You are Delightful!!

Quite a few years ago, I had a short dream that kept repeating itself over and over through out the night. There was a stage with curtains and a screen, like a movie theater. On the screen were written these words:
"Zephaniah 3:17"
That's it.
The spoken words, Zephaniah 3:17, and this picture kept running through my sleep all night.
At that time, I didn't even know there was a Zephaniah in the Bible. So when I awoke I was confused as to what that was about.
Then I got my Bible, discovered Zephaniah and read chapter 3, verse 17:
"The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
In his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."

I thought this was a huge mistake. He meant this dream for someone else, or maybe just the first part pertained to me. He IS the God who saves me.
I had a lot of baggage and I was sure God didn't think very highly of me. I didn't think I pleased him much, nor could I do much right. (I had to relearn about no condemnation)
All "stuff" the enemy wants us to believe about ourselves.
 
Some of the wonderful things I learned last year was how much God loves us, enjoys us and TAKES GREAT DELIGHT IN US. I believe he does sing over us and can't wait for us to get home.
I am always excited and can't wait for my kids to come home. How much more excited is God, my Father, for me to get home? (or you)
Contrary to what some believe, God does not like to watch us suffer. He wants you to ask him for help.
We live in a fallen world and we have the gift of free will. This gift can be surrendered for our own best interest or it can be hoarded and used at will. And when we use it at will, it can sometimes stand in the way of what God could possibly do.

Trusting God is a growing process I realize, and every day we choose... but give him a chance!!!
Get out of your own way!
BELIEVE.
Don't just say you believe. You have to really believe deep down inside where no one else an go but you and God.
Believing is a big part of healing!!!
When you believe that deeply-you have peace that passes all understanding and you learn to trust him completely at His word.
No Fear.
Just pure peaceful faith. It's not easy at first.
"Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God."
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up." James 5:15

Turn the fear over to him---It didn't come from him---(He says He has not given you a spirit of fear) but He will gladly get rid of it for you. And thank him!!!
The Bible says to give thanks in all things.
In 2012, I thought about this.
I wondered, "How do I give thanks for the tumors standing before me now?"
BUT....
I HAD to trust him with it!
There was no one higher to go to.
No one with more power.
No one who loved me more.
He was the obvious choice.
Surrender to him and lean into all that he is going to do.
My prayer was that I was so thankful for all that He was doing in my life. I knew he would carry me through this to something better, either in this life or life with Him.
God is always good and I am always loved.
He has so much grace to pour over me. Over us. Grace is often times learned and experienced through suffering.

I am always a work in progress. He has to work on and help me daily. And I have to allow him to do it. He had to "cut into my ungrateful heart to make me whole."
Now I am constantly grateful and try to be more thankful each day, which transfers into JOY. :)
We have to try to see things through His perspective and His Word.
"The Word has nail-scarred hands that cup our fae close, wipe away the tears running down, ...eyes look deep into our brimming ache, and whisper, "I know, I know."(One Thousand Gifts) That is how deep His passion for us.
 
Counting your blessings,
Being thankful,
Being grateful....
These are ways to practice the delight of God.

Don't numb your senses to the grace and to see the glimpses of Heaven and Him all around you each day.
Early last year, I read a devotional about finding God in every day....
someone's smile...
a child's laugh...
a kind gesture....
a beautiful sight...
a forgiveness given...
a plan worked out wonderfully...
good news...
All pieces of Heaven, little God winks He sends to us to say,
"I am with you."
"I love you."
"I delight in you."
These moments each day where we see Him---are all gifts. And the more we see them, the more we want.. and the more we become thankful and joyful!
We adore him and trust him.
I started intentionally looking for him each day. I would tell him I was doing this. Then an elderly lady gave me a big smile. My thought was instantly..."there He is!"
It's fun. You should try it. God likes to have fun too. :)
Then give others the chance to see God and a little bit of Heaven through you.
Smile.
Help.
Serve.
Give grace. (oh, you on the highway.)
You can become a gift to someone today. You never know what is going on in someones life--what they are feeling today.
We all have our stories and most of them are not comedies.
God comes in these common lives in common ways. He didn't come to this earth as a King would, nor does He come each day in pomp and circumstances.
And I am so thankful that He fills me with such joy through a common life.
Common things from a God who leaves me awe struck! A God who breathes out the starry hosts from his mouth and gathers the waters of the sea in jars!
Then stops to delight and sing over ME.
How can I not trust him completely, when He is patiently transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of his Son?