Everything that can be shaken shall be shaken indeed. At first it is so very scary. But then, truth emerges: He is my rock and He is never shaken. He remains the same, no matter what. The Word of God is an immovable anchor in the storm.
And the storm rages, and the waves are violent and so much taller than me, but my anchor is solid. I will not be destroyed. Shaken? Yes. Tossed? Yes. Scared? Heck yes! But not destroyed. He is my Rock, my Anchor, my All in all. Oh indeed, it is well with my soul.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows, like sea billow, roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

What liberty, what joy there is in discovering this precious secret! The secret of the Lord is for those who love Him indeed. I will sing and rejoice.

My mother told me that many times before, and I believed her. But boy was she right!
My children are 27, 25 and 23, all three established professionally, responsible, mature members of the society. They stay out of trouble and live productive lives.
I am privileged to share in their precious victories and boast in their accomplishments, and my heart swells with pride when I consider what God has done in and through them. Some days I wonder how I can handle all the joy.
And other days, I wonder if my heart will break before it is all over.
I can’t think of anything harder in life than to see your children suffer. It hurts to be a mother.
If only I could carry their pain for them, if only I could make it all better. Life doesn’t work that way. I can’t blow a kiss and make it all go away. They have to walk their own walk, and discover how to overcome, how to cope, how to be resilient. I smile and hug and give wise counsel, then I run to my room and cry my eyes out. I pray and find my strength in Him, then I go back to dry their tears and pump more courage into them.
I pity those mothers who do not know Jesus as their rock. I know I can’t do this alone.
Life. Messy, painful and full of beauty. Life. Impossible and miraculously feasable.
Oh Lord, open our eyes to You today!

…and the living is easy. One of my very favorite songs; it brings you right into the athmosphere of summer, and makes you want to enjoy it thoroughly. I am always amazed as I consider the power of music… it is able to move emotions in the deepest parts of us.
I am enjoying my summer. Still working, cleaning the house, doing the things one has to do every day for life, but somehow it is different–the living is easier, the schedule is more relaxed and we take the time to be–bloody marys on the patio, watching the fireflies at night, admiring the flowers… Is it because the days are longer? Or because the sun warms the skin? I am not sure. I want to bottle up that feeling so I can open up that bottle of sunshine one day towards the end of the next winter.
But life doesn’t work that way. We are to take each season as it is and live it fully. Even our least favorite ones… and there truly is much to enjoy at every turn; one just has to open his/her heart and eyes. It truly boils down to an attitude, doesn’t it?
Well, for now, I am going to enjoy summer time, for the living is easy…

The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Savior of the world, the Truth and the Life, the great Shepherd of the sheep, the Everlasting God, the Prince of Peace, the Alpha and Omega, the Word of God, the Living Word, the Light, the Rock of all ages, the One who was and is and is to come, the Victor, the eternal Judge, a Father to the fatherless, a Husband to the widow, the great I am, the Healer, the great Physician, the Creator of all things, the Joy of all mankind, Son of man, Son of God, the Ruler of all, the Faithful Witness, the Lamb of God, the Provider, the Almighty One…
The lover of my soul, my best friend, my Redeemer, my strong tower, my strength, the Lifter of my head, the Restorer of my soul, the Joy of all my days, my Future, my Rock, my closest friend, the One who knows me intimately, my Forerunner in the Sanctuary, my Counselor, my Salvation, my Purpose, my Hope, my All, my Home.