Fearful Rejoicing

Stop and ask yourself - Why is there such a fascination in our day with death, dying, gore, and the undead? Could if be a distraction that anesthetizes us to truths that can challenge us and change us -- "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." With this thought do you experience "terrifying sorrow" or "fearful gladness"?

Psalm 97:1 - "The LORD reigneth;" This is absolute truth -- THE LORD IS KING; there is no other.
"let the earth rejoice;" This is the intense desire for the earth -"fearful gladness".
"Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof." No where is it too remote to be not affected by this intense desire for "fearful gladness"...that is caused by the Absolute truth - THE LORD IS KING; there is no other.

Psalm 97:2 -"Clouds and darkness are round about him:" The mystery and majesty of the "God Clouds" surround Him. Give Him the Glory of the mystery ... trying to figure it all out may not be a faith venture - wait on the LORD ... His revelation of truth is sure.
"righteousness and" - Right and just is what He is.
"judgment" - Righteous Justice is what He does.
"are the habitation of His throne." -- What He is and Does encompasses His throne room dwelling place - He abides in righteousness and judgment.

Darkness and the mystery of darkness have always kept us on the edge of our seats. The edge is not necessarily a bad place to be ... but waiting for Christmas morning as opposed to waiting for a murderous monster to break through the darkness are two completely different "edges" of seats. This has been intensified over the years by a subliminal movement via the voices that oppose and rulers of wickedness in high places. These hissing deceivers play on the original temptation that opened the way for the fall in Eden - "For God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Satan says - "God already knows that you are bent on eating the fruit - so eat, lay back and enjoy the opening of your eyes, and behold ...you will be able to determine what is right and wrong ... oh, sorry you will experience right and wrong in a depredating way.)

These image benders both dig their talons deep into the minds of those who do not believe; and also claw, scratch and scar the vision of those (with a childlike faith) who truly love Jesus .
"Horror" , terrifying sorrow, is not to be compared to the "rejoicing", Fearful Gladness associated with waiting on the Goodness of God... in His time.

- Is it good for little ones to experience the Fearful Gladness found in creation's glory, that puts them in awe of God's character and enables them to carry the wonder into their adult lives?
or
- (Some would risk saying is not good for pre-school little ones to be exposed to "Horror" that can cause detrimental nightmares,) In the name of "balanced education", as children mature, shouldn't they be exposed to horror so that they can differentiate the real from the make believe? Huh?

CHILDREN ---This is the crux where arguments begin to fly and emotions begin to flare... and the level of engagement in the argument that can be caused by these two questions above is heavily dependent on the personal investment into either side of the argument. --- "Considering the Child" is always a personally touchy subject, especially when it is your child. (The heat is already rising in me!)

-- Even in Jesus' day there were sights for the eyes and sounds for the ears that could cause the hearts of children to wander. Jesus stated in three of the Gospels (after He was displeased with the disciples trying to chase away the children) - "Suffer (Never hinder) the little children to come unto Me; forbid them not... for of such are the Kingdom of Heaven."

Inside of each of us is the heart of a child that desires so much to know Heaven's pure love. Are we hindering or welcoming the opportunities to know Him?

Today the truth remains - THE LORD REIGNS - the positioning of our hearts and minds is critical to the growth of fearful gladness or terrifying sorrow. Let His truth be the song of your heart that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for His day to break and His glory to shine on you.

Trust Him and terrifying sorrow will flee away.

Don't be de-sensitized --- Awake!

HLFA,

Jeff