Sweetie-Pie

I am finishing up a study of the book of Ruth with a sweet group of ladies tonight.  We have met for five weeks now going through Ruth using John Piper's book A Sweet and Bitter Providence as our guide.  If you haven't studied Ruth in a while, it would be worth the time to get this book and take a look at this amazing story of God's sovereignty.

While going over tonight's study, I was reminded of a story Piper shares at the end of the book.  I'd like to share it here:

"This pledge God has made to His people is unbreakable.  No famine or death can break it.  I saw it in a parable.  I was visiting some of our elderly people in a nursing home.  I got on the elevator with a woman in a wheelchair who was old, misshapen, and confused.  Her head wobbled meaninglessly and she uttered senseless sounds.  Her mouth hung open.  Then I noticed that a well-dressed man, perhaps in His mid-sixties, was pushing her chair.  I wondered who he was.  Then as we all got off the elevator, I heard him say, 'Watch your feet, Sweetie-Pie.'  Sweetie-Pie.  As I walked to the car, I thought...if a marriage covenant between a man and a woman produces that kind of fidelity and commitment and affection under those circumstances, then surely under the great and merciful terms of the New Covenant, sealed with the blood of His Son, God has no difficulty calling you and me (sinful and sick as we are) sweet names.  And if He does, there is no truth more unshakable in all the world than this: For them and for us, the best is yet to come. God is at work in the darkest times - for our good and Christ's glory.  He will see to it that the glory of His Son fills the earth and that in Him we find everlasting joy."

Zephaniah 3:17 says,  "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Shhhhhhhhh....listen... I think I hear the most beautiful Voice I've ever heard!!