Psalm 42:1 “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.”

What is your favorite drink?

I have to say my favorite thing to drink, over all, is coffee with cream.  I love the warm smooth feeling of it.  I like the way the cream and the slight bitterness of the coffee blend together just so.  There are other things I enjoy drinking, but coffee is my top choice.

As much as I enjoy my coffee I realize it cannot give me what my body truly needs, hydration.  I drink a lot of water too.  I tell my kids water is the life source to our bodies; without it we would not survive.  I try to drink a lot of water.  My body longs for it.

As much as I know I need water I realize it cannot give me what my soul truly needs, God.  As much as my body needs water my soul needs the renewing love and grace of the Lord even more.  The Lord is always here but I am not always fully aware of his refreshing presence.  I lift my heart and my hands in worship and praise to the living God, the God of true life today.  Come, join me and be filled with his living water, given for good of our souls.

Lord,

My soul’s deepest desire is to be with you.  Help this yearning drive my words and actions as I continue my journey toward the day I bow at your holy throne in glory. Nourish my soul as you know its needs.  I pray this through Jesus, my friend and redeemer.  Amen.

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Does this verse bring comfort or worry?

I know some people who do not want the government watching and knowing everything they do and I believe that makes sense.  The government is made up of people fallible and human creatures like you and me.  One thought is that if I am not doing anything I shouldn't, let them look.  This is how it is with my kids.

My kids are quickly getting beyond the age when they say, “Mom, don’t look at me...”  I know when I hear that I need to see what is going on.  Most of the time it just gets really quiet or I hear whispers and giggles, then I know I need to keep my attention focused in that direction because things are likely to go south quickly.

Jonah ran away from God.  The thing is we can’t really run away from God.  Scripture tells us God is everywhere; God sees all things and people.  Not only does he see our physical beings, he sees into our hearts.

I take comfort in this scripture and in this knowledge.  God is faithful and merciful and I thank him for that today.

Lord,

Search my heart for hidden evil.  I hide it from myself but I know you see all.  I ask you to cleanse my heart and soul once again so I am, through the blood of Jesus Christ, pure and holy in your presence.  I pray for guidance and protection by your Spirit so that all I do and say is good in your sight.  Amen.

1 John 3:1 “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God; and that is what we are...”

This morning I was stretching my muscles and thinking about how the Lord stretches our souls.

He does not push us or stretch us beyond our abilities in him but sometimes it feels like it.  When I stretch my leg muscles start out tight and there is a little pain to loosen them up for the day.  When God stretches us there may be a little pain to loosen and strengthen us as well.

Today I plan to do a trial run school day.  My son is just starting home school and we haven’t worked out a plan with each other yet.  I know I will stretch him in learning and it may feel a little bit painful at times, for both of us.  I do not wish to cause pain to my children but I know they need to learn and I am called to teach them.  I love them beyond words, they are my children.  Even when tears of frustration fall, even when voices of anger rise, even when tender hugs abound, they are my children and I love them.

We are God’s children, he loves us beyond words.  Take a moment to feel his loving arms holding you and loving you today.

Lord,

Bless each of us as we begin another day.  Keep that tender knowledge in our hearts that you love us; we are your precious children.  Hold our hands and guide us, stretch us and grow us in your love and truth today and all days.  Amen.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

What am I doing, where am I going and why am I doing it the way I do it?  These are questions I have been asking myself a lot lately.

I know we each have things that threaten to bring us down whether they be physical maladies, mental struggles or spiritual battles; maybe some of each.  Occasionally I come to the Lord asking why?  Paul answers: We are what he has made us, created in Christ for good works.  Couldn't I do good works better without the brokenness in my life?  Ah, but the brokenness I experience is what keeps me coming back to the Lord.  If life were all peaches and cream, would I feel the need for mercy and guidance?  Would I feel the need to be saved, would I be grateful for all the blessings or would I take them for granted?

Today is a new day; maybe I will eat better, get better exercise and be more productive in my day.  Whatever I do I hold this verse in my heart.  I am what he created me to be, in Christ. I am called to do his work.  This is my way of life; this is the way to live.

Lord,

I do not live for my salvation, I live because of it.  I do not work to earn your grace; I work in thanksgiving of your grace.  When I get down on myself remind me again that I am created in Christ, just as you designed me, to live the life you have given me.  I give my life to you, Lord God.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”

I meditated on this passage just a couple of months ago – why am I back here again?

I don’t know about you but occasionally the Lord leads me to a very familiar scripture over and over again.  Sometimes I gain new insight from it, sometimes it is a reminder to me; a checkpoint.

What have I done about this lately?  Even as I continue my journey of healthy living I wonder if I need to alter my perspective a bit.  I easily dismiss the idea that this physical body I reside in is the temple but when I read scripture I am admonished.  This slightly short, slightly saggy, physical body is a temple to the Lord.

We paint and repair our homes as they need it and as we are able, we also need to care for our temples; our bodies.  It would be remiss to allow a temple to fall into disrepair. 

So there it is:  I work on my body, I work on my spirit, and I work on my mind, all together, all separate.  In this work I will come to love the Lord with all that I am.

Lord,

Thank you for the lesson to remind me that even though my body is not spirit, they are intertwined.  As I work on each one help me see the connectedness and the benefit in all.  Do not let me neglect any so that I continue to move toward complete love in you and through you.  Amen.

Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”

I saw a quote the other day on the internet that said something like “I know God is not finished with me yet” and this scripture reference was listed with it.

Whenever I have read this in the past I always understood it corporately, not individually.  I decided to look at it on a more personal level today.

I was talking with a friend recently and we were lamenting that we seem to be fighting the same battles that we were fighting years ago.  Are we so dense that we cannot move beyond that struggle or is that our “cross” to carry?  I mentioned to her that he battle is the same but it manifests differently through time.  I have written before about how tired I get, fighting the same battle.  This verse renews my hope and reminds me that the journey is not over and there is always much to learn until that time.

Instead of grumbling about my battles, I look for the growth that has come because of them.  I rejoice that the Lord is with me in the midst of them.  I praise him for continuing to do good work in me and through me until he comes.

Lord,

Forgive my short sightedness yet again.  Thank you for the new view on this scripture and on my earthly battles.  Thank you for the promise in these words of Paul’s that remind us you are still working in us and through us.  Thank you for your steadfast love and mercy through Christ.  Amen.

Psalm 85:6-7 “Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.”

My mom taught me an old saying that goes something like “they cut off their nose to spite their face.”  Who, in their right mind, would do that?  They are only hurting themselves!

Yesterday our church said goodbye to our musician and began the process of saying goodbye to our pastor.  It is very apparent that our church is due for a shakeup of some magnitude.  We currently have no paid staff!  Where do we go from here, how do we begin again?  Do we keep on keeping on?

The leadership of the church has spent time in prayer; our deacons and our elders.  A few of the older generation reminded us all to pray to the Lord during this time of change.  I remind us to listen, to be still in his presence so we are able to hear his word for us.

Each of us would do well to learn this on a personal level as well.  I slide into auto-pilot mode pretty easily but the Lord seeks true relationship with us, not rote babble.

Seek him, listen and learn.  He will revive, restore and save each of us.  We will rejoice forever in his holy name!

Lord,

I lift up my church; I lift up the hearts of your people, and this broken world.  Tune our hearts, minds, and souls clearly and solely to you.  In that revival, we rejoice in your love and your salvation.  Thank you and hallelujah!  Amen.