Happy All the Time?

There's a children's church song that is high energy and fun to sing because of the hand motions and increasing speed, but it hit me one day that it can also be very confusing and deceiving.   Why?  Well, it goes like this:

I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.
I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.
Since Jesus Christ came in and cleansed my heart from sin,
I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time!

Are Christians happy all the time?  We might pretend to be, but no, we're not. We have some of the same struggles as everyone else.  I recently read an article by Russell Moore entitled Why Facebook (and Your Church) Might Be Making You Sad.  One of the things he says is, "By not speaking, where the Bible speaks, to the full range of human emotion—including loneliness, guilt, desolation, anger, fear, desperation—we only leave our people there, wondering why they just can’t be “Christian” enough to smile through it all."  Have you ever felt that way?  I have.

I think there are at least two reasons we tend to put on a façade:  1) It makes us feel more religious/spiritual, and/or  2) We sincerely have a desire to glorify God and show that He is real and trustworthy.  But can we truly reflect what's real, if we ourselves are not?

I confess I am really struggling with something right now... and I am very discouraged... but it doesn't make me any less a Christian, and it doesn't make God any less real, powerful, or trustworthy.

If you happen to think of it when you go before the throne of God, would you mind saying a little prayer for me, too?  Thanks...

Beautiful Gift

My daughter blessed me by taking the time to make origami lilies to decorate a birthday gift to me... a beautiful compact mirror.   She's so creative and such a blessing!  She even made an asparagus, tomato omelet for breakfast and cake balls for a treat.  Tonight's dessert is going to be Curtis Stone's Cider Poached Pears with Yogurt and Toasted Almonds.  Thank you, Tiffany!

Chris gave me a 7-port USB extension, which I needed, as well as some very cool magnetic 'push pins' for our refrigerator.  They have earth magnets that can hold several sheets of paper!  Not only that, but he also bought birthday candles that glow with color.  Thank you, Chris!

And I've already received several birthday greetings from wonderful friends and family. Thank you so much!

What a nice way to begin a day.  :)

Winter Fruit

I was soooo excited to see a ripened cherry tomato in the middle of winter, from a tomato plant hanging under the skylight of our balcony! God is good!