i am.

i am my beloveds, and his desire is for me.

today, i picked up a book, "the furious longing of God" by brennan manning.
i haven't made it very far, but this has invaded my heart.... Here's page 22 of the book...

I am my beloved's and his desire is for me (song of Solomon 7:10)

When you take those words personally, I mean very personally a number of things come to pass:

• The drum beats of doom in your head will be replaced by a song in your heart, which could lead to a twinkle in your eye.
• You will not be dependent on the company of others to ease your loneliness, for He is Emmanuel - God with us.
• The praise of others will not send your spirit soaring, nor will their criticism plunge you into the pit.  Their rejection may make you sick, but it will not be a sickness unto death.
• In significant interior development, you will move from i should pray to i  must  pray.
• You will live with an awareness that the Father not only loves you, but likes you.
• you will stop comparing yourself with others.  in the same way, you will not trumpet your own importance, boast about your victories in the vineyard, or feel superior to anyone.
• You will read Zephaniah 3:17-18 and see God dancing for joy because of you.  (the Jerusalem Bible is accurate)
• Off and on throughout the day, you will just know that you are being seen by Jesus with a gaze of infinite tenderness.
  

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i decided to read zephaniah 3:17-18...
the jerusalem bible reads  "¹⁷ Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-Savior. He will  rejoice over you with happy song, he will renew you by his love, he will dance with shouts of joy for you, ¹⁸ as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it."

This is  enough to chew on for the evening... i am really captivated by song of solomon 7:10.  i cannot stop thinking about it.