All Nature Sings His Praises

Christ talked many times about how He provides for His children and the rest of His creation. He talked about clothing the lilies of the field. He's aware of each sparrow that falls. He even has a count of how many hairs you have on your head.

Do you ever wonder if the birds sing because their happy? or if they just sing because they don't know what else to do with their time? <aside>Now granted, I'm sure there's some scientific explanation for most of their singing, but what about the times when there isn't. And so what if there is. I can come up with all sorts of scientific reason's why I'm happy, but none of them touch the real Source. It's the same for the birds I think.</aside> Ok, back to what I was saying.

The Lord has built us all with the ability to enjoy. We enjoy life, food, friends, family, nature, smells. We to often forget their Source.

Now when I say that we forget their Source. I don't just mean that we forget to say "thank you" or that we take the happiness for granted (both of which happen far to frequently). My thoughts currently are on the fact that we often are afraid to enjoy what God has given us.

In this case, we have truely forgotten The Source. We have forgotten what He is like (or perhaps we don't yet know). God is Love. Remember that passage in 1 John 4? "True Love casts out fear." Why does it cast out fear? Because fear has to do with punishment. I think we're afraid to enjoy things because we think we should be punished instead or perhaps that we'll be punished for enjoying them.

Being concerned with punishment is not totally unfounded. It is true that we have done nothing to deserve the enjoyment God gives us through things on His earth and in Himself. In a way, though, that's partly the point. That's one of the reasons the gifts are so enjoyable. If we deserved them, our enjoyment would have the same furvor as getting a paycheck. You've done the work; you deserve to get paid.

Gifts are different. God's gifts are very different. He doesn't give us things because we deserve them. He doesn't even give us gifts merely because He knows we'll enjoy them. He gives them to us because He is Love. His gifts bring us happiness, which in turn brings Him happiness. It all happens at the same time, so that the line is blurred between enjoyment of giving and the enjoyment of getting. Anything done out of Love is this way.

If you give someone a gift, you want them to enjoy it. If they don't, your disappointed. How often are we afraid to enjoy what God gives us no matter how big or no matter how small? Do we take what He gives us with full and complete enjoyment? Do we let ourselves be overwhelmed with the happiness He's given us? Or do we hold back? Do we stop our laughter? calm a smile? or even move away from the gift? Are we afraid to be this happy?

God is Love. There is no fear in Him, and there should be no fear of what He gives us. If we fear that He will not let us truely enjoy the gift or that He'll snatch it back just as we think we couldn't be happier? If we fear those things of Him do we really believe He is Love? Do we really know what Love is?

There is much to learn of God's Love. His steadfast Love endures for every. His greatness is unsearchable. His mercy past finding out.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to Live an entire Life in His Love? To know full and complete happiness from the Father. To trust Him. To let Him bring joy or pain with each moment knowing that His care for you (His Love) exceeds all experiences. He heals the wounds He makes. He brings us joy so that we might sing His praise.

It's ok to be this happy.

Posted by TheIdeaMan at July 15, 2003 08:42 PM