Wish I could think of a cool title....the sounds of laughter

As I type, our girls are running around, twirling plastic bead necklaces and chasing each other! I love to hear laughter, especially when it comes from children, my children. It reminds me of the Lord's goodness, for many reasons. There was a day, even a year ago, that there was not a lot of laughter in our home, and for awhile, I wondered and longed for the day it would return.

I never despaired, just longed with a great hope. Deep down, I knew, I knew that I knew that I knew, God would restore family life, full of love and laughter. It would be so hard living day-to-day, thinking that my girls did not genuinely like, let alone, love one another. That is not the case at all today. They love each other, and I am so grateful. (well, mostly they do, as I hear a slap and, "That hurts!") Didn't your momma always say that, "It always starts out fun, playing, and then somebody gets hurt."

Anyway, as I've said before, I L-O-V-E SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the sunshine, I love to be outside, the warmth on my skin, swimming, sunglasses, flip flops, shorts, and sun visors....I love everything summer! And to think, God so intimately knows this about me, Meredith was born June 21, which is sometimes the Summer Solstice.

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I have no creative way to get to the next bit....we are studying Beth Moore's lessons on the book of Revelation and a few weeks ago while she was speaking on the video, I had the most incredible sense of God's presence. Years ago, I wrote lyrics about my relationship with the Lord and have not done so in awhile, but that night during Beth's lesson, the words just kept coming.

Here are a few......

The road may be long; the climb may be steep, but Your love illuminates the way.
My heart pours forth praise, forever, all my days,
Jesus Christ, my Savior, Friend.......

and bits from another (at some point I would like to copyright the lyrics once I finish)....

 For Your Name and renown, Lord for You alone, we live our lives to know Your glory;
.......................You reach down to mend the broken hearted, Your love's a healing balm for the soul;
You gently wipe the tears of the weary ones, only You can make us whole.

and from another..............
We will gather when Your voice calls out; Your brilliance pierces the darkest night;
We will bow at Your feet, casting down our crowns;
Oh, Lord, we long for that glorious day.

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The Revelation study, along with what I learned from Daniel, makes it so clear to me these things:
1. He created the world and He is Sovereign over ALL
2. He sent His Son to redeem the world
3. Many will choose to love and follow Him; many will not
4. We live in a sinful, fallen, broken creation, brought forth from the day in the Garden....and since that day creation groans and longs for His glorious return
5. We toil on earth...but not forever
6. There is coming a day, only God the Father knows...when His Son will return, the battle will ensue
7. He will be victorious and reign forever; and those He calls sons and daughters will reign with Him.

I cannot wait for that day!!! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.