"God Rejoices Over You"
Lectionary Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12: 2-6; Philippians 4: 4-7 & Luke 3: 7-18.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel!! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!...... On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3: 14, 16-17
The verses above are the basis for one of my favorite anthems: "And the Father will Dance" by Mark Hayes. The Zephaniah passage is not well known or quoted but the imagery that it evokes is hard to ignore: GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE??? GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH, HE IS DELIGHTED WITH YOU AND SINGS PRAISES FOR YOU!!! Someone once paraphrased this passage by saying: "God loves you so much, if He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on the front, held up by his favorite magnet." How overwhelmingly marvelous to be so well loved and cared for. It is almost unbelievable.
On a Christmas morning, many years ago, four generations of family gathered at my parents home to open gifts. The gathering was even more special that year as schedules and travel distances did not always allow these get togethers. My grandfather, unused to an audience as he opened presents, was especially confounded by the attention. You see our practice was to open gifts one at a time, giving each present its special highlight for the giver and the receiver. Each time it was my grandfather's turn to open a present he would say, "Is this for Me? Are you sure?" He seemed awed by the gifts and perhaps by the attention of the family. I had never seen such joy on his face before. Even as he opened them, I don't think he believed the gifts were really for him.
We often prepare our homes for Christmas very effectively, but ignore the preparation of our hearts to receive this miraculous gift. We have become insensitive to the gift's awe and magnificence. We just don't believe that we could be special enough for God to love us this much. So, I encourage you to take a quiet moment today and let this message sink in. GOD LOVES YOU!! He loves you so much He sends His son to you, to live in your heart and mind, to take on your heartaches, your trials, your triumphs and your accomplishments. This gift of LOVE comes packaged in the form of a baby. A baby with arms wide enough and strong enough to enfold the most challenging dilemmas or the most overwhelming joys. A baby who can speak to our hearts without words and calm our fears with a sigh. A baby to rejoice in each of us for all of our days. It may be hard to believe, but is it unbelievable? Because of the gifts of this special baby who became our Savior in His adulthood--I believe. "
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel!! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!...... On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3: 14, 16-17
The verses above are the basis for one of my favorite anthems: "And the Father will Dance" by Mark Hayes. The Zephaniah passage is not well known or quoted but the imagery that it evokes is hard to ignore: GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE??? GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH, HE IS DELIGHTED WITH YOU AND SINGS PRAISES FOR YOU!!! Someone once paraphrased this passage by saying: "God loves you so much, if He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on the front, held up by his favorite magnet." How overwhelmingly marvelous to be so well loved and cared for. It is almost unbelievable.
On a Christmas morning, many years ago, four generations of family gathered at my parents home to open gifts. The gathering was even more special that year as schedules and travel distances did not always allow these get togethers. My grandfather, unused to an audience as he opened presents, was especially confounded by the attention. You see our practice was to open gifts one at a time, giving each present its special highlight for the giver and the receiver. Each time it was my grandfather's turn to open a present he would say, "Is this for Me? Are you sure?" He seemed awed by the gifts and perhaps by the attention of the family. I had never seen such joy on his face before. Even as he opened them, I don't think he believed the gifts were really for him.
We often prepare our homes for Christmas very effectively, but ignore the preparation of our hearts to receive this miraculous gift. We have become insensitive to the gift's awe and magnificence. We just don't believe that we could be special enough for God to love us this much. So, I encourage you to take a quiet moment today and let this message sink in. GOD LOVES YOU!! He loves you so much He sends His son to you, to live in your heart and mind, to take on your heartaches, your trials, your triumphs and your accomplishments. This gift of LOVE comes packaged in the form of a baby. A baby with arms wide enough and strong enough to enfold the most challenging dilemmas or the most overwhelming joys. A baby who can speak to our hearts without words and calm our fears with a sigh. A baby to rejoice in each of us for all of our days. It may be hard to believe, but is it unbelievable? Because of the gifts of this special baby who became our Savior in His adulthood--I believe. "
Is that a choir I hear singing the praises of God?
No, the Lord God Himself is exulting o'er you in song!"
No, the Lord God Himself is exulting o'er you in song!"
ear Loving Mother and Father, You tell us that you love us. You show us that you love us. You persevere in your pursuit of us. And yet, we are reluctant to commit to the whole package of this special LOVE. Please help us this advent season to listen carefully for your voice. Help us to open our hearts to receive the love and to sing joyfully along with you. Come, Emmanuel, Come. AMEN.
Chyrl Budd
1 comment:
Chryl, I am blessed by today's devotion. I believe I am correct that you were a house parent at Burlington Children's Home a "few" years ago. My mother, Shirley Homan, was a cook there at the time and I was a young student at Burlington Elementary. If I am incorrect, I still am blessed by the devotion and found it especially meaningful to remember day by day and to pass on to others. Keep writing to the glory of God and may God bless and keep you.
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