yellow rose promise

March 25, 2015April 3, 2015 melodyannday2 Comments

I keep peeking out of the corner of my eye when we pull down the driveway, hoping to catch a glimpse of life. Our dogwood is budding. The irises are popping thru. Grass is greening. The weather is warming.

But, my little yellow rose bush out on our front lawn remains brown.

We put her in the ground as a scrawny little nothing of a plant last year- “lemon fizz” they called her. I wasn’t sure how she’d do taking in the blistering hot, afternoon sun day after day all summer long. But she did better than survive. She bloomed and blossomed far more than I’d hoped. She filled out to become a real live rose bush.

As I look at her, old brown leaves and buds that are dead heads now, I doubt. It is a deep doubt. What if winter has made her too dead? I like to believe that the promise of springtime brings new life, making all things new – but, this time I wonder if winter will truly give way to spring, if she will come to life. Is there a death too harsh?

My reality is that I wonder this sometimes about my own situation. I know how hard my heart is with pride and jealousy and idol worship… Are there places too frozen cold from a harsh winter of sinful human-ness? Am I too wayward for my journey to be made right? Too dead in these besetting sins to be made alive again?

I can’t tell you how often I hear these words ( by Andrew Peterson) and I long for them to be true:

Come frozen with shame
Come burning with guilt
My Jesus, he loves you still
He loves you still

Rise up, oh you sleeper
Awake, the light of the dawn is upon you
Rise up, oh you sleeper
Awake, he makes all things new

Earlier today I stared at my sweet friend, my “not yet” yellow rose bush, for a moment. As the sun was peeking through the trees, shedding a bit of warmth, I knew – It is coming. It is only a matter of time and spring will give life and breath. Renewal, in golden bloom, will come again.

And it will be so for my heart, too. Jesus’ victory over the grave makes His promise sure. Where there was death, He will bring life. Sin forgiven and doubt exchanged for hope. This beautiful and robust truth warms my cold heart ; The promise for my yellow roses, that spring will come again, belongs to me as well: Just as He faithfully brings about springtime, He will continue His work in me.

He makes all things new.

a bit of history · friends and loved ones

crossing borders

March 19, 2015March 19, 2015 melodyannday1 Comment

As a young child my family lived for a time in London, Ontario. I was an American Canadian – or maybe a Canadian American – I’m not sure – but regardless, I lived with my American dad and Canadian mum there in London. Even after we moved back to the states, traveling back and forth across the border was a normal occurrence for us – no biggie.

I do remember, however, one trip pretty clearly. It was, shall we say, memorable.

Mum and us girls were traveling together to visit family. We pulled up to the little booth where the border agent sat. He asked to see our paper work. And that was when it happened. My Mum handed him the wrong green card for herself – which resulted in being held over at the border for quite some time. While another customs officer asked my dear Mum the same questions over and over again, for which she had no answer, we thought for sure we’d never make it to our destination. That one loan agent had the power to keep us out.

Eventually we were sent on our way. whew.

So, you’ll understand why I struggled to identify with a newer contemporary songs that makes the request, “Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders…” The first several times I heard it, I just could not relate. “What does it mean?” I’d question – and I could not sing it because I did not understand what I was asking.

A few weeks ago, I finally got it.

In a moment of crisis, I found myself praying for one of my children, and I’ll be honest with you – I was praying for my will. I knew what was best – I’ve been planning it out since they were born. period. And that’s when I understood (because He whispered it to me…) “I can not answer these prayers for your loved one; you’ve created all these walls of expectations and demands.” Meaning: If you’d trust ME, you would be able to follow me freely, and surrender your will to mine.

I had been thinking of borders as lines that define by keeping the unwanted out. But really, in this case, the song was talking about setting something free by removing such boundaries. Oh if I could really believe this : Jesus is not a Savior I should keep on the outside of my own will and my human expectations! Truly, He is the Savior who died to knock down all of my prideful, selfish notions – even wipe them out completely- in order that I would trust Him fully, only.

So, I asked Him : Cross all borders into my heart. Lead me to a new place of rest and trust and freedom.

I believe it may be happening. But, I’ve been reading words like these to remind me to trust the work He is doing in my heart.

from Psalm 37:

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I added one of my favorite old hymns – especially the third verse right now: Trusting in Him brings life and joy and rest and peace. What a beautiful thing it is!

