THE DOVE Slave Lake, Wabasca, Peerless Lake & Red Earth

Heidi St. John offers encouragement to you as a mom, especially if you feel a...

A young father held his baby boy in his arms, singing to him and rocking him in soothing rhythm. Music played in the background while the father sang out the lyrics to his son. The baby was hearing-impaired, unable to hear the melody or the words. Yet the father sang anyway, in a beautiful, tender act of love toward his son. And his efforts were rewarded with a delightful smile from the baby boy.

 

The imagery of the father-son exchange bears a striking resemblance to the words of Zephaniah. The Old Testament prophet says that God will joyfully sing over His daughter, the people of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:17). God enjoys doing good things for His beloved people: taking away their punishment and turning back their enemies (v. 15). Zephaniah says they no longer have any reason for fear and instead have cause for rejoicing.

 

We, as God’s children redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, sometimes are hard of hearing—unable, or perhaps unwilling, to tune our ears to the exuberant love God sings over us. His adoration of us is like that of the young father, who lovingly sang to his son despite his inability to hear. He has taken away our punishment too, giving us further reason to rejoice. Perhaps we might try to listen more closely to hear the joy ringing loudly in His voice. Lord, help us to hear Your loving melody and savor being held safely in Your arms.

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/110/29 3668 Katie Depew Part 2 (Desperation, Drugs, Redemption) Katie was trapped in an endless cycle of addiction and abuse when she reached out for God’s help. While her life straightened out, her boyfriend’s did not, and his arrest put her new beginning in jeopardy. She found friendship and help from church family and her boyfriend even accepted Jesus. But her hope faded as she witnessed him turn back to drugs and alcohol. She cut ties with him and ended up dating and marrying an associate Pastor and starting a family. She shared her true story in the book Free Indeed, and now she works in ministry to reach people lost in the same darkness she was in.