Thursday, March 31, 2016

Love's Heart Hears

Hey Friend,

Today is one of those glorious southern spring days.  The skies are Carolina blue and not a cloud interrupts their vastness.  The bright sun has slowly melted away the chilly, early-morning dew.  No humidity.  Just upper 60's and sensational!

Days like these put a song in my heart.  I was running my morning errands...had a selection of annuals in the trunk of the car...anticipating getting my hands dirty in the garden soil.  I popped in a cd and the frame of my four-door sedan became my sanctuary.

You see, I can't sing.  No, really, I can't!  Ask my family.  I don't even sing in the shower because others within earshot may be offended.  So, this day, I lifted a prayer to God.  I asked Him to forgive me for it being awhile since we last talked. I called upon the name of the Lord.  I thanked Him for all my many blessings.  I gave Him a fist bump for the glorious day.  Then I cranked up the volume and began a full out praise and worship fest at the stop light.

Sure, I caught a glimpse of the mini-van in my rearview mirror, but I really didn't care.  My hands were drumming out the beat on my steering wheel.  Interspersed with hand raises, head bobs, seat dancing moves, eyes closed; I was in my God zone.  One of those moments that would have mortified my kids lol.

I cracked open one eye to see if the light had changed (I knew this one was a long one).  The mini-van - previously behind me - was now beside me and the driver was motioning me to roll down my window.  Oh busted...

"I just have to ask," she began, "what are you listening to?"  Feeling the red burn of embarrassment rise to my cheeks, I answered, "Christy Nockels- 'Ever Lifting'...great song!"   

"Oh, well I just had to know," she went on, "you looked  like you were having so much fun!"

Truth be told...I was!

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. (One commentary calls God's singing an "utter jubilee of the heart".)  (Zephaniah 3:17)

I have become a "word nerd" of sorts.  I've read this scripture many times before, but I got out my concordance (I use the NIV Exhaustive Bible Concordance by John Kohlenberger, Third Edition).

I wanted to go deeper.  I wanted to dig in the fertile soil of His Word and see what new truths it held.  So I looked up some of the key words, seeking for what God might want to reveal.  Again, I called upon His name. 

The phrase "Take great delight" in the original Hebrew looked like an algebraic equation in my 9th grade Algebra class.

H8464 - "sus" + H928 - "b" + H8525 - "simha"

Translated it would go something like...He (God) will rejoice, be pleased, delight greatly + with + joy, gladness, pleasure, celebration, emense enjoyment.

When we call upon the name of the Lord, Love's Heart Hears!!

He not only hears, but He has "a jubilee of the heart"...

Or as we say in the South, "He's fixin' to give you a big ole bear hug because He's plum crazy boutcha. Even more, He's might sweet on you and He ain't just whistling 'Dixie!"

I also looked up the word "rebuke". Probably because honestly, I don't like the thought of God rebuking me. 

In Hebrew the phrase "no longer rebuke" = "hares"

"hares" = to be silent, to be deaf, to make no moves, to say no more,  to say nothing.

In this section of Zephaniah, evil doing and unrepentant Jerusalem finally calls upon the name of the Lord.  The Lord not only takes away judgment, but He is silent.  He says no more.  He is forever silent on their evil doing. 

This continuing theme of Unrepentent >>Calling Upon the Name of the Lord >>Restoration began in the Old Testament.  Thanks to Jesus' death on the cross, the Lord is "hares" - He is silent.  He says no more about out sins.

And best of all He is "sus" + "b" + "simhe":  He's rejoicing and delighting greatly with joy, celebration, and gladness. 

So much so that He sings over us...He sings over you...

He's might sweet on you and He's plum crazy boutcha too!  Do you believe that??

All you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord and Love's Heart Hears!!

Is there anything holding you back from believing that God delights in you?  Do you ever fear He will rebuke you?  What lies does the enemy want you to believe?  Do they match up with what you know of scripture and it's story of God's great love for you??

Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I do exactly what I don't want to do.  Forgive my evil ways past and present.  I call upon your precious name and in doing so, I KNOW that you hear.  I claim the forgiveness you promised me through trusting on the sacrificial death of Christ.  Therefore, there is now NO condemnation.  Thank you for restoring our relationship.  Thank you for pulling me back into your arms of love.  Thank you for delighting in me...singing joyfully over me...let me know that I am the reason for the jubilee of your heart.  In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed...


ps. Please pray for the people of Pakistan and for Redeemer Christian Foundation's presence there in our school.  Thankfully, none of our children were among the 65+ killed and 300+ injured in the suicide bomb blast in a park on Easter.  Pakistan's small Christian community was celebrating Easter when this heinous attack took place.

