Bravo, God, bravo!
Encore! (Ps. 29:1, MSG)
Have you ever felt like shouting that? Perhaps from a mountaintop, or after viewing a particularly stunning sunset, or when God just answered your prayer in an amazing way? When was the last time you cheered for God?
Bravo, God, bravo!
Encore!
In awe before the glory,
In awe before God’s visible power. (Ps. 29:1)
God is Creator. God is big, and powerful, and above our imaginations. God is good, and kind, and brings about what is right. God is loving, and merciful, and forgiving. God is God, and cannot do anything that would go against who God is.
God thunders across the water,
Brilliant, God’s voice and face, streaming brightness –
God, across the water.
God’s thunder tympanic,
God’s thunder symphonic. (Ps. 29:3-4)
Look into God’s face. It is so brilliant you can hardly see it, yet it is so beautiful when you get a glimpse. Listen to God’s voice. It is loud, yet if you listen carefully, there is music behind it. God thunders and we cringe. Yet, step a little closer, and you’ll see that God is not scary at all. You’ll hear the music and see the beauty. And you’ll just want to keep stepping closer. The rhythm and dance of God will draw you in.
A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek;
I want to drink God, deep draughts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it – arrive and drink in God’s presence?” (Ps. 42:1-2)
Have you arrived close enough to want more of God? Are you thirsty? Sit. Be still. Drink. God is always faithful to fill, quench, pour, and water us back to new life.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
Bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
Always in blossom. (Ps. 1:3)
Let God’s water help you to grow, bloom, and bear fruit….love, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, peace.
God is a safe place to hide,
Ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
Courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
The tremors that shift mountains. (Ps. 46:1-2)
So often we read in the Bible, “Do not fear.” God does not want us to fear. God wants to take away fear. God wants to bring peace to replace the fear in our hearts. I hear so much talk these days about disaster coming, God’s judgment coming, the downfall of our nation and our world, etc. Whenever I hear a speech that seems to just be about conjuring up fear in our hearts, I cannot believe that comes from God. Jesus tells us not to fear. John 14:27 (NIV) says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 1 John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out fear.” If we truly trust in God’s love for us, we will not fear. Also, if we have God’s love for others in our hearts, we will not fear other people either. This is so freeing to me. God is safe. God is ready to help. God gives us courage. But, most importantly, God gives us love….true love that takes away fear.
River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
This sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn. (Ps. 46:4-5)
God at your service? Really? God wants to serve me? Yes. That’s the beautiful thing about God. Jesus showed us that. If we believe Jesus was God, then we see clearly that God is a servant. That’s why God came to earth as Jesus. He wanted to show us that the Creator is not some demanding ruler up in the sky asking us to jump through all these hoops in order to earn favor. No, God is love. God is grace. God is servanthood. And Jesus asked us to join him in serving the world. This is what God is all about. And everyone is invited….everyone! Revelation 22:17 says, “The Spirit and bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life without cost.”
Come.
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