Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him. Let all the upright in heart praise Him! (Verse 10)
I remember seeing my daughter, Heather, walk down the aisle in her strapless gown carrying an enormous bouquet of multi-colored flowers. She took my breath away. Literally. I let out this little involuntary gasp when I saw her. Then later at the reception with friends and family we rejoiced! Food and dancing, toasting and laughing, the merriment went on for hours.
Vanessa's first CD party in our back yard with candles floating in the pool and all our friends around munching appetizers and rejoicing for and with Vanessa is a memory I still thrill to think about.
My son, Will, stood tall (and bald) at his graduation from the police academy. He looked so handsome, lean and straight. Our boy worked really hard to gain the privilege of protecting Los Angeles from harm. We went to a nearby winery for lunch with friends and rejoiced over Will's accomplishments.
Rejoice! Celebrate! Have a party! And we are to feel that way about our relationship with Jesus. There may be many things in the world right now that make us fear or weep. But our relationship with Christ is something we can choose to enjoy amidst all that is imperfect in our world. Celebrate His life. That God Himself saw us as precious enough that He came to be with us -- Emmanuel. Honor His death, for it brought our salvation. Just plain start dancing at His resurrection because it secured our eternal life with Him. Sing our hearts out because we are now children of the Most High God Who has given us the earnest of His Holy Spirit to assure us we are His forever! Take delight in the protection of our Father's arms! Jump for joy over His everlasting love! Exult in the perfection of God's plans for this universe and for our own little lives! Revel in forgiveness that makes us clean when we've been soiled! Happy, happy, happy to be called a child of God!
Look up and know that He is still God. Nestle close to His heart under the feathered warmth of His wing. Take the strong right hand by which He leads you and don't fear the way. When all seems dark and you feel lost, there is light to show the path. Our God will never leave us or forsake us no matter what may come. When no one seems safe and all have betrayed us, He is our refuge and sanctuary. But He is also the One deserving of our praise when things go amazingly right. When blessings pour over us, undeserved and soul-drenching, we have our God to thank.
Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
I remember seeing my daughter, Heather, walk down the aisle in her strapless gown carrying an enormous bouquet of multi-colored flowers. She took my breath away. Literally. I let out this little involuntary gasp when I saw her. Then later at the reception with friends and family we rejoiced! Food and dancing, toasting and laughing, the merriment went on for hours.
Vanessa's first CD party in our back yard with candles floating in the pool and all our friends around munching appetizers and rejoicing for and with Vanessa is a memory I still thrill to think about.
My son, Will, stood tall (and bald) at his graduation from the police academy. He looked so handsome, lean and straight. Our boy worked really hard to gain the privilege of protecting Los Angeles from harm. We went to a nearby winery for lunch with friends and rejoiced over Will's accomplishments.
Rejoice! Celebrate! Have a party! And we are to feel that way about our relationship with Jesus. There may be many things in the world right now that make us fear or weep. But our relationship with Christ is something we can choose to enjoy amidst all that is imperfect in our world. Celebrate His life. That God Himself saw us as precious enough that He came to be with us -- Emmanuel. Honor His death, for it brought our salvation. Just plain start dancing at His resurrection because it secured our eternal life with Him. Sing our hearts out because we are now children of the Most High God Who has given us the earnest of His Holy Spirit to assure us we are His forever! Take delight in the protection of our Father's arms! Jump for joy over His everlasting love! Exult in the perfection of God's plans for this universe and for our own little lives! Revel in forgiveness that makes us clean when we've been soiled! Happy, happy, happy to be called a child of God!
Look up and know that He is still God. Nestle close to His heart under the feathered warmth of His wing. Take the strong right hand by which He leads you and don't fear the way. When all seems dark and you feel lost, there is light to show the path. Our God will never leave us or forsake us no matter what may come. When no one seems safe and all have betrayed us, He is our refuge and sanctuary. But He is also the One deserving of our praise when things go amazingly right. When blessings pour over us, undeserved and soul-drenching, we have our God to thank.
Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
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