Do you want to do something about what's going on in our world besides feel helpless? 

RCF, Inc. is supporting raising up children in the love and hope that Jesus teaches.  Others are taking notice and lives are being transformed.  People in this part of the world see the joy and hope in the eyes of the children and they want to know more. 

Please visit our website and join with us in DOING something to end the hatred:

www.redeemerchristianfoundation.org
Or click HERE

We now take credit card donations and generate immediate receipts for tax purposes.

Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit

**Unlike many charities, 100% of your donation goes directly to the children! We are all volunteers and pay no administrative salaries.  The Board is invested and covers all PR, printing, and other admin fees so that YOUR dollars can go 100% to the children...

 Pray for their safety...
 Mourn with them in their grief...
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ...they truly know what it means to be persecuted for their faith...




36 comments:

  1. Bet you rocked it here and there. I am right with you in that singing. Yep I remember as a teenager my aunt telling me I could not sing. I did sing in the church choir and no one ever complained. I don't have a beautiful voice but I lift it to God on Sundays in my pew and in my car like you. I am going to have to check out that song. Not sure if I know it or not, but I will. Enjoyed rocking with you this morning.

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    1. Thanks Deborah,
      Always good to meet another "car rocker" lol! I do believe that God delights in our praise and worship even if it's slightly (or in my case tremendously) off key! There is nothing that we ever whisper or sing loudly that God doesn't hear and respond to. So thankful for that fact!
      Have a blessed day and think of me when your singing...
      Bev

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    2. Amen Bev and I will think of you when I'm singing at church tomorrow morning.

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  2. Actually, yesterday coming back from Iowa (and going there), I was singing the song Forever (Kari Jobe) in both English and Spanish. I play guitar on worship team and sing in Spanish. Love that song! And, yes, I was bobbing head, banging steering wheel and just getting in the presence of God!

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    1. Tammy,
      I have to check out your song...I love a good worship song and love the Spanish/Latin influence in music. So many different genres of music...all made to praise God and His love and creation. I went to the symphony last week and delighted in Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I was praising God during that. Keep on head bobbing and steering wheel drumming...God hears and He loves and delights in YOU!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  3. This is so beautiful, Bev! I'm grateful for your constant encouragement and powerful reminders! #livefreeThursday

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    1. Thanks Crystal,
      I appreciate your ray of sunshine here today!! So glad you popped over from Suzie's place!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. I am so thankful for composers and musicians who can express my heart with their stirring melodies and lyrics. I see that you do, too! And with you, I'm something of a word nerd myself. Thank you, Bev, for cracking open that verse in Zephaniah. You've given us a fuller understanding and new appreciation for that meaningful scripture. P.S. I do pray regularly for "your" school in Pakistan. My heart aches for those persecuted for their faith. I do not know how I ought to pray, but praise the Spirit who intercedes with groans that words cannot express. He will intercede in accordance with God's will (Romans 8:26-27).

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    1. Nancy,
      Like you, music moves my heart and my soul. To me, music is further evidence of God's creation. The world is full of the Master's melodies. Thank you for appreciating my digging into scripture...I view it as a gem mine and I'm the blessed and fortunate miner. Thank you for your prayers for RCF, Inc. Right now we could really use prayers for safety especially on the heels of the heinous Easter suicide bombing attack, which was near our school.
      Blessings and thanks, sweet friend,
      Bev
      ps. My piano keys need dusting...how about yours??

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  5. Smiling about the car incident, but I also find that alone in the car is a great time for worship! And thanks for sharing a verse I love! Isn't it amazing to think that we bring pleasure to the heart of God?

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    1. Yes, Michele, this is the silly side of me. I figure if David could dance before the Lord...well than so can I :) I am always blown away when I begin to grasp...just a smidgeon...of how much God loves me/us!
      Blessings sweet friend,
      Bev xx

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  6. It is amazing to think how much God loves us ... a love we cam do nothing to earn! Thanks for sharing. BTW I'm visiting from Beth's Messy Marriage linkup. Have a wonderful week-end!

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    1. Donna,
      You hit the nail on the head...a love we can do nothing to earn. It is unfathomable to us to think that God loves us just because we are His...period. So glad you stopped by! Welcome!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. LOL! I sing in my car too! Worshipping in the car is the best:-)

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    1. Ditto that comment, Shannon! No critics...except when my son was 3 and from his car seat he would say, "Don't sing Mommy!" That's why I only do solos lol.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. Bev, your story made me smile. What a beautiful scripture you're sharing today. Thanks for your insight, and for your encouragement to worship! (Recently I took a CARLOAD of kids through 1 mile of traffic that took 10 minutes because of all the red lights. At each light, every person in the car did some mighty boisterous dancing, and let me tell you, we got lots of looks from people in other cars!)

