Scattered Thoughts

This is Dolly…she is a child in the church we are partnered with this month. When I was giving a testimony the other day I found myself focused on her as I spoke. It was a message about how we as believers all have the same Spirit in us, we are all looking to God for what to do…who to be. Even Jesus did that (John 5:19, Matthew 3:17). As I was speaking there was Dolly, so innocent, so attentive, so lovely. The words of Jesus came alive for me in a way they had not before, “Let the little children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to those that are like these children.” In the throws of some wild rhythmic African worship I found myself jumping next to Dolly. She was eying my tambourine and so I showed her how to play it. She loved it. The Joy in Dolly’s smile and the love in her dance before the Lord she trusted in so simply reminded me of what this year is all about for me…

Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.

You will again be happy
and dance merrily with your tambourines.
Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria
and eat from your own gardens there.
The day will come when watchmen will shout
from the hill country of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Jerusalem
to worship the Lord our God.’�

Now this is what the Lord says:
“Sing with joy for Israel.
Shout for the greatest of nations!
Shout out with praise and joy:
‘Save your people, O Lord,
the remnant of Israel!’
For I will bring them from the north
and from the distant corners of the earth.
I will not forget the blind and lame,
the expectant mothers and women in labor.
A great company will return!
Tears of joy will stream down their faces,
and I will lead them home with great care.
They will walk beside quiet streams
and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.
For I am Israel’s father,
and Ephraim is my oldest child.

“Listen to this message from the Lord,
you nations of the world;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
The Lord, who scattered his people,
will gather them and watch over them
as a shepherd does his flock.
For the Lord has redeemed Israel
from those too strong for them.
They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts”
the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil,
and the healthy flocks and herds.
Their life will be like a watered garden,
and all their sorrows will be gone.
The young women will dance for joy,
and the men”old and young”will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
The priests will enjoy abundance,
and my people will feast on my good gifts.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Jeremiah 31:3-14