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

friends and loved ones · who knows?

my brief (but meaningful) fiasco at Aldi’s

March 17, 2015 melodyanndayLeave a comment

It has become routine, a part of my weekly schedule you could say, to grocery shop on Sunday evenings. First I visit Aldi’s, crossing off the majority of items on my list. And then I head to Publix to finish picking up a few odds and ends. I’m happy with this arrangement; it suits our needs and our budget.

Last Sunday was no different. I strolled the aisles, loaded up my buggy with lots of great (and inexpensive) stuff and headed for the cashier. All was going well, until I swiped my debit card.

side bar: Let me cut away here from the story to tell you that it was a new debit card, for which I had not yet received my 4 digit pin in the mail. I’ve been using it as a credit card for a few days while waiting.

I swiped the card and up popped the prompt for my pin, to which I notified the cashier that I needed to use my card as a credit card. And she said, “Oh. that’s not possible. You can only pay with cash or debit.”

I felt myself shrink a bit in horror. My “good times shopping at Aldi” attitude slipped away into oblivion as I realized I had a cart full of groceries for which I could not pay.

Have you heard a story like this one? How maybe a young mother has experienced a generous benefactor behind them in line at the store, who graciously stepped in to pay for their groceries when a similar situation occurred? Have you heard an account like that before?

Well, that’s not my story.

There was no one around to help me. Only a middle-aged, very tired, worn-out looking woman stood a buggy’s length away – and she was frowning from the top of her forehead to the very bottom of her chin.

I whispered to the cashier that I was not able to pay, left my full cart behind and quietly left the store. embarrassed. disappointed. Friends – there was kerry gold gouda and white cheddar for a wonderful price at Aldi’s this week. (Maybe this was the Lord’s deliverance, since I’m supposed to be avoiding dairy right now.)

As I drove home, with no groceries in my trunk, I wondered about what I might learn. I felt like there was something in there somewhere…

During this season of Lent, I find myself being reminded often:

Jesus paid.

As a believer, it is so important to remember, that no matter what kind of bill I rack up – regardless of the sin I commit and the suffering I cause – He has already paid for it all. His death and resurrection cancel out my debt – Paid in Full is written across my account.

No whispers of shame and embarrassment. No heavy-hearted disappointment. No desperate acts of accomplishment to pay my way.

Jesus paid.

But, there’s also this: He purchased my full deliverance in order that I can live, fully alive in Him. I can walk away from whatever I thought I was gaining of earthly importance, because of the most robust life He offers. Really, I can type it, but, I’m still learning how to live like it is true.

Jesus paid.

Only Jesus. Nothing and No one else can take care of things. There is no other rescuer. In my humanity I want to be rescued by my stuff, or my husband, or my own self – but those are false gods. There has never been a time that I could have paid my way – and there never will be. Jesus went to the cross, took the shame and suffering and sin of mankind on himself. He alone paid the price. He alone can set me free.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Can we sing one of my most favorite hymns together? (well, I guess you’ll have to imagine me singing… ) It moves me every time I consider the words.

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

friends and loved ones · who knows?

it isn’t always an earthquake

March 17, 2015 melodyanndayLeave a comment

from Acts 16:

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

I remember hearing this story as a child. My sister and I even sang a Sunday school song about it. For me, it was one of those accounts from Scripture that took on real meaning when I read it for myself a few weeks ago.

Paul and Silas were in chains – in prison – and God delivered them by causing an earthquake to shake those chains right off.

an earthquake. AN EARTHQUAKE.

I’ll tell you write now, with sincere honesty from my heart, that often I find myself in chains – really, chains of sin accepted by my own hand. And when those bonds take hold, I tend to look around for the earthquake. I scan the horizon for signs of some miraculous intervention by God Himself. I really do, because I want my situation (which, again, is of my own making) to change dramatically and quickly for my benefit.

It hasn’t happened yet. not once.

Do you know why? Well, I can’t say that I know the mind of God and why He choses to deliver certain people certain ways. But I have an idea.

God has provided rescue, a means of grace, by giving us His Word. I got to thinking about how I choose to sin, believing, thinking, acting in ways that do not line up with Scripture. And then I realized He doesn’t need to provide a natural disaster to shake things up. What He offers isn’t fast and painless. No, its a slow, quiet process where , by the power of the Holy Spirit, He massages the truth into my heart and mind – leading me towards belief and real heart change.

