Would you like to dance?

Jake took Bella to a “Father Daughter Dance” at her school this past week. you would’ve thought she was preparing for her wedding, there was SO much excitement! as i watched her delight in her daddy’s love, and looked back over the pictures from the night, i couldn’t help but to be reminded of a story:
Once upon a time, there was a Princess, a Daughter:
(“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my daughter…says the Lord.”2 Corinthians 6:18)

who was deeply loved and cherished by her Daddy:

(“see how very much our Father has loved us, for He calls us His children.”1 John 3:1)

and it filled her with joy…and hope…and security…

(“The Lord had done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:3)

because she knew deep down that she was a fiesty stinker sometimes, and that she didn’t deserve His Love, so the very fact that He loved her was something special…

(“God showed His great love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners.”Romans 5:8)

because He didn’t just simply love her because He had to. He absolutely adored her, thought she was the most precious, beautiful thing, even in the midst of all her feistiness, in all her stinker-ness, He still was overwhelmed with delight for her…

(“the Lord your God…will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you….”Zephaniah 3:17)
and that delight over her made her want to dance, and twirl, and rejoice:
(“The young women will dance for joy…”Jeremiah 31:13)

and full of trust, jump onto the feet of her Daddy, and let Him lead her in the dance:

(“Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.”Psalm 16:11)

and as He led her in the dance, He stopped to twirl her, and smile down upon her:

(“His banner over me is love.”Song of Solomon 2:4)

and because of His love over her, she trusted Him to lead her…because she knew that His delight was the best thing ever, and that her joy is found complete in Him and Him alone!

(“we love because He first loved us…”1 John 4:19)

and to think…the God of the Universe, our Daddy, is asking each of us too, “Would you like to dance??”