Happy Summer!
It is a hot one today and like many hot days I like to take off my shoes, relax in a comfortable chair, and take in the rays of sun - as they shine through my window! I am not one for HOT weather. I get grumpy and can be quite miserable to be around if I get overheated. Therefore, I like to sit in a nice cool house, office, etc. and enjoy the beauty that the sunshine brings.
There are times, however, that I have to go outside. I have to mow the lawn. I have to get into a hot car. I have to go to the baseball diamond to coach baseball (that part is fun!). There are many other reasons of course, but when I know that I am going to be in the hot sun for a long time or that I will be working under the constant barrage of those heavenly heat waves, I make sure I have a nice cold drink with me. It is that cold drink that keeps me from going over the edge and offers me refreshment and nourishment when I need it most.
God does the same for us, too, doesn't He? He is that cold, refreshing drink when we need it most. He is that presence that keeps us from going over the edge of that cliff when we decide to keep Him close when our lives are getting heated and our spirits are weary. Not everyone understands that we have a God that will "satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail" (Isaiah 58:11). People don't know because they don't really give God a try. When people ask me how I get through the heat of life I tell them about God and I encourage them to give God a try as well. Even the psalmist says in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."
Just give the Lord a shot. Experience Him for yourself. It's kind of like when Morpheus told Neo in The Matrix, "No one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself."
This is a good reminder for all of us - no matter where we are in our faith journey. Everyday we need to take steps and experience God a little more. When we drink from the living waters every day our spirits are refreshed, the eyes of our souls are awakened, and the lives we live bring life and health to the places we enter and the relationships we build.
When we drink the living water that God provides, we will thirst no more (John 4:10-15). Whatever heat you may be experiencing in your life, remember to keep God at your side and drench yourself in the life-giving water He provides. Go ahead, give it a shot...taste, drink, and see that the Lord is good!
Instead of my normal closing prayer, I invite you to watch this video clip of the song Come to the Water by Matt Maher. May it be your prayer this week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJVrZKqKNE&feature=related
Take Care & God Bless,
Don
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sounds of Summer
Hello!
In our crazy and chaotic world where we are running to and fro, always with something to do, every now and then, I NEED silence! When I get in the car, I turn off the radio. When I am at home, I try to sit in silence. There is something about silence that is life-giving for me. My mind, spirit, and body become renewed. I am able to sort out my thoughts, or allow my thoughts to go wherever the Spirit leads. Sometimes, I don't have any thoughts at all. I can honestly say I was thinking of nothing. :)
There is something else that silence adds to my life and that is the ability to really listen to what is most important. Let me give you an example. While at home this week, I was at that place where I needed silence. The problem is that my kids are out of school now and silence is not necessarily in their vocabulary. Luckily for me, the kids were outside playing and I was able to get in some silent moments. What I discovered was a world that I had neglected and had forgotten about.
In the silent moments I was able to truly listen, and fully enjoy, the sounds of summer. I listened to the screams and screeches of children playing outside. I heard the chirps of the robin on fence in the backyard. I even enjoyed the buzzing of the bee by my ear. In that "silent" moment, I was blessed with the voice of God bringing joy through the laughter of children and singing notes of encouragement through a song bird. After this brief, yet simply profound experience, I wanted more.
I became intentional about hearing God this week through the sounds of summer. I find joy in the sound of a ball being struck by a bat or the snap of leather as a ball hits the mit. A reminder to stay young and make sure I take time to play. My spirit sings at night with the crickets that chirp outside my window, or the ones who have found shelter in my garage. A reminder that God is with me, even in the darkest nights. I find comfort in the sound of the breeze rustling the trees or the movement of swift water as it makes it way down the Arkansas River. A reminder of God's gentle power in my life. I love the sound of silence, too. A reminder that God's still small voice continues to whisper to the depths of my soul..."be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) and "this is the Way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).
I know the summer can be filled with a great many things to do. How about taking some time to listen to the sounds of summer? What is God trying to communicate to you?
Holy God, thank You for the seasons of life. Thank You for the moments You give me to listen to Your voice. Forgive me for allowing my life to become noisy and chaotic, shutting out Your voice. I want to listen for You - so keep my spirit still and quiet. Open my ears to hear the many ways You speak to me and help me not take anything for granted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
In our crazy and chaotic world where we are running to and fro, always with something to do, every now and then, I NEED silence! When I get in the car, I turn off the radio. When I am at home, I try to sit in silence. There is something about silence that is life-giving for me. My mind, spirit, and body become renewed. I am able to sort out my thoughts, or allow my thoughts to go wherever the Spirit leads. Sometimes, I don't have any thoughts at all. I can honestly say I was thinking of nothing. :)
There is something else that silence adds to my life and that is the ability to really listen to what is most important. Let me give you an example. While at home this week, I was at that place where I needed silence. The problem is that my kids are out of school now and silence is not necessarily in their vocabulary. Luckily for me, the kids were outside playing and I was able to get in some silent moments. What I discovered was a world that I had neglected and had forgotten about.
In the silent moments I was able to truly listen, and fully enjoy, the sounds of summer. I listened to the screams and screeches of children playing outside. I heard the chirps of the robin on fence in the backyard. I even enjoyed the buzzing of the bee by my ear. In that "silent" moment, I was blessed with the voice of God bringing joy through the laughter of children and singing notes of encouragement through a song bird. After this brief, yet simply profound experience, I wanted more.
