I Hope You Dance...

...while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy...  ~Job 38:7

There was a lot of fuss in Heaven when God created the earth and everything in it.  That must have really been something - to hear the stars singing and angels rejoicing.  I suppose we might get to hear something like that again when Jesus comes back to claim the earth in glory and splendor.

In the meantime, despite all our sinful attempts to mess it up, the world is still a beautiful place.  Spring mornings with the birds singing, the smell of newly mowed grass, the scent of flowering trees and shrubs wafting through the air.  The gentle steady patter of a Spring shower or the fury of a fast moving thunder storm...in any case, God's creation is awesome. 

I really like the Psalms where the earth is shouting or the sea is resounding.  For instance, 'let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;' (Psalm 98:8)  It's that kind of uncontainable joy that I sometimes feel when I consider my Father's world.  I have numerous family vacation photos as a screensaver, and every once in a while a photo from the top of the Rocky Mountains or Grand Tetons pops up and my heart leaps with awe at the splendor.  Those views, as I experienced them, literally took my breath away.  I didn't dance for joy, but perhaps I should have.  King David was a man of emotion.  He was always singing, playing music and dancing in praise of God.  I've been pretty restrained most of my life, but lately I've been thinking that's a mistake.  I think the world would be a happier place if people hugged more, cheered more, danced more, laughed more and expressed their feelings more.  Perhaps if people could express their joy more fully, they wouldn't have so much pent up anxiety or anger.  I don't know, I could be wrong, but it just seems to me that in this short life, you should take advantage of all the moments you can to enjoy the world and the people around you.

It's easy to be cynical and critical.  I spent much of my youth like that.  And I was excellent at it.  I had a biting wit that could cut right to the heart of things.  I never noticed the wounds I was inflicting all around me.  Of course, I had my own wounds to deal with...  I see this same temperament in my son.  And he has his scars, too, but I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will keep working in him to bring about change.  I have found that only Jesus can heal those kinds of wounds and scars.  Let go of the hurt and pain, and let God bring you peace and perspective.  There is so, so much to be thankful for.

Lord, thank you for the beauty of the earth, and for joy.  Thank you for dancing, singing, playing music and all the other ways we can express our joy.  Help me to avoid a critical mindset, and create in me an attitude of gratitude for the countless ways You shower us with Your grace, mercy and love.  Amen!

Comments

[Beloved Mama]

your blog is beautiful! I saw you on CWO and wanted to stop by and I'm so glad I did!

[Jen]

Thank you for your uplifting comment! Don't forget there's still time to enter the May Giveaway! Click on to the May Contest Page to the left, or sign up at www.visionsandverses.com

[Lorie]

Hiya Jenn..I can relate about the biting wit *smile* In my case I used words to hurt others, and could talk someone down to the point where they looked at me with a blank expression not knowing what to say back to me. But like you I knew it was my way of expressing the anger and pain I felt inside as a teen. But praise the Lord how he changed my life around and now all that comes out of this womans mouth are words of encouragement, edification, and words of praises not only unto those around me , but to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. What a mighty God we serve.. Hugz Lorie