Tonight the North Shore Children’s Chorus sang together for the final time this spring.  We sang at the Morning Pointe Nursing Home in Hixson.   The children did an amazing job this evening sharing God’s love with the residents.

On my way to the facility, I listened to an old Hezekiah Walker song that says, “Every Praise is to our God.”  And it resonated so deeply in my heart – each praise, even these words spoken and sung by these young voices, are heard by our Heavenly Father.  Not just the grown-ups words, but every word of praise He hears. And I was reminded one more time just how worth while it is to teach our children to praise Him!

When we finished singing, we went to a nearby park, ate a few ice cream sandwiches and popsicles and played.  I loved watching my precious friends fellowship the way children do best.   It really was a delightful evening that I won’t forget any time soon.

I have to say that I have loved working with these beautiful children.  It is hard for me to finish up for the school year, because I will miss seeing their precious faces and experiencing all of their craziness each week, but I know we will be back to together when autumn comes.

A quick note to my choir families:

To all of the dedicated parents who brought their children to be with me and sing praises every Wednesday : thank you!  I pray you will be blessed for your consistent efforts and sacrifice; I know it wasn’t “a breeze” to be there, on time, every week, all year long.  And I pray also that your children will continue to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

And to my sweet sisters in Christ, Patti and Kris – I am blessed by your servants’ hearts and your faithfulness to encourage me and the children week in and out.  I could not have survived Children’s Choir without you!

I’m full of joy today, remembering this calling He has given me to serve our children teaching about praising our Heavenly Father through the gift of music.

I look forward to being with some of my favorite kiddos again soon!  We’ll all be ready to be kind, be polite, and try (your best.)  Oh, and don’t forget: No shout singing!

See you in the fall!

with much love and gratefulness to you all,

Melody

 

A few weeks back I had the privilege of being a part of “Wayside Women for a Day.” In a most lovely setting I led these very special ladies in worshiping our Creator.

These women had gathered for fellowship and spiritual nourishment.  Intentionally, each one slowed their pace.  And we took steps together – towards each other and towards the Savior.

We sang.  We prayed.  We ate.  We heard thoughts from God’s Word.  The more experienced women shared from their years of faith.  The younger women gave encouragement with boldness and energy.

There is nothing so beautiful as learning to love one another, sharing lives together.  These women are a gracious group – deeply caring for one another.  They are a mirror of Christ’s love.

 

 

(Did I mention the food was really yummy? all day long!)

Thankfully, I played the piano and sang, my heart overflowing with God’s goodness that I was able to be a part of such a day – and that I am privileged to be connected to this little part of the Body of Christ.

When I think of my day with the ladies from Wayside, I’m reminded of these verses from Ephesians 3:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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.

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.”

 

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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.