God's Heart

Have you ever wondered what God thinks about? I must be an odd person, because I do. I wonder about the mind of God. When did God begin to think about creating our world? Did God contemplate the minute detail of every flower, tree, seed, animal, rock, prairie, and mountain created on this planet? The scripture tells us that God knows each hair on our heads. Is God really that involved in our lives?

I think so. Of course I also think God, through the gift of free will, allows us to be in charge of our bodies, how we treat them, and the care we give them. God ponders in God's heart our choices, our dreams, and our actions. You see I believe God is actively involved in our lives. We are the one who tends to ignore God.

Perhaps that is why God uses drama to get our attention. Think about it.

Noah building an ark, gathering all the animals, and predicting a flood (remember--It had never rained before so they didn't have the foggiest idea what a flood meant) was a dramatic move.

Sending a storm so that Noah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a giant fish, then thrown up so he would go prophesy to Nineveh, was dramatic.

Sending plagues, parting the sea so the Israelites could cross on dry ground, providing manna every day and water in the desert was dramatic. Can you imagine walking across the sea on dry ground and then turning back to realize that your enemies are following on the same dry ground? Then the waters that God had been holding back, collapse upon your enemies and destroy them all. THAT was dramatic.

Throughout all of history, God pondered, remembered every choice we, humanity made. The good choices; the bad choices; even when we refused to make a choice; God pondered all of that in God's heart.

When God could not stand to see us hurt ourselves anymore, God stepped in and redeemed us. Through the funny, odd, looking man wearing garments of camel hair, eating off the land--locusts and honey were what he could scavenge; God got the attention of those listening for God's still, quiet voice.

"Prepare ye, the way of the Lord

Prepare ye, the way of the Lord"

"The one who is more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

And God pondered this in God's heart.

Jesus came. Spoke to John and was baptized. Why? To be obedient to God.

God pondered this in God's heart. Being able to hold in God's pride and pleasure no more, God ripped the heavens open and sent a dove so that those who had eyes could see and those who had ears could hear. God's heart burst with pride as God spoke "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

God was pondering much in God's heart.

Think about your baptism, or the baptism of your child, grandchild, or anyone you love. Think about the baptism. What does it mean to you, the congregation, the persons involved in the baptism? What does it mean to God? Ponder in your heart what God must be thinking, feeling, desiring for you. Ponder these things.

God, we get so caught up in the drama of our lives that we forget about your heart, your thoughts, your ways. Help us to have hearts more like yours. So be it. Amen.