| |
Thoughts for a Woman's Heart |
|
| |
encouragement in things that matter |
|
| |
When God Smiles
|
|
| |
Moms are usually experts at smiling, and our smiles seem to start in our heart and then burst out spontaneously all over our face. Tiny infant fingers laced around our own, wobbly, uncertain very first steps, sticky kisses, smiley faces on kindergarten papers, innocent trusting prayers to listen to before bedtime, first performances, tender words that say, "I’m sorry," or, "I love you," hugs from a junior higher, staying up late to hear about my high schooler’s first date, confident steps across a graduation platform – these and so much more bring that pure delight that makes us smile with warmth and affection on our children. God smiles too on His children. Psalm 149:4 says, "the Lord delights in his people." Delight doesn’t happen without a smile. Psalm 37:23 and 24 give us more insight into God’s delight. "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." Godliness is the distinctive in a believer’s life that causes God to smile – godliness that finds its source in obedience to God’s leading and directive. Godliness is becoming more and more like the Father whose delight I cherish. Godliness responds to Him and walks with Him. But godliness is not always perfect – sometimes I stumble in my walk. I haven’t yet learned to walk perfectly with my God and I will stumble. Don’t miss though what God is doing, even when I stumble – He is holding my hand. When I hold the hand of my toddler as he tentatively takes those first steps, I know he will stumble. That’s why I hold his hand. I want to be right beside him to catch him in his fall, brush off some dirty knees if I need to, and encourage him to keep on walking! And guess what! I’m still smiling! Why? Because I delight in my child and I don’t stop delighting because he stumbles! God is so much like moms. He delights in our godliness, but He knows there will be times when for one of a thousand reasons, I stumble, and He is right beside me, catching me in my fall, brushing off the dirt, and encouraging me to keep on walking. And as I hold on tight, I look up into the face of my Father, and, He’s smiling. |
|
| |
|
— Bev |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
