Constant

Life at Beautiful Gate is anything but constant. Each day is a roller coaster of activity and emotions. 

Some days it is so easy to find the joy in life here: in the giggle of a child, a baby standing for the first time, playing in kiddie pools, praising Jesus at the top of our lungs...

Other days it is much more difficult. You feel defeated, unworthy, unequiped. Kids won't stop pulling your hair, the baby just keeps crying, you get thrown up on...

But what I have realized in my twelve days here is that, no matter how my day is going, The Lord is always drawing me in and saying, "Gracie, stay here beside me."

Psalm 92 says, "It is good to give thanks to The Lord."

1 Thessalonians says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Now, Psalm 92 doesn't say, "It is easy to give thanks to The Lord," and 1 Thessalonians doesn't say, "Give thanks for all circumstances." But rather it is good to give thanks through all that we endure, for in this life we will have trouble, but God is so much bigger than that.

So give thanks in all things, not because it was all good or all from God, but because God is good and and he is there in it all.

Life at Beautiful Gate may not be constant, but I rejoice in saying that I am walking along this path with the God of unfailing, steadfast, and constant love, hope, and joy.