Does it seem irreverent to say that God loves a good party?  Husband and I are feeling so blessed the last two weeks.  We’ve enjoyed a granddaughter’s birthday party, another granddaughter’s high school musical, a granddaughter’s school Mother’s Day tea, and a good Mother’s Day which included visiting with family, happy talking, eating, and laughing.  Dear friends from a distance away called last night and shared happy news.  We went to bed smiling and looking forward to the mini-reunion when we’ll see them and another family face to face in a few weeks.

 “You may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen.  When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household.”  Deuteronomy 14:25-26

“The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him: bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day.”  1 Chronicles 29:21-22

Of course, there can be abuses of partying.  As upstanding citizens of heaven, we often focus on the misbehavior at parties like drunkenness, and all the problems it brings including immorality.  But pure partying is actually something that God plans for his people to enjoy.  He created us to like to have fun, be with others, eat, relax, talk, laugh and we will do so in the happy eternal future he has planned for us, as well as in the here and now.

“And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Jesus in Matthew 8:11

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd … 
“Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,”
The angel said, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”  Revelation 19:6-9

On top of happy-inducing get-togethers, we’ve had huge breakthroughs in our final steps of house completion.  You may know that last year Husband built our little house.  A huge undertaking for a man in his late sixties who had never built a house from scratch before!  Although he completed the building project a year ago, there were still two outdoor projects and one indoor project to finish: rocking our waterfall and making a sidewalk to the front door (and a path around the house.)  The indoor project is painting the interior doors.  (Husband is allergic to the fumes of the paint necessary for doors.  He painted the rest of the house.)  

Now, I know that no one needs a waterfall.  It’s a luxury and actually frivolous.  But the whole story about our waterfall is a God story.  You see, last summer a stranger offered to come and move a large amount of dirt for us for free.  He brought his heavy equipment and skillfully moved all the dirt from the house site excavation.  In order to make a level area to build, dirt had been cut from the hillside.  A lot of dirt.  For a year and a half, high piles of dirt sat right next to the emerging house.  Even after we moved in, the dirt remained and blocked our windows.  We had made arrangements with an excavator to take care of the piles, but month after month he delayed.  Finally, a friend recommended another excavator who came promptly, was available to do our job but gave us a bid which was far above our budget.  We gulped and thanked him politely and said goodbye.  The next day he called with an offer we could hardly believe.  “I can’t get you off my mind,” he said.  “I feel God wants me to do your job.  You don’t have to pay me.  Just give whatever money was in your budget to the church building fund.”  Within days, we had a view out our windows.  We had smooth areas for lawn and we had privacy berms.   We also had a complementary waterfall cut into the bank beside our house!  Now, rocking a waterfall isn’t a one old man job.  After a year of searching for someone, God sent just the right strong young man this week to help Husband begin the work to rock our waterfall… and brick a sidewalk, and gravel a path.  Today a painter promised to come next weekend to paint our interior doors – the last indoor project remaining.  Did I mention that our son-in-law gave us rock left over from his project?!  Or that our neighbor unloaded the big rocks for us with his mini excavator?  Or that the bricks were given to us?  Or that the unshiny, old pick-up truck our son gave us at the beginning of our construction project is still man enough to chug up our hill full of rock?  Or that our daughter-in-law’s parents gifted us this week with 100  bushes and two trees from their nursery which is making the area around the waterfall beautiful?!

We didn’t need parties, bushes, or waterfalls, but God showered us with this abundance.  I think he’s honored when we appreciate what he gives us.  This applies to the hard things as well as the good, of course.  We can appreciate the results of hard things in our lives and we can appreciate the strength he gives us in the hard times.  And when he gives us beauty, abundance, and happiness we celebrate his goodness and praise him to others.

“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:12-13 

Make it a game this week to notice the little and big things God gives you.  Delight in the sunset, the birdsong, the good meal, the phone call from a friend.  Whisper a prayer of thanks.  And mention your enjoyment to someone else.  And if you can, why not have a party?!

You can read about our house building adventures here and here.

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