I became intentional about hearing God this week through the sounds of summer. I find joy in the sound of a ball being struck by a bat or the snap of leather as a ball hits the mit. A reminder to stay young and make sure I take time to play. My spirit sings at night with the crickets that chirp outside my window, or the ones who have found shelter in my garage. A reminder that God is with me, even in the darkest nights. I find comfort in the sound of the breeze rustling the trees or the movement of swift water as it makes it way down the Arkansas River. A reminder of God's gentle power in my life. I love the sound of silence, too. A reminder that God's still small voice continues to whisper to the depths of my soul..."be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) and "this is the Way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).
I know the summer can be filled with a great many things to do. How about taking some time to listen to the sounds of summer? What is God trying to communicate to you?
Holy God, thank You for the seasons of life. Thank You for the moments You give me to listen to Your voice. Forgive me for allowing my life to become noisy and chaotic, shutting out Your voice. I want to listen for You - so keep my spirit still and quiet. Open my ears to hear the many ways You speak to me and help me not take anything for granted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Enough Said
Happy Friday!
I know it is a happy day for my kids as they celebrate the first day of summer vacation. My son still wasn't awake when I left just before 9:00 this morning.
Lately it has been bothering me how much talking we do as a culture. As a man who has only 15,000 words at his disposal on a daily basis (from what the scientists say), I have to use them carefully and wisely! We have to discuss...at length...EVERYTHING.
We need to discuss how many calories are good for a healthy diet, or the reasons for our current weather patterns across the country, or whether taxes should be higher or lower or whether spending should increase or decrease (that is a personal and national debate - from the Bird House to the White House). We have to talk about what a celebrity wore, or didn't wear, at a highfalutin event. We talk about why the Rockies are playing poorly or we talk about the end of the world (if the Rockies don't make the playoffs it will feel that way for me). It seems there is always big talk around who should have won on Survivor, The Biggest Loser, or American Idol.
I'm not saying that these things are not note-worthy or discussion-worthy. They are if they interest you. And, some of the topics really don't make a difference in our lives. They are just fun to talk about and debate. However, when I look at the things that do matter in our lives like government, spirituality, church, personal relationships, etc., we can talk things to death and nothing ever seems to get done. We talk about change, but we don't really change (we just rearrange the chairs on the deck). We talk about reprioritizing our lives, yet we find it difficult to actually do it. We talk about transformation, but we don't fully partner with God to experience it.
Maybe I'm over-reacting, but it feels that we do a lot of talking and we struggle with doing what is really good, right, and true for our lives, for each other, and for God's created world. Don't get me wrong, talking things out and allowing for open discussion is important, but it seems we get stuck in the rut of just talking. Eventually, a decision has to be made and we have to get to the "doing" part of our lives.
There is a common saying that says, "Less is more." So, instead of talking this blog to death, maybe I should say one more thing. When life gets confusing and complicated, it is something I tell myself often and it gets me refocused and back on track...
JESUS
Enough said.
Gracious God, help me to communicate the power and truth of Your Son Jesus as simply and as genuinely as I can...and use words if I have to. In His holy name I pray. Amen.
I know it is a happy day for my kids as they celebrate the first day of summer vacation. My son still wasn't awake when I left just before 9:00 this morning.
Lately it has been bothering me how much talking we do as a culture. As a man who has only 15,000 words at his disposal on a daily basis (from what the scientists say), I have to use them carefully and wisely! We have to discuss...at length...EVERYTHING.
We need to discuss how many calories are good for a healthy diet, or the reasons for our current weather patterns across the country, or whether taxes should be higher or lower or whether spending should increase or decrease (that is a personal and national debate - from the Bird House to the White House). We have to talk about what a celebrity wore, or didn't wear, at a highfalutin event. We talk about why the Rockies are playing poorly or we talk about the end of the world (if the Rockies don't make the playoffs it will feel that way for me). It seems there is always big talk around who should have won on Survivor, The Biggest Loser, or American Idol.
I'm not saying that these things are not note-worthy or discussion-worthy. They are if they interest you. And, some of the topics really don't make a difference in our lives. They are just fun to talk about and debate. However, when I look at the things that do matter in our lives like government, spirituality, church, personal relationships, etc., we can talk things to death and nothing ever seems to get done. We talk about change, but we don't really change (we just rearrange the chairs on the deck). We talk about reprioritizing our lives, yet we find it difficult to actually do it. We talk about transformation, but we don't fully partner with God to experience it.
Maybe I'm over-reacting, but it feels that we do a lot of talking and we struggle with doing what is really good, right, and true for our lives, for each other, and for God's created world. Don't get me wrong, talking things out and allowing for open discussion is important, but it seems we get stuck in the rut of just talking. Eventually, a decision has to be made and we have to get to the "doing" part of our lives.
There is a common saying that says, "Less is more." So, instead of talking this blog to death, maybe I should say one more thing. When life gets confusing and complicated, it is something I tell myself often and it gets me refocused and back on track...
JESUS
Enough said.
Gracious God, help me to communicate the power and truth of Your Son Jesus as simply and as genuinely as I can...and use words if I have to. In His holy name I pray. Amen.
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