God's Kisses

Yesterday was my first day in the Want More? Joy devotional. It was amazing! I read about how nature is joyful in 1 Chronicles 16. On my way to small group from work, I rounded the bend and saw a vibrant, laughing rainbow stretching vertically into Liberty Bay. I looked up and saw weightless, white clouds whispering in their swirls. It was gorgeous. It made me smile because a couple weeks ago I shared an excerpt from John and Stasi Eldridge's Captivating. It was on ways that God "kisses" his children.

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God’s Kisses: “A few years ago John was on a business trip to Oregon. He snuck away for some time alone with God, down to the beach where he walked and prayed and finally sat in the sand to watch the waves upon the sea. Then he saw it. A huge plume of water shot up into the sky, and a massive humpback whale appeared right before him, impossibly close to shore. No one else was near. The time of the whale’s migration had long passed. John knew immediately that this was a gift from God to his heart alone, a gift from the Lover of his heart. John told me (his wife) this story and, as happy as I was for him, I was hungrier for such a kiss for myself. I wanted a whale too. I wanted to experience God’s love for me, personally. It wasn’t long after this that John and I were in Nothern California speaking at a couple’s retreat. I, too, snuck away one morning for some much needed time on the beach with God. I sat on the sand, looked out to the sea, and asked God for a whale. “I know you love John, Jesus, but do you love me too? That much? If you do, may I have a whale too?”I felt a little silly in asking, for I knew the truth; that God had already proven His love for me. He had sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for me. He had rescued me. He had paid the highest price imaginable for me. He had given me all of creation to speak of His great glory and love, and He had given me the Word of God in all its depth and beauty, and here I was, asking for more. And God loved it. God delights I revealing Himself to those who will seek Him with all their hearts. He is an extravagant, abundant Lover, and He loves to reveal His heart to us again and again.After awhile, with no whale in sight, I got up off the sand and continued to walk. It was early spring, waves crashing, seagulls crying. The northern coast of CA is rocky, and as I picked my way through, I rounded the corner and came upon a starfish, a beautiful orange starfish. And I knew at once it was God’s gift to me, His kiss. He didn’t give me a whale; no, that was for John alone. For me, unique to me, he gave a stunning starfish. He answered my question. Yes. He loved me. I thanked Him for it, then rounded the next bend and came upon a sight I will never forget. There before me, behind me, surrounding me, were hundreds of starfish. Zillions of them. There were purple ones and orange ones and blue ones, all sizes. I burst into joyful laughter, my heart exploding inside me. God didn’t just love me. He LOOOOOVED me! Intimately, personally, completely.” Captivating John and Stasi Eldredge

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Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Then the trees of the forest will sing,
they will sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

From 1 Chronicles 16