This weekend I had the honor of watching Lou and Stephanie be joined together as husband and wife. Lou is a young man who is part of a very special family to us. We met them when we first came to our church 13 years ago. They are a beautiful family who love the Lord and have been such a blessing to us in so many ways... Lou's sisters have been there for me and my kiddies from day one - I think they are the "Godmommy's" to each one of my kids lol - its funny how when each of my kids were small each of the girls connected with one of them... they developed such a beautiful bond with each of them.'' Such a tremendous blessing and tender memories that I hold close to my heart.
Lou was one of Ray's first leaders when he first started out as Youth Director at Bible Baptist Church. I remember Lou playing basketball with the boys and sharing with them. But there is one memory that it close to my heart and that was during one of the first True Love Waits ceremonies we had and how Lou stepped in and was there for one of our young men - Antwan - as he made a commitment to purity.
My heart was just overjoyed for Lou and how God has bought such an incredible woman into his wife. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. I just love it how God is always at work and ever present!! At the reception, they had a beautiful book with pictures of Lou and Stephanie where the guests could leave a message - as I flipped through the pages enjoying the pictures and comments - one of those pages Stephanie had this bible verse from Zephaniah 3:17:
I wrote the bible reference on my hand and went back to my table and pulled out my handy bible on my cell phone and read this verse over and over again. I all I could do was turn to my husband and share it with him and I was just wow'd.
Its funny how we can read the bible - time and time again... and how God will one day take a verse and plant it on our heart and BAM!!! Well that was exactly what happened - BAM - God was speaking to my heart and giving me the words I needed to hear.
You see my life verse is Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I've been using this verse for the past 20 years and sharing it with anyone who would give me an ear. My heart's desire - to delight myself in Him... in all that I do, how I serve, speak, share. But when I read this verse - the line that stood out at me was "He will take great delight in you" - in me!!! What?? Yep - that He will take great delight - not just delight - but great delight in me!!
Oh but how each line spoke to my heart -
The Lord your God is with you.
Isn't that a comfort to know... no matter what we are experiencing - moments of joy, sadness, pain, nuttiness, confusion - whatever it may be - the Lord is right there besides us. He is in every single detail of our lives - in every high and every low... while we're driving, cleaning the house, changing diapers, folding laundry, working, working out... He is present!
He is mighty to save
There is a song that is called Mighty to Save by Hillsong - but what came to mind is that He is our mighty warrior who will save us and protect us... which reminded me of the song by Chris Tomlin - Whom Shall I Fear...
"I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies, is always by my side
The one who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies, is always by my side"
Whom shall I fear?? God has me in the palm of my hand and no one can snatch me out of His hand or harm me. "Immanuel", God with us, who is "Mighty", the Almighty God, the Mighty Mediator, who has all power in heaven and earth!
He will take great delight in you!!
Oh how line comforts me... and at the same time blows me away!!!
My Heavenly Father takes delight in me - Deborah - who many times stands and looks in the mirror and feels like I've let Him down time and time again. The times I've messed up as a mom and let my emotions get the best of me - or when I've been upset at Ray and chose not to speak to him or I let my pride get in the way... but He doesn't hold those things against me - many times He gently corrects me - or well you know - there are times when its not so gently... but still He rejoices over me!! He loves me! He takes great delight in me!
He will quiet you with His love
Oh sooo many thoughts go through my mind when I read this line - the tenderness of it... especially since it follows how He takes great delight in us... its like in that delight - He holds us close to His bosom, knowing that we are not perfect - but He holds us with that love that He has had for us since the beginning of time. A love so great to express that there are no words...
God will quiet us with His love - oh how I need this many times... when my mind is racing out of control, spinning with concerns, thoughts, worries.. someone described it like this: "The love God has for us is the love that never fails, despite our failings, and it is also the passionate longing of his heart, an intense desire for us, deep and heartfelt." The God who created the Heavens and the earth, the moon, stars and sun... that is my God and He loves me that much...
He will rejoice over me with singing!!!
His quietness turns into rejoicing!!! This part I can relate to lol!!! I guess He couldn't contain His excitement and joy that He burst out in song!!! Woooo Hooooo!!!!
