He is Wonderful!
Isaiah 9:6-7a: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”
Have many thoughts running around inside my heart and head this early morning. It is such a beautiful time of the year. A very real sense of excitement percolating under the surface. It has nothing to do with the nonstop barrage of advertising and the push by merchants to get us to buy, to spend on Christmas. It also does not seem to be affected by the many harsh realities of life; the hard times so many of us find ourselves in today.
There is, simply, a sense of excitement. It is the season of Christmas. And it is WONDERFUL.
I am thinking of that word–wonderful. WONDER–FULL. The dictionary says of ‘wonder/wonderful’: “a cause of astonishment or surprise : MARVEL, MIRACLE. The quality, sense, or a state of exciting amazed admiration. ASTONISHING.”
At every point of the Christmas story, from the angel’s announcement to Mary, to the announcement to the shepherds in the fields-wonder. From the reaction of all those who heard the shepherds’ tell of their experience, to the Magi who travelled a great distance following the star in the heavens-wonder.
Hidden in the midst of all the decorations, music, parties, and church services is a sense of wonder. One cannot get away from it.
There is also the word–full. It speaks of having NO LACK. It is, obviously, the opposite of empty. And, when I put them together–wonder-full–I get a wonderful picture of the very heart of God.
The Lord says, “Look to My Word given through the prophet; for he spoke of Me. You read those words year after year, you sing of the coming of a King over and over; but, you have allowed the Word to become only tradition, the song to become only a sound without substance. You have let the wonder fade into a routine, a date on a calendar. You have closed your eyes to miracle. You have allowed man-made glitter, and the trappings of an earthly kingdom to blind your eyes. They are closed to miracle.”
“But,” says the Lord, “that is changing. Swiftly, all is changing. For, I AM tearing down the old. Behold, I make all things new. Do you not think that all the shaking, all the shifting, all the upheaval in the land is without purpose? Do you think that turmoil in the land caused by evil scheming of men is because I have relinquished My Throne, or that My Kingdom has failed?”
“I ask you this, My children: Do you think that I have failed you, or gone back on My promises to you because you have seen so much of what you have held valuable slip through your fingers?” “No, My children. But, you have closed your eyes to miracle.”
“Come back, come back to My Word. For I have come, I AM HERE–and, I AM WONDERFUL.”
The Lord says, “You have lost nothing. But, I have been shifting all things to move you into position for greater glory. Therefore, watch and see in the days ahead. For, I AM about to pour out My Glory in ways that will once again cause WONDER throughout the land.” “You will be amazed. You will be astonished at how swiftly I AM moving on your behalf. You have lost nothing.”
“I AM WONDER-FULL. I AM MIRACLE, I AM FULLNESS. In Me there is NO LACK. I have promised that the glory of this present house is greater than the glory of the former. That day is here; for, I AM WONDER-FULL.”
“Therefore,” says the Lord, “let these days be ones of great excitment and expectancy. Let this time be one of TRANSFORMATION. Out with the old, in with the new: out with old doubts, fears, feelings of lack; and, embrace RENEWED FAITH. Out with old ways of thinking, believing, seeing; and, let the eyes of your hearts be opened to RENEWED WONDER.”
The Lord says, “Earthly kings came and gave Me gifts at My birth. They not only showed to all My rightful place as King; but, they revealed a mystery of My heart–I, KING OF GLORY, give My gifts to YOU. Therefore, have no fear; but, REJOICE. For, you shall hold in your hands My gifts, My extravagant gifts. And, all the earth shall be amazed.” “For, truly, I AM WONDERFUL.”
Yes, the Lord is Wonderful!!