Topic: God things
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As I was pondering the meaning of joy, I realized it was being played out right in front of my eyes. I looked at each woman there, those smiling, laughing, dancing women, and thought about the hard times they had each been through?.past abuse, death of a child or husband, suicide in their immediate families, divorce, poverty, eating disorders, chronic illness, women who had survived cancer, strokes, heart surgeries and ill children, single moms, moms who were taking care of elderly moms, and some who made their own trouble through foolish decisions, which we all do, but some suffer the consequences far more greatly. I realized as I saw these women laughing, singing and dancing that they chose to trust God?they chose joy. It?s offered to each of us, but for some reason, some people do not choose to trust?they choose to be angry, to question ?why me?, and usually they become very bitter, hard people. I have seen this too in some of the women I have known through our women?s ministry and I thought about them?why did they choose to go that way? Our retreat leader, Mary, illustrated this so well (and I'm all into word pictures, so I was all over this)?.it's as if we have these beautiful dancing shoes in a lovely box up on our closet shelf but we never choose to join in the dance. We choose to remain clothed in our comfortable clod-hoppers. But once we give in and put those shoes on, believing there will be a beautiful dance, we are set free from the bitterness and regret. ?You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.? Psalm 30:11
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So get that lovely box down off the closet shelf, put those shoes on, put your trust in Christ and accept his invitation to dance.
As a parting thought?.did you know that God sings? I never read this verse before, but when I read it at the retreat, it made my joy swell to know what he sings about?..
?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 3:17
Now?..shall we dance?
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by crickl
at 9:19 PM PST
Updated: Tue, Nov 29 2005 8:45 PM PST
Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink | Share This Post
Updated: Tue, Nov 29 2005 8:45 PM PST
Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink | Share This Post