“Now my heart sings out loud, bursting with joy—a bliss inside that keeps me singing, “I can never thank You enough!” (Psalm 30:12)
Years ago, I tragically lost a precious dog that I loved dearly. Her name was Jessica-Rose. She was a little 5-year-old white Maltipoo with a sweet, tender soul. For me to tell you all the details would turn this devotional into a sad book. But there was a special divine encounter that spoke deeply into my grieving heart which I would like to share.
On the way home from dropping her body off at the Veterinarians, we were met by a large deer waiting for us at the top of our driveway. As she watched us make our way up the street, I assumed she would run as we turned in but instead, she came closer. I rolled down the window and said, “Hey little deer, are you here to make me feel better?” She gazed at me and turned around, looked back once more, wagged her tail and walked off.
The next few days were filled with mourning but seeing that deer had me singing a verse from the song As the Deer. The more I sang, “you alone are the real joy giver”, the more joy filled my heart and my grief suddenly lifted. It was then I realized God sent the deer to remind me of His great love and how He alone is my real Joy Giver. Scripture tells us not to lay up treasures on this earth or make people and things idols in our life. Why? Simple really. People reject us, pets die, our things wear out and stuff gets destroyed. The love of the Father, on the other hand, is eternal. Take a moment to reflect on the Father’s Love as you read His Word and listen to As the Deer:
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God? We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Then He broke through and transformed all my wailing into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise! He has torn the veil and lifted from me the sad heaviness of mourning. He wrapped me in the glory garments of gladness. How could I be silent when it’s time to praise You? Now my heart sings out loud, bursting with joy—a bliss inside that keeps me singing, “I can never thank You enough!” (1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:16, Zephaniah 3:1-7, Psalm 30:11-12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5pZkLWZv-E
#Acts4Poiema
“You are God’s girl and He loves you! You sprinkle His seeds of love wherever you go!” Those words were spoken to me by my husband Joe many years ago. They came at a time when I was questioning my self-worth in God’s Kingdom, purposes, and plans. The Father made sure that in my darkest spiritual hour, I heard His Truth about my identity and self-worth. It has been my passion ever since to deliver that same message to any who may need to hear it. It is not about who we are, but Whose we are, and I am God’s girl!
“The Father’s Love” written and composed by Jennifer Fields