To be clear, there are many, many chains that I deal with, so these are just a few :

When I’m discontent or impatient with His work, He says, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (from Thessalonians 5)

When I dwell on my fear of the future and think His plan is insufficient, He reminds me, “Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” (from Psalm 138)

When I choose to stop trusting, and believe in myself instead of His wisdom, I hear Him clearly, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (from Proverbs 3)

In my mind, the miracle is, of course, that He chooses to speak at all, continuing to love me (and all of His children) beyond all of my failures, altering my path and setting my feet towards freedom. After all, I suppose this gentle approach of truth matched with steadfast love makes sense from a Heavenly Father who tells me to “Be still and know that I am God.”

friends and loved ones · who knows?

in case you were wondering…

March 16, 2015March 20, 2015 melodyanndayLeave a comment

Dear Friends,

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted regularly for about the past month. Or you may not have – which that’s okay too. But I thought I’d explain…

Previously I was working on my macbook which was about 5 years old. She was a good friend, but she was completely unable to keep up. The last time I tried to post something it took me a total of three hours.

Frankly, ain’t nobody got time for that.

This past week my dear hubby purchased a new macbook pro for me. We have handed down our old macbook to our kiddos who will use her for school work. And I, happily, can get back to blogging a little more regularly with ease. (Here’s hoping I’ll slide back into the habit!)

In honor of this special, back-to-blogging post, completed on my new computer, which will now swiftly and confidently post photos, I thought I’d share this recent, favorite picture.

Hubby’s new love, snuggled up with Lily:

Let the blogging re-begin!

Love to you all!

Melody

a bit of history · friends and loved ones

truly, madly, deeply

February 13, 2015 melodyanndayLeave a comment

Four days after Valentine’s Day in 2006, my best friend’s husband died. At the time I was pregnant with my sweet boy Isaac. I remember sitting on my bed in disbelief. Heartbroken on her behalf, my tears continued for days.

She and I have walked a lot of life’s roads together. At best, her marriage was a bumpy part of the road that we traveled, but she loved her husband – and this unexpected event was terribly difficult to navigate. Through stress, emotional ups and downs, mental illness, physical illness, and financial difficulties, my friend had remained dedicated and faithful to her marriage, and to her husband.

Because… true love.

Nine years later the pain is still very real when Valentine’s Day approaches.

One of the things I learned from watching my friend is this: True love is not what you think. While many in our culture believe love is romance, and some equate it with a strong attraction, or even lust – I realized that none of that equals love. In fact, love can exist without those things.

You know what else I realized? When love is true, enough to survive the deep, hard, almost impossible stuff, it will make some people (who might not understand love) think you’re absolutely mad. True love is the opposite of what is humanly expected.

And what is love? That’s what I asked myself today when I thought of my friend attempting to survive this Valentine’s Day.

from 1 Corinthians 13, the message:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

I know there are a lot of other thoughts and factors when it comes to love; but this description of authentic, deep love is a really good place to start. It is the exact opposite of how I want to act most of the time. I’m a selfish sinner. I’m terribly human. My life could be an example of the antithesis of love. But, there’s hope for me : Jesus is the truest example of LOVE.

What I’m still learning is: I love best, when I receive and remember His love. I won’t love well unless I continually remember and live with His love at the center of my whole life.

He is unexpected. supernatural. sacrificial. He is LOVE.

friends and loved ones · in my kitchen

I’ll be home for Christmas…

December 26, 2014January 8, 2017 melodyanndayLeave a comment

It wasn’t but a week or two ago that I sat at a piano and played carols on request. While basking in the glow of an enormously lovely tree and the warmth of dear friends, my fingers glided along the keys for “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells” and others like “Ill Be Home for Christmas.” I sang along at the top of my lungs, because I love carol sing-a-longs.

But the irony’s not lost on me.

As much as I love the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and all of the happy feelings it encourages, I don’t really know where I would go, if I were to head home for the Holidays. I love Chattanooga – I love living here with my husband and sweet family – but, I’m not from here. I love going to visit my parents in Grand Rapids where they live now – but, I’m not from there, either. And – if I were to visit family in Canada – most of them are in new places, nowhere near where I grew up…

So, this year I had to make a decision. As much as I love my history and the geography that it involves, “Home” for me has to be my current location, with the people I love here, at my little house in Middle Valley, making Christmas traditions together.

