Sunday, January 24, 2010

in Thy courts.

random factoid about me: i heart kids.

there are these kids at my church that i have just grown to love and adore, let me name some names, there's noel, joy, jeffrey (pardon me, he's jeff now...), matt, vincent, dustin and alex. my church's winter retreat destination for the past few years has been at beautiful murietta. murietta is sweet because there are a bunch of cute little outdoor natural hot spring pools. the adults love that place. i'm sure its to rekindle their aging marriages by reliving their younger scandalous days in these cute little hot spring pools. but talk about a headache! especially, when you're in charge and a bunch hormonal teenagers, bathing/enjoying the same little hot spring pools ... at a church retreat. %$@@#^*!%@#

sorry, i digress, back to the kids.

these young boys get there and just start having a blast! they were having such a good time, laughing, running around, splashing each other, giggling... haha. silly boys. i sat around to watch over them and the Holy Spirit opens my eyes. while watching them, a deep sense of joy begins to grow in me. it brought me back to my childhood, and how i loved going on church retreats. why is there still such a strong positive emotional connection with church retreats? what is it at church retreats that led me to such joy and peace? it dawned on me, as i realized the joy of dwelling in my Lord's courts.

Psalm 65:4 -- Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the
good things of your house, of your holy temple.

as a Christian, we have the right and the privilege to be in the courts of the Almight God. the one who created the earthquake, the tornado, the hurricane, the blizzard, the rain that creates floods, the thunder, the monster waves, and little ol' me, i get to dwell in it. privilege? joy? what am i smoking??? but it is! because He is good. and He loves me.

Psalm 84:10 -- Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

those boys at murietta were able to have such a good time, because the environment was safe. they got to be them, in all their innocence, and have a good time. its also the same way when you're spending time with safe friends. you get to be you, the entire package - the weirdness, the quirkiness, all the idiosyncrasies, even your annoying peccadilloes. in my Lord's courts, its beyond that. the environment is perfectly safe. not only are you accepted and loved for your uniqueness, but all the wrong that you've ever committed is wiped clean. the blood of Christ that has opened the pearly white gates to these courts and allowed my entrance, has wiped away all the shame, all the guilt, all the judgement and all the fear. you are fully loved and wholly accepted.

hence...

in Thy courts i dwell. in Thy courts i choose to be.
in Thy courts i live my life
and blog to share it with thee.


oh, those silly boys... :)

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