejoice;

Praise is his gracious choice;

Alleluia, Amen!

2. Come, lift your hearts on high;

Alleluia, Amen!

Let praises fill the sky;

Alleluia, Amen!

He is our Guide and Friend;

To us he'll condescend;

His love shall never end;

Alleluia, Amen!

3. Praise yet the Lord again;

Alleluia, Amen!

Life shall not end the strain;

Alleluia, Amen!

On Heaven's blissful shore

His goodness we'll adore,

Singing forever more,

Alleluia, Amen!

Author: Christian H. Bateman (1843)

For weeks I have thought of this day, my first birthday without Mom… 

I’ve shed tears for wishing we could share it again together.

I remember this day last year, how Mom had little energy to lift her head….  

She could hardly stay awake.

She’d spent several days in the hospital the week before.  We were encouraged to seek Hospice counsel, and her diet was changed to pureed foods.   She fed herself then, but this particular day, she caused me much concern.  I wondered how that day was preparing me for what was to come…

Looking back on the pictures I captured, I am thankful for the memory of how this hymn lifted me that day we gathered with the other residents to sing, and now it will encourage me into eternity! 

Thank you, Father, for giving me a mom who pressed on the upward way to fellowship eternally with You! 

She is sorely missed here  today!  

As a young wife and mother of one child, she and dad sought the help of her doctor to take medicine that would help her get pregnant.  It wasn’t long before their prayers were answered and I was on the way, though back then, they didn’t know I was a girl. 

 

Mom was 24 when I was born,  unexpectedly with a cleft lip.  Yet even at such a young age while living so far away from her mom, dad, sister and grandmother and aunts, she welcomed and embraced the challenges of all that was required of her to nurture me.  She not only gave me life, she physically sacrificed and spiritually exercised faith to always trust the LORD!  

Father, 

Even today, she still inspires me to rejoice in You, in all things. 

Father, 

You have soo generously loved me through my mom and dad!  

What a priceless and enduring heritage! 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

Photo: This picture was captured of me with my Mom and Dad on my birthday in 2019.  Covid prevented us from gathering traditionally in 2020, and then Dad left us suddenly in August soon after. 

True Love

LOVE

doesn't have to be PERFECT, 

it just needs to be

TRUE.

~ Beauty and the Beast

Many Mercies and Multiplied Expressions

 

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever;

    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 89:1

“We have not one, but many mercies to rejoice in, and should therefore multiply the expressions of our thankfulness.” 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I’ve considered in recent days that everyday is Mother’s Day for a mom who is granted the gift and enjoyment of nurturing one child or many children!  

I am thankful the LORD chose the deepest bond of affection between a mother and child to express how far greater His love is for those He has engraved on the palms of His hands… 

Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? 

Even these may forget, 

yet I will not forget you.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

Your walls are continually before me.  

Isaiah 49:15-16

I am mindful of a young mom who left her beloved son very early in life.  Because of her love for him and persevering faith in the LORD, she could entrust her son’s well being to Him.  She spent many of her days committing her time, her call as a wife and mom, and her meditation before she died. 

Her son had this to say about his mother…

“My dear mother, besides the rains (reins?) she took with me, often commended me with many prayers and tears to God; and I doubt not but I reap the fruits of these prayers to this hour.” 

“Though in process of time I sinned away all the advantages of these early impressions, yet they were for a great while a restraint upon me;  they returned again and again, and it was very long before I could wholly shake them off;  and when the Lord at length opened my eyes, I found a great benefit from the recollection of them.” 

Elizabeth, he said, had “stored my memory, which was then very retentive with many valuable pieces, chapters and portions of scripture, catechisms, hymns, and poems.”

John Newton  

This is the kind of Mom and Grandmama I desire to be!  

To have such a faith and love for the Lord, and His word, that He would produce a lasting influence from one generation to the next.  I want to embrace what the LORD has given and taken,  trusting His example to love sacrificially, so that a godly seed will by grace hear and trust His goodness and steadfast loving faithfulness!  

