Saturday, May 26, 2018

God's Love

by Ev Hendricks, March 1985. To the tune of the Wedding Song...

Give honor to the Father
And glory to His Son
And praise the Holy Spirit
And all the things He's done.
I'm thankful for the many things
God's given me and you.
That's why I praise Him every day
And want you to know Him, too.
And His love, and His love, and His love...

He's given us so many things.
He's given you to me.
He's given us this special love
For all the world to see
He's given us these children
He gives us all the best
He's given many years of toil
And then He gives us rest...
This is love, this is love, this is love...

He gives the many seasons.
The gently falling snow.
In spring we see new life again
Wherever we may go.
We feel the heat of summer,
See colored leaves in fall.
Of all the places on this earth
We have the best of all.
And we have love, we have love, we have love...

He gives the morning sunshine
To start a brand new day.
He gives the hills, the fields, the wind
With smells of fresh mown hay.
We see the rainbow in the sky
After the falling rain.
He's given us a million joys.
And then He gives us pain.
But -- out of love, out of love, out of love...

He gave us each our parents
To teach us here on earth.
They tried to help us understand
Just what this life is worth.
He gave to us the Spirit
To help us make it through.
And then He gave His only Son
To die for me and you!
This is love! This is love! This is love!...

He gives the many flowers,
The sun, the sea, the sky.
He gives a world of beauty
There's time I wonder why.
Why does He keep on giving?
How can we only take?
Oh, when will we appreciate?
Oh, when will we awake
To His love, to His love, to His love?...

And when this life is over
And our work on earth is through.
I want to know I've done my best.
I've done all I can do.
I want to be in Heaven, Lord.
I've got to find the way.
I want to be with you, Oh Lord,
I want to hear you say...
"Come my love, come my love, come my love."

Mom went home to glory April 10, 2018. We were happy to share her beautiful poem at her memorial service as a genuine example of the faith she modeled for us.


Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Constant daily care

Since my dear mother went home to Heaven a month ago,  I've been pulled in a million directions. My heart is drawn, first and foremost, to the needs of my grieving father, as he lost his 24/7 partner of 65 years and his loving and attentive caretaker. With my focus on Dad, I've scarcely had time to grieve the loss of Mom.

Of course I am concerned all the others I love...and the business of keeping life functioning, along with handling a multitude of details that come in the aftermath of losing someone. My to-do list is long and my hours are crowded with responsibilities. I feel stretched with handling new situations, and struggle to get enough sleep as my grieving brain continually reminds me of my new reality. I miss having time to do the things that replenish me (so I'm taking a few moments to write now).

My aching heart seeks God's presence, His nearness, to be my strength. I can't look back and change anything; I can't look ahead and fear anything; I must live in the present, in His presence. As I abide in Him with every step, I know I am being molded in His image, even now, as I feel so inadequate.

I take comfort in reading Mom's Bible, and some of the things she had underlined:
"I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me...I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care. I walk in the strength of the Lord God...Your power and goodness, Lord, reach to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Where is there another God like you? You have let me sink down deep in desperate problems. But you will bring me back to life again, up from the depths of the earth." (Psalm 71, TLB)
I cling to my Rock, my Refuge, the God in whom I have trusted my whole life. He draws me to live with total dependence on Him. There isn't a single need I have that He can't provide. He gives all I need as I need it, just like He provided daily manna for the Israelites. Where I normally thrive on order and self sufficiency, I am learning to live in chaos and to more fully rely on Him to direct every next step.

Lord, if you choose this path for me to walk, I remember it is a privilege to walk this way with you. It is in these desperate times that we grow the most. Thank you for your constant daily care.