A Modern Psalm

A Modern Psalm

Oh God, my God, the world around me revolves in chaos.

Fear wraps around me, stealing my hope and contentment.

Worries about the future steal my trust in You.

Arguments abound, war decimates people and countries,

Hatred reigns supreme, shoving love

Into the deepest, darkest recesses of my heart.

But I find a quiet place in my soul,

I hear your voice, I let it permeate to my being.

You remind me: Your ways are higher than my ways.

You are my fortress and my hiding place in times of trouble.

You are in control, no matter how I may feel about the world around me.

You love me enough to send your precious son to redeem me.

You hold me in the palm of your hand and capture all my tears.

My soul soars, basking in Your love and protection.

I thank you and praise You, almighty God!

As The Deer Pants for Water

In summer 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 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 must drink.

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? Like the deer, will you risk all for life-giving water? What steps are you taking to slake your spiritual thirst?

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.”

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

Amazing, Ordinary Life

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful” L. R. Knost

What are you doing with your amazing, ordinary life? How are you using it to help others?

Buoy Me Up

The ocean is relatively flat in this sheltered harbor. Gentle swells buoy my husband and me up and down as we tread water 50 yards from the shore. We’re more accustomed to clear, flat, chlorinated swimming pools. Swimming in the ocean is a rare treat. Quickly we notice the buoyancy of the salt water is quite different from pool water.

Soon I realize that I can keep myself afloat with just gentle kicks or quiet sweeps of my hands. Before long I discover another surprise. Between the salt water and my additional pounds, I can afloat upright, breathing easily, without kicking or stroking. I cross my legs and place my arms down at my sides. Still upright, my head stays above water.  Keeping very still, I find my body gradually tipping; the waves have gently pushed, and I find myself on my back, still afloat. When I face the shore, my body gently tips forward, and I now float on my stomach.  Being able to stay upright in the water with my head above the water without working to stay afloat amazes me! Very quickly Scott also adapts to this new buoyancy, and we enjoy our time in the waves, staying above water effortlessly. All we need is a few gentle hand strokes or kicks to keep our balance.

If only it were so easy to adjust to God’s buoyancy! After many years and many trials I’ve learned that God keeps me afloat even in the darkest of times. He keeps my head up even in the biggest waves of life. Yet still, how often I vigorously kick and press my hands against the waves, working desperately to keep my head above the water, forgetting that God buoys me up. If only I could learn to relax and allow him to buoy me up and keep my head above the waters that threaten to suffocate me. How often I kick and struggle, wearing myself out instead of giving in and allowing God to take control and buoy me up.

Father God, help me to trust in You and allow Your buoyancy to keep my head above the waves. Buoy me up Lord, buoy me up.

Psalm 33:20-22 (NIV) “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

In what ways have you learned to put your trust in God to keep you afloat in difficult times?