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    1. Betsy,
      Sounds like you had a lot of fun on your short yet long car ride with kids. Whether it's worshipping, sharing, or just being a little on the silly side, car rides are the best!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  9. Sing it, girl! We have so much to be thankful for ...

    Like this weekend. And all the blessings God has for us to praise Him for ...

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    1. Oh, I did sing it Linda...off key but with zeal! Yesterday was just glorious. Praying for you as you enter this new week...
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  10. So thankful your children are okay in the midst of such heart-breaking violence. I love to sing in the car--a great time to worship. Linking with you at Weekend Whispers today.

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    1. Ginger,
      Thank you for your concern and prayers for "my" kids!! May God keep a hedge of protection around them. So glad to have you here from Weekend Whispers!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. I've so done that Bev, rocking out in the car without a care in the world. I've had people honk at me at lights and stare me down. You made me smile today with your zeal and passion to praise Him. Thank you for joining the community over at Weekend Whispers.

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    1. Barbie,
      Even if I sing off-key...I do have zeal and passion. Others may stare or even glare...but really I don't care because I'm in my worship zone. Glad to know a sister car rocker :)
      Blessings Barbie,
      Bev

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  12. ooh, Bev, I dislike the thought of God being silent. That's interesting, thanks for sharing all that research. :D Hope you're doing well. (We've got another one of those lovely weather days today too, yay!) ((blessings, friend)) xoxo

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    1. Brenda,
      No, I don't like the thought of God rebuking or being silent, but I do take heart that He says no more about our sins and He just loves on us as we are. Loving these gorgeous Carolina blue sky days!
      ((Hugs)) to you sweet friend,
      Bev

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  13. Beautiful, Bev! Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite verses because there is something so endearing about knowing that God delights over us. He simply loves us so much that He takes delight in us. There are no strings attached. When we start to hear other voices and it seems that if this happens, then this, we know that God would never be involved in that because He is a strings free God. Love this reminder today. Hope you had a beautiful Easter.

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    1. Mary,
      A "strings free God"...I love it. He loves us just as we are...just as He created up. No earning or striving necessary. I think this is sometimes just to awesome to get our little minds around. We had a very nice Easter...keeping you and your family in my prayers!
      Love and blessings,
      Bev

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  14. Bev, I love this post! Under the New Covenant there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! We can delight in His arms of love, knowing that He sees us through the blood of Christ, accepted adopted, blessed, beloved, chosen, redeemed, forgiven, and loved with an everlasting love...what delight! Many blessings to you ❤️

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    1. Beth,
      Oh how I know Romans 8:1 !! So glad this post could bring a smile to your face and truth to your heart!! Always good to have you here!
      Blessings and ((hugs)),
      Bev

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  15. Love this! Confession: I am a car seat dancer too! Oft times my hubs and I are in separate cars, he usually follows me - I'll get a phone call reminding me to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel!!! You being a word nerd? Have you see Beth Willis Miller's book on the Names of God? I think you'd like it!

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    1. Susan,
      That is TOO funny...yes, hands on the steering wheel are crucial! And I have read all of Beth's posts on the Names of God...so amazing that He has so many different facets - one for every feeling and situation we experience. What a great God we have. Joining you in car seat dancing :)
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  16. Hi Bev,
    I'm your neighbor at Holley's today. I love how you dissected these words for deeper truth -- and what great nuggets you've discovered. I can't sing either so I can relate with you there, but I love that idea that God is crazy about us!

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    1. Hi Valerie,
      Lately, I've really gotten into digging in the original Hebrew and Greek translations of the words used in the Bible...it truly adds layers of meaning that I might not otherwise see. If only we ALL knew just how crazy about us God truly is!!
      Blessings sweet friend,
      Bev

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  17. Bev, I love that you were worshipping outwardly in your car and then shared that with another driver! We never know how or when we may impact someone! Blessings!

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    1. Carrie,
      Yes, even in my car dancing....I/we can be a witness for Christ!!
      Blessings to you this day,
      Bev xx

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  18. I wish I could pick up annuals and get my hands dirty, but I've got to wait at least a month for that. I do, however, already have many seeds started and plants growing in my basement. There is so much about springtime that makes me want to rejoice! I can't sing either, it's painfully off tune, but I do it anyway....so long as no one is around to judge. Love your post, love you!

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