As a musician, there’s been plenty rehearsals and concerts to be a part of – but, I knew there were a few things I wanted to do, beginning a few new traditions in my kitchen. The first was Michael’s idea: to bake coconut rum cakes, which are his favorite, to give as gifts – some we shipped, some were hand-delivered. All in all, I made 13. Whew! And, truthfully, it wasn’t without rave reviews! I’m so glad I did it and was able to bring joy to a few dear friends and families. This may be a tradition we continue.

The second was a bit more daunting. There is one thing that I remember from Christmases past with my Brubacher family and that is my Grandma’s cream buns. She made them for every Christmas gathering! Nothing makes Christmas more wonderful than cream buns. So, I decided to give them ago, here on my own!

Monday evening before Christmas I made them. My sweet husband, who has tasted an original made by Grandma, knew how important it was to me for them to turn out right. He was on hand to taste test the first one fresh from the oven (there wasn’t even any cream in them yet!). When he took that first bite, he got a few tears in his eyes, and just nodded his head. I knew they were perfect!

Early Christmas morning I whipped up the special filling and spread it in each bun. When I took the first bite, I felt like we could have Christmas now – because cream buns taste like “home.”

I’ve had many ask for me to share the recipe – so that’s what I’m going to do! However, I must warn you that the directions are a little “loose” and you have to practice, so that you know what the dough should look like from step to step… Believe me when I say, they are worth every ounce of effort! I promise!

Merry Christmas from my kitchen, the heart of my home!

Grandma’s Cream Buns

Ingredients for the buns:
3 cups warm water
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp yeast
3 beaten eggs
7-9 cups of flour

instructions:

Combine the 1st five ingredients. add eggs, then flour. (start with 7 cups, then add to get the right consistency.) put a bit of oil on top of dough. let rise 15 minutes, then punch down. repeat that rise/punch-down sequence 3 times. on the 4th time, shape into rolls and set in pans. let rise 1 hr.
Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Ingredients for the cream:
5 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup crisco (you could exchange for some butter)
1/4 tsp salt
8 tbsp of milk, maybe evaporated milk (add as needed)
2 tsp vanilla

Instructions for the cream:
Cream butter/crisco and sugar, salt and vanilla. add milk/cream as needed. Cream til fluffy! spread onto cream buns.

Best of luck to you! I hope they make your kitchen a little sweeter!

Credit: Thanks to my cousin Amy Switzer who invested the time in finding the perfect recipe for the buns – and for learning how to make them well, and then help me this summer, and then again this week via texts and photos! you’re the best!!!

friends and loved ones · who knows?

if at first you don’t succeed

November 13, 2014 melodyannday2 Comments

It happened, all in about week’s time, it did. Over and over again.

My daughter, after a season of giving up, retrieved her bow and arrow from the garage and set up her target. I found her in the woods, happily searching for a wayward arrow.

In my kitchen, where sometimes I believe (falsely) that I’m a master of all things baking, there was a beautiful knot of dough with the wrong amount of yeast in the trash can. There I stood at my baker’s counter kneading another boule.

Husband, in a white hazmat suit, began installing insulation in his shop after being in a holding pattern of “not yet” and “can’t” for what seemed like possibly forever.

I crossed the finish line with frozen toes and my breath in view. Two years ago I began a similar journey, but only with mild success. This time, joy, tears and a medal…

At church, my bow pulled across the strings of my violin, after quite a lengthy period of silence. Oh the pure happiness of calloused fingertips…

All of us giving it another go.

Sometimes the trial of errors and the horror of failure can be weighty on my heart and soul. So much so, that is hard to pick up and give it another go. The old saying alone, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is lack-luster in it’s inspiration.

Why in the world would I try again to be something I thought I was, in order to find (again) that I’m not good enough, or capable enough?

Typically I think of myself as part wife, mom, musician, baker, runner. And while those pieces of me are at different stages of development, I am not equal to the sum of those parts. I am more.