This is what makes every day a Happy Mother’s Day to celebrate! 

Everyday the Lord is Faithful! 

Photo:  We celebrated Mother’s Day this year at the home of Katherine and Luke.  Luke had to work, and we missed his presence, yet his  provision was generous and gracious.  I’m thankful for Katherine’s generous gift of hospitality.  It was a blessing that she graciously welcomed and served our family.  

I’m thankful also for John and Rosie providing the yummy desserts!  We feasted and enjoyed one another’s fellowship very much!  

We missed Matt, Grace, and the Twinnies who were in Michigan for Uncle Evan’s Hillsdale College graduation.  Felicity and Harrison were away with their mom. 

Lord willing, we look forward to when Finley will be able to join a future family gathering!!

The LORD is good and mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136

Shalom, the Melody and Rhythm of Our Home

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kITbBIq07lQ

When I feel lost, and so afraid

And shadows have hid the sun away

When my heart is heavy

And it’s hard to pray

I remember what my mother use to say

Shalom, shalom

Peace be with you wherever you go

Shalom, shalom

Let this melody begin to bring you home

In desperation when you’re losing sight

You’ve cried out with everything inside

There is still a shepherd even when you hide

Who will pick you up and hold you til you find

Shalom, shalom

Peace be with you wherever you go

Shalom, shalom

Let this melody begin to bring you home

Let this melody bring you "shalom"

Authors: 

Molly Kate Kestner

Brock Monroe Baker

Performed by:

Brandon Engman

From the movie DAVID, now streaming: 

https://www.angel.com/guild/join/david

For weeks now I’ve anticipated this first Mother’s Day without my mom… 😭

And honestly, I’m all the more aware of what it’s like to feel orphaned… 💔

According to Merriam-Webster, I am a daughter feeling deprived by death of both parents.  I lost my Daddy suddenly in 2020, and then eventually my Mom left us in 2025.  I will never not be a daughter that misses their presence and fellowship in my life!  Losing them was not my choice, but God’s discipline in my life for good, so that I may better learn how to depend more on Him!  It’s hard to comprehend His love for me, because I know He loves me more than they ever loved me!    And they loved me so very well! 

Because of death, I am “one deprived of some protection or advantage!”

This is true!  I have sorely missed the friendship and comfort of counsel my parents gave me, yet sometimes I consider them cheering me on from Heaven as I continue on here in what God has called me to as a wife, mom, and Grandmama.   Far greater, the LORD is my Heavenly Father and He has not abandoned me, and I do not want to miss His comfort and counsel!  

I have considered how “privileged” my parents  raised me!  They could not lavish on me the riches of this world, but they richly loved me by leading me to Jesus, by encouraging me in God’s Word. 

I am grateful for the “privilege” of having a mom and dad who loved me and supported me all of my days, not because they were perfect parents, but because they knew they were  loved  by the One they drew perfect love from, and they extended that love to me in so many different ways!  I learned from their example how to love  and serve others.  

This is a great reason why I miss my mom and dad!! 

They knew my greatest need was and always will be Jesus, and their greatest gift to me was encouraging my hope and my faith in Him!  

My parents are sorely missed, but I am comforted to trust their faith has been perfected and made complete in the One I find my needs met and my heart satisfied, especially on days like today when our home is filled with busyness, joy, and celebration as we celebrate a milestone birthday!

We are especially mindful of Meme because her heart and home were always open to receive those the LORD had called her to love and serve! And my Dad’s gifts were suppling the monetary and physical resources to encourage her in sharing her gifts! 

What a privilege, and what protection I find in knowing this is what the LORD has called me to, just like my beloved parents lived out their faith! 

God’s love produces peace here, and I am thankful to trust  Him with His giving and His taking, His goodness and His discipline. 

Even while grief may linger, we sing…

“Shalom, shalom

Peace be with you wherever you go

Shalom, shalom

Let this melody begin to bring you home

Let this melody bring you ‘shalom’”