We’ve been having a good time at our house lately, enjoying having our oldest daughter home from college, looking forward to our sons’ wedding and seeing the friends and relatives that this great occasion will bring together.  In the midst of our joy, a little troubling news crept into our home last week.  The ministry where my husband labors is suffering.  Without going into specifics, let me just say that the details were enough to make me nervous.  As we started a week of prayer especially for the needs of this ministry, my daily reading led me to Psalm 34.  What a blessing to my nervous soul!!

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me: he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” (vv. 4&5)  My nervousness was replaced- I was delivered from my fears and they were replaced with a desire to be radiant, as those who look to him. 

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.  Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.  The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Vv. 7-10) 

In truth, I could quote the whole chapter; it was so encouraging to me.  There was no revelation about the future of the ministry, or the fate of my family, but there was the comfort of God as I read about his care for his children.  I’m thankful that his comfort is so freely offered, and so sincerely given.  By his grace, I will extol the Lord at all times.

God is good... life is good.  Last Sunday morning when I woke up, the house was quiet and my heart was full of joy.  The phrase "You give me joy that's unspeakable....and I like it." kept running through my head, like a warped cd or a broken record.  In my soul I felt it.  As I looked around my perch on the couch in my son's living room, there were people everywhere, parked on air matresses around the room and sleeping soundly.  It was a thrilling thing.  I guess it doesn't take much to thrill an old homeschooler.   A weekend together with my family, watching my son grill for 10 people, watching my future daughter in law handle the squash of the crowd in that tiny apartment, preparing side dishes and trying to unpack shower gifts at the same time.  It was a couple of days that I will never forget.  (Did I mention that my son also graduated from college that weekend?)  How grateful I am to God for moments like that, of peace and joy in the midst of the din of life.