When I acknowledge that my actual whole self’s worth is found in who I am in Christ, I realize I am exponentially myself. All of the truth of who He is, becomes mine. whoa. Who I am does not rely on how hard I try.

This is good news, friends! It frees me to give, again and again, without suffering the shame of mistakes. I don’t have to believe the lie that I’m not who I thought I was. In my best reality I’m fully loved as a daughter of the King, capable of being exactly who He made me to be. By His strength, by His wisdom, by His gifts – a wife, mom, musician, baker, runner – and so, so, so much more.

I can try, try again.

I am believing these words today from Ephesians 1: “I am accepted in the Beloved.”

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

friends and loved ones · it's a runner's world...

what you need for running a race.

October 31, 2014October 30, 2014 melodyannday1 Comment

I’m training for another 5-k.

I know, I know – you’ve been down this road with me before. But, after a year and a half of succumbing to inactivity, I knew it was time. Time to get moving again. The only problem is: it is terribly uncomfortable.

I knew this about running from the last 5-k. But, still I’m running.

After seeing a nutritionist at my doctor’s office, who is also a runner, I’ve been able to glean some exceptional bit of advice. Here are two of the best things I’ve learned during my visits with him: First, becoming a runner has everything to do with how okay you are with being uncomfortable. And second, even in your best, most tip-top shape, it is never a good idea to attempt the hard stuff alone.

He couldn’t be more right…

So, I’m hoping to run the upcoming race with a friend. It seems we may be able to run and keep the same pace, so hopefully we’ll be able to be uncomfortable together all the way to the finish line.

He’s not just speaking truth when it comes to athletics. He’s right about the Christian life – and I’m not even sure if he’s a believer. The reality is, this is how we’re made. God created us for companionship ; for survival through friendship and encouragement from the body of Christ.

Life is hard and becoming a believer isn’t a bed of roses. In fact, it is referred to to in Scripture as denying oneself and taking up the cross. The marathon of the Christian Life requires a unique willingness to move thru or surrender to trials that are painful. It is an impossible journey without the gifts of perseverance and faith.

But, there is the promise of help. The fellowship of the Spirit brings strength by supernatural means, but also embodied in other believers. When I feel like I just can’t take another step, it sure is easier if someone is standing on the sidelines saying, “Let’s go! You can do this, I know you can! Let’s keep doing this hard stuff together!”

Paul talks about sharing in this life together, being like minded – looking out for each other:

Philippians 2:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for making a way – for the gift of faith and the power of the Holy Spirit that keeps me in constant motion towards the call you’ve given me. and for the means of grace you provide in friendships that encourage and strengthen me daily. Let me set aside my own selfish ambitions in order to bring mercy to others in need, cheering them on in their own race, for your name’s sake. amen.

friends and loved ones · who knows?

dust

October 1, 2014 melodyannday1 Comment

Psalm 103 is one of my favorites and I read it often.

from verses 11-16:

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

I’m sitting here at the kitchen table next to my bouquet of roses. Roses – my husband gave them to me last week celebrating our 15th anniversary. The thing is, my beautiful bouquet is wilting, the petals are beginning to brown at the edges. ( Do not misunderstand – my marriage is not wilting – it is thriving and well. And I’m very grateful for that. ) I can’t read these words from Psalms without being real about my own life ; I’m reminded that life is disintegrating, right in front of me. That’s right.

Just like every bouquet of flowers I’ve ever received, I’m falling apart. Literally a failure at many of the things I set out to do. And I know many friends who feel the same. At home, at work, as a parent, as a housekeeper, in my walk with Christ – many aspects of life that are unseemly.

But, these words from Scripture -if I soak in them a while, I find them so refreshing right now. If I’m going to be honest with myself, I need to hear what His voice is saying! In the midst of all the ways that my life is broken, I see His promise in these verses. It says it: He Remembers. He knows how he made me and knows my end.

And because of this He knows precisely what I need: Mercy.

I need His Mercy. for forgiveness. for strength to move forward. for loving others and myself. for being what He’s called me to be.

And that’s what He lovingly, graciously offers.

verses 17-19

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Mercy – that spans from east to west, and is everlasting to everlasting – His kingdom ruling over all. There is a day coming when I won’t be broken anymore, I won’t be the picture of a flower returning to the dust. But, until the day he chooses to return and make all things new again, His mercy, surely is enough.