As the Deer Pants for Water

As the Deer Pants for Water

In August the hot sun scorches the earth.  The brittle grass browns and breaks.  Moisture-starved leaves yellow and flutter to the ground.  The baked earth, cracked in every direction, cries for rain.  Insects buzz in erratic dances—nothing else moves.  The stifling heat rises in nearly invisible waves.

Safe in her thicket, the deer stirs.  Hot and parched, she must drink.  Gingerly, she ventures to the brook to quench her thirst.  Frequently, she pauses to sniff the air, sensing wolves and other predators lurking nearby, eager to taste her flesh.  They too must drink, so her danger heightens as she nears the life-giving water.  In spite of the danger, her extreme thirst drives her to the stream, for she pants for water.  She mustdrink.

On a hot summer’s day, we guzzle glass after glass of cold, refreshing water, attempting to slake our thirst. If our souls truly pant for God the way the deer pants for water, what would we do?

O God, give me a thirst for you.  Make the thirst in me so strong I must satisfy it. Give me the discipline to drink deeply at your never-ending stream.

Psalms 42:1&2 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

Peace of Mind

Reverend Peale’s advice should help us have a happy Tuesday!

“Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something special in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only the best, be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.”

~ Norman Vincent Peale ~

Sermon Snippet

This nugget of wisdom was from Sunday’s sermon. It’s worth contemplating and remembering.

“We experience transformation in bite-sized chunks, so keep chewing.”

Father, keep me learning and growing closer to your image. Keep me chewing.

Through the Psalms, 24

Happy Friday, everyone!

May you find wisdom and strength through the Psalms

Psalm 23:3-5

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.”

Christian Writers’ Conference–Virtually

Here’s where I’ve been hanging out for the past two days. Got my computer, pens and notebook, snacks and a drink.

I am learning so much. One little thing is the title. It makes all the difference and one professional suggested something different from what I had.

Without knowing which one was my working title and which one the agent suggested, which of these possible titles most appeals to you? Why?

1. Finding God in the gospels.

2. Encountering God by the Master’s Side.

3. Drawing Closer to God in the gospels.

What do you think?

A Hungry Soul

A Hungry Soul

The little soul lived for many years in the same woods. The sun shone on her leafy branches, and she produced much fruit. After many years the trees around this soul grew and their branches met above her head. Those branches provided comfortable shade. She was content in the place she’d always grown. She knew every plant in the woods.

After a time, the little soul felt discontent. When a storm raged overhead, the towering branches swayed and clashed together. Sometimes huge branches broke off the trees and crashed to the forest floor, clipping her own branches. On sunny days, she never saw the sun, for the shade had grown too deep. After a time, the little soul realized she was not being fed; she was no longer growing. She no longer felt the sun’s rays stimulating growth. Even though she was content in her comfortable shady woods, she was hungry. Her leaves drooped. Her fruit dried up and dropped to the ground. She no longer produced new fruit. She had become stagnant.

She pondered her situation. The woods were dark, deep, and comfortable. She wanted to stay, but she longed to grow and once again bear fruit.

After much thought, she made her decision. With great effort and great sadness, she pulled her roots out of the familiar soil and moved from her shady spot. She traveled to another, less familiar location. Here she lived with strangers. Here she was the outsider. Here the summer was harsh and hot with the unfamiliar and the new. But she planted her roots in the sunny spot where she knew she’d appease her spiritual hunger. She longed for the challenge of new growth. She looked up at the sun, lifted her branches heavenward, sighed as the breeze rustled through her leaves, and grew once again. 

II Corinthians 4: 5-6

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

Thank you, Father, for bringing us out of the darkness by shining your light in our hearts. May we shine your reflected light so others may see your truth and have their spiritual hunger satisfied.

God’s Will

Some Tuesday truth from Ms. Elliot.

“The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it’s going to be a lot better and a lot bigger.”

Elisabeth Elliot

Through the Psalms, 23

Have a blessed Friday, my friends!

Psalm 23: 5-6

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”