My mom, 19 years old, at Disneyland. 1971.
Good morning friends!! Today, Thursday, January 31st, is a beautiful day and you know what?! I am choosing to celebrate life!
We have a choice every day to choose love, joy, peace, hope, and grace! My Savior, Jesus Christ, is the One that fills me and overflows my spirit with those gifts–especially when I seek Him.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.
Today, I am celebrating life and love, and seeking an outpouring of Jesus in my heart as I delight in the memory of my mother on what would have been her 68th birthday. I am celebrating:
* The 39 years she was in my life, here on earth, being my mommy, mentor, Christ follower, and teacher.
* how she would sing all the time: in the car, in the house with me and my sisters, and especially while we would take walks together, which were often while I was growing up.
* her ability to soothe all my hurts through hugs, and how she would brush my hair for as long as I needed while I talked to her about whatever was bothering me until I felt better. Sorry, I made your arm sore, Mom. 🙂
* her “goofiness,” laughs, and just plain fun that she had around everyone, whether it was friends, family, or, dare I say, MY friends. She had a joy for life that was contagious.
* she loved Christmas! Decorated the house right after Thanksgiving, kept it up through New Year, and never failed to tell anyone and everyone about our Savior’s birth! She always set an extra spot at the table for a guest, for anyone who could join us for our Christmas dinner.
Thank you for indulging in a few of my memories. 🙂
***
God is so amazing! Let me share with you how amazing God is, this is the title of my January 31st devotional:
TRIUMPH OUT OF TRAGEDY
Twenty-eight years ago, January 31, 1991, would have been my mom’s 40th birthday. She was not here to celebrate with me because she was in her heavenly home with Jesus. Being eighteen and her death so new to me, it was a tragic day–full of extreme sorrow. And that’s okay, grieving is hard and it is a process that each person experiences in a different way.
As a Christian and because of Jesus, I sought Him in every way I could and sometimes it was simply, deep, gut-wrenching cries of pain and sorrow. He understood and knew, no matter how “simple” my prayer was. He knew my heart.
The amazing thing about each prayer, each time we seek Him, and each song we sing in worship, is it builds our connection to Jesus, gives us Joy, and releases the Power we need to triumph over tragedy!!
The more you seek Him, during all the seasons of life, the more you are filled up with the Life-giving, Joy producing, Power sustaining gift of God!!
“…Christ has triumphed over tragedy, and He wants us to do the same because in such triumph God is glorified. When something tragic happens to us–the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job–unbelievers watch us closely to see whether we react differently than they would. If there is no difference, if we despair as unbelievers might, how is God honored? How do we testify of Christ and His Power? (Graham, Billy).
Seek the LORD with all of your heart, and receive the Power of Christ. He is waiting with outstretched, open arms, to hold you close and to give you the amazing comfort of our Heavenly Father.
In closing, here is a prayer, I prayed today, by Billy Graham:
Our Father and our God, thank you for bringing hope and forgiveness to dispel the sin in my life. Help me to triumph over the inevitable tragedies of life through trust and faith in You. Let my joy in the midst of despair honor and glorify You through Jesus. Amen.
Happy Birthday, my precious mom!!!
All the glory to God,
Shanon
Image of Jesus hugging child by http://www.taemen.co.kr. Gallery
Graham, Billy. “January 31st devotional: TRIUMPH OUT OF TRAGEDY.” Unto the Hills: A DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 1996. WORD PUBLISHING.
Heaven Sent Sentiments 