Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Pride and Joy

Have you ever been invited to a friend's home for dinner? Excitedly you and your spouse walk up the path, ring the bell and are graciously invited inside. The smells of dinner waft over you and simultaneously your stomachs growl. Just this afternoon, you and your spouse had talked about how much you enjoy the company of these friends, how you had so much in common, and how stimulating the converstaion always is. And lets not forget what a great cook she is!! So, you have been anticipating this evening all day, in fact, you even skipped lunch because dinner tonight would be so delicious. Now imagine, sitting down to eat, only to hear your hosts begin talking about the accomplishments of little Joey. Joey, who is three, and should be in bed, arrives in the room and with a burst of that kind of energy only children possess, he begins to sing, one song, and then two, and then three and then four. The child then somersaults across the floor, he brings in his drawings to show you, tells you his favorite color, offers you his new toy and then jumps up on his mother's lap and smiles broadly. Joey's parents then begin to tell you even more about Joey. He can almost write his name. He is the smartest kid in his Sunday school class and he knows all the songs. The preschool talent show seems to have no end. You are both hungry and surprised but you try to be polite. His parents are beaming because they love to show Joey off. They are very proud of his accomplishments, his talents and his personality. Joey is their pride and joy.

I was reading the book of Job the other day and I began thinking about the question God asks of satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." I can almost hear the pride in God's voice as He lauds Job's accomplishments. I can almost see the smile on His face as He tells satan just how special His servant is. Now, we all know the rest of this story. We know that satan sets out to prove that Job's obedience to God is not love driven but out of a sense of duty and payback. He wreaks havoc in Job's life, to such an extent that Job's very name has become a synonym for patience and suffering. But satan is unsuccessful and Job lived a faithful and prosperous life. We are inspired and encouraged by the story of Job. Most of us have read it and aspire to live that same sort of faithful life. The message most of us get from this story is just that.
But as I read this story, I found myself returning again and again to God bragging about Job. Can you even imagine being of such character, such faith, such spiritual strength that God proudly speaks about you to other spiritual beings with pride and joy? Can you imagine being blameless and upright in God's sight? Being one who fears God and shuns evil in such a manner that God brings up your name in conversations? Don't you want to be that kind of person? Don't you want to be of such character that the creator of all universe brags about you? Don't you want to be God's pride and joy?
My goal--to be like Job, so that I can be my Father's pride and joy--the apple of His eye.

Peace
Neva
Zechariah 2:8 ". . . for whoever touches you, touches the apple of His eye."

21 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

neva i love you so much the gift God has given you is so wonderful.
The love of our Lord shines in your words. thank you for letting me have this site to read
love you aunt wilma

10:50 PM  
Blogger Mommysmart said...

I love the thoughts. I have never thought about the part when God bragged on Job. Thanks for pointing out that God has great pride in is children.

Have a great day!

6:33 AM  
Blogger Neva said...

Thank you Aunt Wilma, I love you too. Did you get the books? I have been praying for you daily.

Love
Neva

6:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think we would all love to be bragged about by our Heavenly Father. What a great thought.

Pat

6:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think most of us have given thought to hearing our heavenly Father compliment us, but the words we have probably thought about were "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

Which, after reading your post, make me wonder what drives our expectation for hearing those words. I mean, are our expectation love driven or a sense of duty, obligation driven.

Well done thou good and faithful servant sounds like something we would attribute to those who got upset over the use of expensive perfume being poured on Jesus' feet. While, have you consider my servant, sounds like something attributed to the one pouring.

Is that confusing or what? Did anyone catch my point?

7:30 AM  
Blogger jel said...

that is a good thought!




have a great day!

7:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, it would be nice to make God happy every now and then instead of just trying to get Him to make us happy.

Good thoughts

8:18 AM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Neva,
I/we havfe known the anticipation you spoke of in looking forward to getting together with you and Ned. Although I have never skipped a meal in the process.

It may be we were your inspiration as the joy of our children is expressed so easily. Sorry if I'm tooo much like the grandparent with all the pix.

It is truly a great goal to seek to be one God could point to in this kind of pride. You know you probably already are on that path as satan has sent many challenges your way.

God is so good to us.

12:47 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Chris,
I caught your point and I thought it was a good one.
Neva, I love when my Daddy catches me being good and brags on me. I can only imagine what my heart would do if I could hear God do the same.
Kathy

1:56 PM  
Blogger TREY MORGAN said...

I caught myself looking at my boys the other day, my chest swelling with pride and thought to myself... "those are my boys." I was so proud.

I pray God looks at me and sees me in the same way!

3:52 PM  
Blogger Stoned-Campbell Disciple said...

In light of some of the things Job actually says in the book ... yes God's bragging on Job is even more amazing. That is in light of what I have often imagined God to be like in the past. Sometimes it is amazing that God does not strike Job dead rather than brag on him. Thoughtful post and thank you.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

5:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I do want God to brag about me but I hope and pray satan wont take it as a challenge.

Carlos

5:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I have been out of pocket for a few days--finally got caught up on the blog. You have not disappointed me, sister. You are very good at sharing your faith and making it practical for all of us. Keep up the good work

Dean

6:40 PM  
Blogger Marie said...

Do you know that that verse from Zachariah has "poped" up the last 3 days? Do you think that God is trying to tell me something? That is my goal too, to live in a way that if God wanted to, He could brag on me. We are the apples of his eyes!

6:47 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

Chris, I got your point, too. But I have to think about it for awhile, I think it is a good point, I just don't have my brain wrapped around it yet.

James, you were not my inspiration for THIS one. :) --the best thing about our relationship is we love your kids, too and you love ours. Makes it much easier.

Marie,
God is amazing, isn't He?

Peace yall
n

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good thoughts!!!!

Eileen

9:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Could anything be more wonderful that seeing that look of "busting the buttons" pride on God's face?
I dont think so.

Great post
Carol

10:29 PM  
Blogger Beba said...

You see, i never thought about that. Good point and important one... Trough Him we really have what to brag about :)

7:17 AM  
Blogger John Roberts said...

Neva, loved your word picture. Oh, to be the apple of God's eye!

8:17 AM  
Blogger Lori said...

excellent post! I want to be like that too!

9:25 AM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I had never thought about the story of Job that way. May we all be something that God can brag about! Blessings!

9:34 AM  

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