This has been a “messy month” around here! Ups and downs, highs and lows. Lessons and then some. Oh well…April showers promise May flowers. Onward and upward.
In the first week we celebrated Christ’s Triumphal Entry on Friday the 2nd and Resurrection Sunday on the 4th. Our celebrations, for the second year in a row, were totally different than ever before. No church services, no gathering for meals with family or friends–just different; but the same in all the ways that truly matter. Jesus is Risen. He is Risen, indeed. And ALL that we believe hangs on one fact! He’s Alive!
On the 6th we drove to Three Rivers. That was different, too. We haven’t been out of town since last March. The trip was straight up the hill, a quick stop at the local market to check out one of Mr. L’s former students, and home again, home again, jiggidy, jig. Not even a short pull over to snap some pics. The drive, of course, was beautiful and I’d like to share the scenery with you. So…here are a few shots from our last real road trip to ‘the Rivers’.
On the 10th our fur baby took sick, stopped sleeping through the night, seemed to be more and more confused and growing weaker by the hour. As a result no one else slept much either. Since she’s approaching fifteen our stress level increased with every symptom. That went on for over a week, but in the end, God blessed us and she was back to normal by the end of the month. Very grateful for that!
Somewhere in the midst of everything else I recognized what can only be called “a spirit of heaviness” hovering over my soul (my mind, will and emotions). Depression is not something I’m willing to entertain anymore. God’s Word speaks plainly when it comes to healing, and that will always be my stand…but a spirit of heaviness? That’s something the Word addresses clearly:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
In my studies I also found references to “a spirit of jealousy” and “a spirit of wisdom.” Jealousy is a wicked spirit, destroying relationships and moving us away from God’s plan. Jealousy is another study for another day. The value of Wisdom is clearly spelled out in Proverbs chapter two, falling into the “Renew your mind” study we all need to be pursuing daily. At any rate, by the end of the month The Lord has healed my attitude and showered down His grace upon our home. Peace reigns once more.
As May 2021 looms on the horizon I’m reminded of my go-to verses for messy times:
So overflowing is his kindness toward us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved; and he has showered down upon us the richness of his grace—for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.
Ephesians 1:7-8 Living Bible (TLB)
Contentment Cottage 