Thursday, August 28, 2008

Hello!

Greetings in the Name of the Lord!

I have been absent from the blogosphere for quite a few months now, due to the Lord leading me to step back for a while, and now here I am back -- with a new blog! :)

The Lord has really been impressing upon my heart the principle behind Psalm 37:4 lately, and He reinforced this impression by leading me to Isaiah 42:1, which says: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth..." This verse really struck me as it never did before, and I saw something about the Nature of the Lord which, although I knew it, I had never fully contemplated it: He delights in me! He doesn't just love me (and He certainly doesn't just put up with me)...He delights in me! What a simple, yet profound thought!

Really, it works both ways. He calls us to delight in Him, and He also delights in us. And what does it really mean to delight in Him? I'm not 100% sure yet. I'm still discovering the answer to this question. :) So far I see this: To delight in Him does not mean you are not to take pleasure in anything else. But it does mean that your primary source of love comes from and goes to Jesus. You get your ultimate satisfaction from Him, and you delight in loving Him, serving Him, honoring Him, obeying Him...simply you are filled with joy simply to be able to love Him! It's awesome when you think about it. To be given the privilege to have a literal, more-real-than-real love relationship with the One who created you -- who knows you better than you know yourself -- is incredible. Wouldn't you say??

This concept inspired in me a poem that I wanted to share here on my little bloggy nook...

Thy Soul Delights In Me

Thy soul delights in me:
I, depraved with sin,
Am actually loved by Thee;
With all my faults, my rebellion within:
Still, oh perfect Love, I am loved by Thee.
I am Thy servant, whom Thou upholds;
Thy Love, oh Love!, around me folds;
And though I flouder, though I fail,
I am upheld by a Love to sweet to describe...
Oh Lord, Thy Love is ever upon me;
Though I see it not at times,
It is there -- wastefully abundant;
Thy Love is like an ocean, Lord --
Oh, let me return it to Thee full.
Thy soul delights in me:
I, depraved with sin,
Am actually loved by Thee;
With all my faults, my rebellion within,
Still, oh Perfect Love, I am loved by Thee.
--Dustynne Mathison, June 2008
I'd also love to hear anyone else's thoughts and/or insights as to what it means to delight in the Lord!
Well, 'nighter's for now...God bless, thanks for stopping by, and come again!

5 comments:

Jasmine Baucham said...

Hello, Noelle!

Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog!

This is a great post ~ I think you'd really enjoy "Desiring God," a book that is sure to answer this question and more ("When I Don't Desire God" is the *only* follow-up for that one!)

I loved your Reading List, by the way. Great books!

Courtney Michelle Photography said...

Hey Noelle!
Thanks for all of your comments on my blog! I really appreciate them! :)
I love the poem you shared! So pretty and true!
Courtney

Vanessa said...

Haha, how funny! I can't believe it that we both got the same layout/background! Beautiful blog! :) Thanks for stopping by and visiting mine. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

In Christ, Vanessa

Anonymous said...

I was gone from the blogosphere for over a year, but I've been back since January. I'm very glad I did take a break, as I matured a lot while I was gone. I am sure you will find the same.

You are welcome to share my poem on your blog. :D It is very cute, by the way.

Maria Pauline

Bethany said...

what a sweet design and layout! and precious thoughts as well.

Enjoyed talking on the phone with you today! Blessings!