Relentlessly Tickled
I had to do a follow up to this morning's post about music. I was on my way to work, listening to Christian music. Something about writing this blog that is so uplifting and puts me in this happiness mode. I said a quick prayer and then backed out of my spot. The first song on the radio made me laugh because I was thinking of the very thing being sung. I started giggling out loud and then singing. The next song came on and it was the same thing, more confirmation. I could Imagine Jesus controlling the radio station playlist just for me and laughing each time the songs changed because it made me laugh so uncontrollably and with such amazing joy. By the time I got to work I was laughing like someone was tickling me relentlessly. I could hardly breath.
When you open your heart to Imagine Jesus, he always shows up. It could be in a song, a flower, the smile of a friend, the hug of a child, or the green light that you needed so you wouldn't be late to work (ahem).
I have to tell you what happened 18 months ago. I had just started a new job after about 3 months of unemployment. I was building back a bank account and trying to catch up with everything I owed. I went to my car the week before Christmas only to find it had been vandalized. Nothing too bad, just a broken window by someone looking for change. I had no money to fix it. It was winter, though not cold here in Houston, just lots of rain. My boss held a Christmas party later that week and blessed us all with a Christmas gift. Mine of course went to pay for my new window. I called a company that would come to my apartment and fix the window. They sent a young man who did not speak English. He said "I Gabriel. I fix window." I nearly cried. When he was all done I said to God, "seriously? Gabriel?"
I Imagine Jesus was saying, "Merry Christmas, Gini. I'm taking care of you. I always will. Stop worrying. I got this."
On the way home from work, a thought entered my mind about our praises. We sing about lifting up Jesus. How many times do we ourselves feel "lifted" when we sing praise? I myself often feel light as a feather as if I am flying on the wings of the song. Imagine Jesus being lifted by that same music that lifts us. Not just lifted but exalted, raised higher and higher the more people who join in the song. Imagine Jesus laughing like he is being tickled relentlessly by the praises of his children.
Next time you are singing in church or in your car or as you clean house and dance around in your socks and pjs....you are tickling Jesus! What fun!
Psalm 126:2 "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Nehemiah 8:10b "This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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