This verse was such a gift to my heart - oh so many times I am just going bonkers and all nutty and my Heavenly Father is just watching over me - protecting me, my mind, my heart... all while He is delighting Himself in me - while He holds me close to His heart as He sings a song to give me rest or a song to rejoice in my joy. Wow this is just mind blowing as I sit here and just think of these words - God will rejoice over me, again just mind blowing... I sooo love my Father... Such beautiful and tender emotions...
Just when I thought it was just too much - He brings this precious gift for me to meditate on, this precious gift in His Word and such peace it has given me. As I continue to find my delight in the Lord... it just brings me so much joy knowing that He will delight even more in me.
Its funny how we can read the bible - time and time again... and how God will one day take a verse and plant it on our heart and BAM!!! Well that was exactly what happened - BAM - God was speaking to my heart and giving me the words I needed to hear.
You see my life verse is Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I've been using this verse for the past 20 years and sharing it with anyone who would give me an ear. My heart's desire - to delight myself in Him... in all that I do, how I serve, speak, share. But when I read this verse - the line that stood out at me was "He will take great delight in you" - in me!!! What?? Yep - that He will take great delight - not just delight - but great delight in me!!
Oh but how each line spoke to my heart -
The Lord your God is with you.
Isn't that a comfort to know... no matter what we are experiencing - moments of joy, sadness, pain, nuttiness, confusion - whatever it may be - the Lord is right there besides us. He is in every single detail of our lives - in every high and every low... while we're driving, cleaning the house, changing diapers, folding laundry, working, working out... He is present!
He is mighty to save
There is a song that is called Mighty to Save by Hillsong - but what came to mind is that He is our mighty warrior who will save us and protect us... which reminded me of the song by Chris Tomlin - Whom Shall I Fear...
"I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies, is always by my side
The one who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies, is always by my side"
Whom shall I fear?? God has me in the palm of my hand and no one can snatch me out of His hand or harm me. "Immanuel", God with us, who is "Mighty", the Almighty God, the Mighty Mediator, who has all power in heaven and earth!
He will take great delight in you!!
Oh how line comforts me... and at the same time blows me away!!!
My Heavenly Father takes delight in me - Deborah - who many times stands and looks in the mirror and feels like I've let Him down time and time again. The times I've messed up as a mom and let my emotions get the best of me - or when I've been upset at Ray and chose not to speak to him or I let my pride get in the way... but He doesn't hold those things against me - many times He gently corrects me - or well you know - there are times when its not so gently... but still He rejoices over me!! He loves me! He takes great delight in me!
He will quiet you with His love
Oh sooo many thoughts go through my mind when I read this line - the tenderness of it... especially since it follows how He takes great delight in us... its like in that delight - He holds us close to His bosom, knowing that we are not perfect - but He holds us with that love that He has had for us since the beginning of time. A love so great to express that there are no words...
God will quiet us with His love - oh how I need this many times... when my mind is racing out of control, spinning with concerns, thoughts, worries.. someone described it like this: "The love God has for us is the love that never fails, despite our failings, and it is also the passionate longing of his heart, an intense desire for us, deep and heartfelt." The God who created the Heavens and the earth, the moon, stars and sun... that is my God and He loves me that much...
He will rejoice over me with singing!!!
His quietness turns into rejoicing!!! This part I can relate to lol!!! I guess He couldn't contain His excitement and joy that He burst out in song!!! Woooo Hooooo!!!!
This verse was such a gift to my heart - oh so many times I am just going bonkers and all nutty and my Heavenly Father is just watching over me - protecting me, my mind, my heart... all while He is delighting Himself in me - while He holds me close to His heart as He sings a song to give me rest or a song to rejoice in my joy. Wow this is just mind blowing as I sit here and just think of these words - God will rejoice over me, again just mind blowing... I sooo love my Father... Such beautiful and tender emotions...
Just when I thought it was just too much - He brings this precious gift for me to meditate on, this precious gift in His Word and such peace it has given me. As I continue to find my delight in the Lord... it just brings me so much joy knowing that He will delight even more in me.
I pray that God is able to speak to your heart as He has to mine...
Thank you Mrs. Stephanie Arias for being a vessel which God used to be an incredible blessing in my life!
