Pleased part 1
Sometimes people ask me questions. Usually right after they find out that I'm a pastor. And its usually, "How much can I get away with" type questions. But other than that--and my answer to that is, "If you can get it past the Holy Spirit you're ok. Because true conviction comes from within. Trust your gut. Follow your heart--but other than that, people will ask me why I think God is a happy God. And my answer to THAT is found in Revelation 21:3, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Because all throughout the Old Testament the cry of God's heart was that He wanted to be our God, and He wanted us to be His people (specifically, at that time, Israel, but in the bigger picture humanity). So God got what He wanted. And that's something that makes people happy, right? But that could almost lean to a selfish attitude. "I'm not happy unless I get what I want." So let's dig a little deeper into it. And for that we need to look no further than Mark 1:11, "And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Now before I was a father... before I had a son of my own... I didn't understand this is in the same way that I do now. But we'll touch on that in a minute. Because the first thing I want to point out about this verse is that it happened BEFORE Jesus started His earthly ministry. He hadn't done any miracles or anything yet. And, I mean, He HAD said, "...How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49). And He said that when He was just a boy. So, I mean, what could possibly make someone more of a proud papa than to see his son follow in his foot steps? Which, again, as a father, I gotta say is awesome. Because Logan is 100% a mini-me. We even match our clothes as often as we can. We even look alike. There is never any doubt as to who his daddy is. Never any doubt as to who my son is. And that fills up my pride meter all the way to the top. And its not just because of what he does--sometimes he does things I don't like. Sometimes he gets too riled up and goes a little bit beast mode. One speed: Meltdown. So its not because he's a robot that I can control at every turn. Its because of who he IS. Its because of his heart. His sweet, sweet, caring heart. That's how people describe Logan across the board--He's such a sweetheart. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is... he's mine. I would claim him no matter what. I would love him no matter what. But when I see myself in him--especially the best parts of me--I can't help but smile. And if you know me, I don't smile that much. I'm pretty stoic. But when it comes to my son... I love him and I am well pleased with him. He is the one thing in the world that always makes me happy. Do you see where I'm going with this? Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body... God in YOUR flesh, love in YOUR body--is what makes God happy. WE are what makes God well pleased!