Elemental: S2 - Day 31
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things.” —The Sound of Music
Have you considered that you are one of God’s favorite things? I enjoy thinking about favorite things. My favorite color is blue. My favorite holiday is Christmas (a snowy one). I prefer fall and spring, football and golf, and usually salty over sweet. But if it’s got to be sweet, I’ll take pies over cake every day of the week.
And I’ve noticed people like talking about their favorites, too. As a high school chaplain, I always knew I could get a good discussion going by asking about favorites. What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time? What’s your favorite item in the cafeteria? What’s your favorite cereal, superhero, store or musician? And boom, we would be launched into conversation.
There’s something wonderful about being a favorite, too. I would regularly joke about being my mom’s favorite child in front of her and my siblings just to see her reaction. It was classic. Somehow, with a smile, she could communicate how much she enjoyed my little game while making it clear that we were all her favorites.
In Zechariah 2:8, God makes an interesting claim. He says, “…for whoever touches you touches the apple of My eye…” That expression reminds me of the grandparent looking for any excuse to tell you a story about their little grandson who took their first steps or granddaughter who is probably a genius. Play your cards right, and a cell phone will materialize with album upon album of pictures. Ok, we get it. Little Johnny is your favorite. Ah, that’s how God feels about you. Can you imagine God wandering the heavens looking for someone to whom He hasn’t already shown a video of your recital?
Consider, out of everything God could be doing today, He’d prefer to spend time with you. This is His history with humanity. Every day he pursues us, hoping we will give Him a little time. As Genesis describes, He walks through our world looking for our companionship, calling out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8)
So, listen and notice. He whispers in the winds and calls out through thunder. He whistles through the sparrow’s song and holds you during sleep. He is the sunshine, a cool drink and a deep cleansing breath. And everywhere He goes, He calls out for you.
1. What is your favorite holiday? Why?
2. Who is one of your favorite people? Why?
3. What are your favorite aspects of God? Why?
Have you considered that you are one of God’s favorite things? I enjoy thinking about favorite things. My favorite color is blue. My favorite holiday is Christmas (a snowy one). I prefer fall and spring, football and golf, and usually salty over sweet. But if it’s got to be sweet, I’ll take pies over cake every day of the week.
And I’ve noticed people like talking about their favorites, too. As a high school chaplain, I always knew I could get a good discussion going by asking about favorites. What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time? What’s your favorite item in the cafeteria? What’s your favorite cereal, superhero, store or musician? And boom, we would be launched into conversation.
There’s something wonderful about being a favorite, too. I would regularly joke about being my mom’s favorite child in front of her and my siblings just to see her reaction. It was classic. Somehow, with a smile, she could communicate how much she enjoyed my little game while making it clear that we were all her favorites.
In Zechariah 2:8, God makes an interesting claim. He says, “…for whoever touches you touches the apple of My eye…” That expression reminds me of the grandparent looking for any excuse to tell you a story about their little grandson who took their first steps or granddaughter who is probably a genius. Play your cards right, and a cell phone will materialize with album upon album of pictures. Ok, we get it. Little Johnny is your favorite. Ah, that’s how God feels about you. Can you imagine God wandering the heavens looking for someone to whom He hasn’t already shown a video of your recital?
Consider, out of everything God could be doing today, He’d prefer to spend time with you. This is His history with humanity. Every day he pursues us, hoping we will give Him a little time. As Genesis describes, He walks through our world looking for our companionship, calling out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8)
So, listen and notice. He whispers in the winds and calls out through thunder. He whistles through the sparrow’s song and holds you during sleep. He is the sunshine, a cool drink and a deep cleansing breath. And everywhere He goes, He calls out for you.
1. What is your favorite holiday? Why?
2. Who is one of your favorite people? Why?
3. What are your favorite aspects of God? Why?
1 Comment
When I look at Jesus I believe God loves us, that they spared no expense to demonstrate that love in the life of Jesus.....but, sometimes God feels so distant. How is a child who is being abused at home supposed to interpret the children's story about God helping to find lost keys but God can't seem to be bothered to answer the prayer to stop the abuse. I know there is the whole free will thing. That God can't force their way and honor free will but, we need some help here! It feels like God shows up when God shows up and I'm supposed to be grateful when it happens. The rest of the time I'm supposed to suck it up, bad things happen. It's so confusing. Especially when you are hurting. When everything is right with the world it's easy to believe I'm the apple of God's eye. Most of the time I just feel invisible to God.