There is such a joy. It is a sacred delight, a holy gladness. It comes from God and it is within your reach.
You can't open your Bible without reading about it.
— It's on Mary's face as she watches God sleep in a feed trough.
— It's in Andrew's eyes as he stares at the lunchpail that never goes empty.
— It's in the leper's smile as he sees a finger where there had been only a nub.
— And it is in Lazarus' heart as he comes alive in his own tomb.
It is God doing what gods would be doing only in your wildest dreams— wearing diapers, riding donkeys, washing feet, dozing in storms—dying for your mistakes.
It's what you always dreamed but never expected. It's having God as your pinch-hitter, your lawyer, your dad, your biggest fan and your best friend. It is having the King of Kings in your cheering section. It is hearing the applause of heaven.
It is a joy that only God can give. It is a joy that no person can take.
Could you use some genuine joy in your life?
Max Lucado believes that the Beatitudes provide what we need to discover the joy of God.
"This joy is not cheap," he cautions. "What Jesus promises is not a gimmick to give you goose bumps nor a mental attitude that has to be pumped up at pep rallies. It is, instead, a radical reconstruction of the heart.”
Through careful study and vivid illustrations, this popular author helps us deal with:
— fears that rob peace
— bitterness that corrodes the soul
— arrogance that eclipses our view of God
— insecurity that takes our sleep.
The Applause of Heaven is much more
than a "how-to" book on happiness; it is an encounter with the Source of joy. Perhaps that is why Calvin Miller writes in the foreword, "Read this book in a quiet place and you may feel a wounded hand fall lightly on your shoulder."
There is a joy which circumstance cannot quench. And there is a peace which can't be taken. The joy of God is within your reach. And the applause of heaven is nearer than you think.
The Applause of Heaven is a great resource for group study as well as personal reading. A built-in study guide provides resources for a ten-week small group series.