Psalm 43:4  Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.

What are your favorite things?  What brings you joy and delight?  Remember this song that Maria sung in The Sound of Music?

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

 When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

What things come to mind when you list your favorite things?  The first thought in my mind this morning when I think of my favorite things is my darling Donna.  I think of playing with my grandchildren and seeing them laugh; in beautiful sunsets; seeing flocks of Canada geese; being with our children; walks on the ocean shore; being with good friends; seeing the Ohio State Buckeyes football team win; talking about the Lord with young men and women.

Our favorite things bring us delight.  ‘Delight’ is far beyond being merely satisfied or pleased with something.  It is truly something special.  Think of the pleasure, the joy, the warm feelings – the satisfaction – the sensation of not wanting the moment to end.  These sensations are so characteristic of our favorite things.

In making this list that reflects our own personal reality, is God one of our favorite things?  Does He make the list?  Not the list that is supposed to be true of us – but the list that really describes the reality of who we are.  Is He, and our relationship with Him, a source of joy and delight?  When ‘the dog bites and the bee stings and when we’re feeling bad’ do our thoughts go to Him?  Is He at the top of our list?