He never changes.
He is just, faithful, loving and we can count on him to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
(Hebrews 13:6-8)
Yes, God never changes.
God is always faithful.
He is our security blanket to curl up in when the winds of change are unrelenting.
God’s unchanging promises is a place of contentment I have drawn peace from my entire life.
I discovered this contentment in my own words, a dusty old journal unearthed from a box of books taken from the storage unit we have begun to purge.
Over the course of my life, I regret not keeping a journal from the joy and sadness of my sixty years. You think you’ll remember but how quickly you forget the details, the emotions, the everyday thankfulness that begs to be remembered in our written words.
So you could imagine what a joyful discovery, an old dusty journal from fifteen years ago; a thirty day time capsule I barely recall writing. Yet, in opening to the first page of my journal, I began travelling down the road of my contentment, my life’s movie replaying while I sat with a cup of coffee to re-live.
Lord, thank you for allowing me to discover these memories I took the time to remember.
Just thirty days of writing and then I stopped, but a month of memories highlighting the faithfulness and contentment of God in my heart.
A few days from April, 2009…
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I woke up at 2:30 am to catch a 4:30 am train into the city to care for my future daughter ‘n law who was having surgery.
Being away for three days was a sacrifice in itself as being away from my husband causes me great sadness. Our love for each other swells our hearts so that to be apart is like breathing without air.
The sweet blessing came later that evening after arriving to the apartment following a long day at the hospital.
My son decided I needed some Christian music to listen to while I cooked in the kitchen. This was such a reminder how God touches hearts.
Later that night, my son bought me a fancy coffee and took me out to see the sights and lights of the city.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
My favorite moment of the day came when the train rolled back into the station at 3:00 pm sharp, only to see my handsome husband waiting to pick me up.
After fifteen years of marriage, I’ve never grown tired of seeing David’s face. He gets more handsome with time.
Our reunion hug was worth the time apart.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Today is tax day and though our taxes were filed early February, this is a day to reflect on God’s faithfulness. May 30, 2008 David lost his job of thirty-one faithful years. Starting over as an older man would prove to be a mountain David faced to climb, but nothing impossible for God.
Emotionally, having David home this last year has been the honeymoon we were unable to have as a newly blended family. While immensely thankful for a full house, returning home from a three day honeymoon to four kids after getting married didn’t afford us the time alone to be newlyweds.
This year together has been an unexpected gift to our marriage. Early morning walks and sipping coffee under the tree. Afternoon bicycle rides through our country neighborhood and savoring David’s famous BBQ’s.
Financially, I am amazed at what God has done to provide. The world views provision through a man’s job. Yet, it’s God’s provision thru a man’s hardworking hands that gives us hope to rest in when your earthly provision is gone. God’s comforting reminder a good father doesn’t allow his children to beg bread.
God has used so many circumstances to show his faithfulness.
Shortly after David lost his job of 31 years, he received a small inheritance. What to do with this inheritance? While unemployed, spending this money on needs sounded logical, though investing in the Kingdom which pays the best dividends was wisdom.
This outpouring came at just the right time and David’s inheritance was sown for God’s purposes.
God is so good.
Though unemployed, our bills have been paid and on time, with enough food to eat.
We do need a new vehicle though. Our van has 390,000 miles and looks like it. The kids want us to pull the plug and get the poor thing out of hospice. But God has a beautiful truck with a big red bow waiting for my most deserving husband when the time is perfect.
We thank you God for reminding others thru our finances that you are in complete control.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Today God, the weather is breathtaking and all consuming. Who could deny your existence?
I love when I can open the windows and hear the birds singing. This is music I can listen to all day long.
Pulling the curtains back to reveal the breathtaking view of country living, we take in the quiet and crisp fresh air thru open windows; although not so fresh when the pigs are out.
But today God, it was all about you. You stopped me with this beautiful day.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
I’ve never boasted a green thumb in my life and with two acres of land; one might imagine a flower or two blooming around the trees or fence line. So last fall I decided to plant pink tulips in honor of my two sisters living in heaven and much to my amazement, beautiful tulips opened up in full bloom today.
What a miracle to me. You plant a seed from which new life comes. How dare we ever think our efforts go in vain?
My sisters would be proud of their tulips.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Today, I stayed home from church with a bad cold. Something I don’t do often.
Having a personal worship service at home with God, I was taken back to the pews of my Southern Baptist roots when gospel greats were sung from the old fashioned hymnals.
The days of my youth when mom and her six kids sat together worshiping God. Though I wonder how much worship took place in the passing of notes back and forth.
But surely God moved on our pew row of kids as mother raised us six to serve Him. A few of mother’s kids have deeper testimonies than others as they took the road more traveled than less. But a road we all met again down the journeys of our lives.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Been home all day alone and while this isn’t my favorite plan for a Saturday, I’ve been left behind with my coffee and thoughts and a time of reflection of how blessed I am for the “noises of the house” and for those that make them.
I’m reminded when the house is quiet, how life could change in an instant, leaving the house forever in silence. This gives me pause to appreciate those who make my life complete.
Monday, April 27, 2009
There are a few jars to fill; a few bags of frozen strawberries from the summer before. Together they will be a jelly gift from my hands to the table of those who have blessed me.
I’m giving a jar of my childhood memories when mother and her five daughters gathered in the kitchen to put away fruit for a cold winter’s day.
While kitchen art might be a thing of the past, it’s the best part of my summer and couldn’t imagine skipping this mid-year tradition I’ve enjoyed my whole life.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
By Thomas Obadiah Chisolm
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Closing the journal I am reminded from its cover,
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
George Eliot
Thank you Mr. Eliot for your encouragement, your words of inspiration for me to begin keeping a journal, even in this autumn season of my life;
To keep in pursuit of my writer’s dream while keeping in perspective of time,
Day one or one day.
Michelle Parlos
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