HIS NAME IS JESUS

This evening, as I was meditating upon the Lord, and considering His goodness, He painted a moving picture in my mind. In this picture, I began to see a child. The Lord then painted this child, playing with a ball, in the presence of his daddy, who all the while, was relaxing in a chair, just watching his son play ball. The child was happily bouncing the ball, and having a good old time. It was at this point, the Lord, with a stroke of His paint brush, took me in another direction of His painting, revealing to me yet another scene of this joyful art work, as suddenly, the picture I had been observing once again changed. Now, I saw this same child wanting daddy to play ball with him. There, this little one was, excitedly tugging on his daddy's trousers, inviting daddy to play come and play with him. Just as I was enjoying all the love and joy of what was being shown to me, again another new scene. This time, the new scene revealed the ball, not moving, and by itself, on the floor, with the little one seated up on his daddy's lap, just being still in the presence of his daddy. As I was seeing the love between this little one and his daddy, the Lord once again added yet another scene to His painting. Now, this little one had his arms wrapped around daddy's neck, hugging closely to his daddy, not ever wanting to let his daddy go, because he loved his daddy so very much, and knew that his daddy was wild about him too. Again a scene change. Now I observed God's painting, filled with several children, and the daddy, of course, was still there, in the midst of them all, seated in his chair. One child, in the painting, was playing ball. Another was jumping up and down. One was just chatting up a storm with daddy, while another was holding daddy's hand. With all this going on, there was that one, still sitting on daddy's lap, reaching out for a great big hug, while his ball remained there, alone, on the floor. It was then that the Lord spoke these words to me:

The picture you see is much of what takes place between Me and My children. Some come to Me, wanting Me to watch them play with the ball I've given them, excited over their new toy. Others come to Me, to simply visit, while yet others come to have a bit more contact with Me, inviting Me to play ball with them. Then there are those who want to sit on My lap, and experience a form of closeness with Me, a closeness that isn't experienced when seperated from My personal touch. I also have some children, who don't find much interest in playing ball, or even in the ball itself. As much as they appreciate My gift to them, they'd rather (more than anything else) wrap their arms around My neck, and hug Me tight, sharing with Me, the deepest of love, that's stored within their hearts, for Me. Now, within this painting, what I want My children to understand, especially My ("lap sitting, neck huggers") is, the one that's sitting on My lap, holding Me tight, must not judge the ones still playing ball, or jumping rope, or perhaps even those beginning to simply touch just one of My fingers, while considering grasping ahold of My hand, because the ones who now sit intimately close to Me, hugging Me tightly, were not always so close to Me. There was a day for most of these, when they too were busy playing ball, jumping rope, or simply staring in My direction, considering a bit of hand holding, and not yet recognizing a place called "neck hugging". Worship comes in degrees, and as My children get to know Me, and especially to trust Me, and to recognize the depths of My love for them, they often will then venture onto My lap, perhaps just staring at Me for starters, until that day, the ball, once again, sits on the floor, while arms are tightly wrapped about My neck. I am a patient God, and with anticipation, I wait for your hugs. Come whenever you'd like. With open arms, I'll be here waiting for you, says Your Father.

May our voices sing unto Him, a new song, and may our hearts dance for joy, before Him ... amen! Blessings to each of you! Marcia