That one desire

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)

I am going to ask a tough question this morning. What do you desire most on this earth? Answer honestly, because anything short of true honesty is just foolishness. The more 'religious' of us would immediately answer, "Why, God of course", but we might not be living in a manner that shows that dedication and desire. The more 'honest' of us would reluctantly admit it should be God, but things and people get in the way of that dedication at times. 

Desire goes a long, long way in determining our actions, doesn't it? If we desire something sweet, even if we are on a diet, we will go all out to find a recipe that will allow the 'sweet tooth' to be satisfied, don't we? The craving or desire demands satisfaction. If our craving or desire is for earthly things, that is what we will pursue. If it is for God's presence and grace to be evident in our lives, we will desire to move heaven and earth to see that fulfilled!

We have an 'advocate' who will come to our aid in 'moving heaven and earth' in order for that desire to be fulfilled. God always honors the desire to know him more, learn of his ways, and expand our focus from ourselves to others around us who are hurting and in need of his grace. All we 'pursue' on this earth will pale once we see what he has in store for us. The world has a way of wearing us down, but God's grace has a way of strengthening our mind, will, and emotions.

Our emotional health is frequently tied to that which we pursue the most frequently. If we fill our minds with 'mindless' activity, our minds will be open to just about anything because they are in 'passive mode' most of the time. If we pursue God's truth, not haphazardly or on occasion, but with a tenacity that shows we desire fulfillment, we will find him! Just sayin!

Is this worth it?

People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God’s laws. If we follow our desires, we cannot please God. You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you. People who don’t have the Spirit of Christ in them don’t belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God’s Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit. (Romans 8:5-11)

Some desires are easily fulfilled, while others are the things we chase after repeatedly and find no satisfaction in ever obtaining. Never forget the "hold" desires place on us as we pursue whatever it is which becomes the object of our attention (focus). It is almost impossible to have a desire and not want to "go after it" with some form of passionate pursuit. We often find ourselves "pondering" the thing we desire. It becomes the consuming focus of our mind - thought being the thing which gets us to move toward the desire. I think this is why there is so much emphasis put on being aware of what we are thinking "upon" - because we don't want to dwell on the stuff which will take us down paths better left unexplored!

Probably one of the most reported issues in this walk with Jesus is the constant struggle between what we desire and what we know God wants for us. God wants us to consider the type of desire it is we are responding to at any given moment. We have this "mixture" of desires - some very good or honorable; others kind of self-centered and just plain out of the "list" of desires he'd want us to actually pursue. To pursue only what we desire is thinking of only ourselves - a dangerous focus indeed. Yet, I have run across people who seem to have their head in the clouds - too spiritual for their own good and certainly for the good of others! We need balance between the spiritual and the practical. We actually drive people away when all we can ponder and discuss is the spiritual. I have a tendency to look for people who can maintain this balance - knowing "living out" faith is more important than merely engaging in conversation about it all the time!

If we are ruled by our minds, we will pursue desires which are self-centered and likely to be a little far from what God has planned for our pursuit. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, we are more likely to pursue those things God has prepared in advance for us! Our own desires don't always align with God's. Apparently Satan understands this fact and monopolizes on it! When we have this "war" of sorts going on in our minds, pondering this desire against that one, we can be assured that as long as that battle is taking place, Satan is intrigued! He wants to see which one will win out and he isn't pulling for God's!

Christ lives in us - this is the hope of our "winning" over those wrong desires. In living an "exchanged life" we find our own desires beginning to take backseat to the desires of the one we serve (Christ Jesus). It is God's Spirit living within us that makes all the difference in determining which of these desires will become the preeminent one which gets and holds our attention. If you haven't figured that out already, the thing which gets our attention will play upon our emotions until we begin to toy with the idea of actually surrendering to that object. If this is a God-thing we are "toying with" in our thoughts, the surrender will be godly and good!  

With God's Spirit within, the desires we once were consumed by will begin to drop away. This is a gradual process for most of us - for others, it may come in a matter-of-fact way once and for all. The truth of the matter is that no matter "how" we see this exchange of desires occurring within us, we all have exactly the same "resources" at our disposal to overcome those desires which are too self-absorbed and which are going to take us down the wrong path. The Spirit of God brings all we need to not only change our focus, but to help us differentiate between what is worthy of our continued attention and what is not. Just sayin!

Where is God in your life?

It was an Iranian poet by the name of Saadi who said, "I fear God and next to God, I mostly fear them that fear him not." Ponder that one for just a moment and it might ring true in your ears today. Those who don't fear God are all around us, oftentimes creating such upheaval and havoc that the world has no chance to be at rest for any length of time. Ray Comfort once said, "When men don't fear God, they give themselves to evil." There were no truer words spoken. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:8-10)

The lack of reverence some show toward our holy God is sometimes hard for me to understand. How can they look around at all that he created and not see his profound goodness? How can they strive for some 'goodness' in this world, but totally eliminate God from the mix? As with all decisions we make, the one we make about who should control our lives, guide our steps, and help with all our interactions in this world is one we each make on our own. We either choose God first, or we put something else in his place. 

This past week, I heard of a letter sent to some polling place announcing that the elections should be shut down because "we are in charge now". That could evoke some fear in others, but I just have to dig in a bit closer to God's protective refuge and allow his peace to permeate my soul. I have no idea who the 'we' are in that letter, but I know who the "I AM" is that controls my life. That is all I need to know - God is my one true place of safety - he is in control even when it seems like everything else around me is running a bit wonky.

Where is God in your life? If you immediately answer that with 'at the center of all I say and do', take just a moment to ask yourself, "Is he really?" Is there anything or any ideal you place first when things are running well in your life? Do you press into his presence and get into his Word as much when things are running smoothly and there is no conflict or pressure? Or do you find yourself pressing in a bit harder when the pressures mount and drifting a bit when they lessen? 

At the center of all conflict, you will find man has put God aside. He has chosen to put himself in God's place, if even for just a bit, so that his own will and determination might take center stage for a while. If man continues to do this long enough, he comes to believe HE is himself god! Choose to put God first in all your decisions and you will soon realize the folly of believing your own wisdom and strength could ever measure up to God's, much less surpass it! Just sayin!

Is it tangible or intangible?

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10) 

David said, "“You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” (Psalm 16:2) Every good thing comes from you - I don't have anything of 'goodness' or 'value' apart from you, God. Because of his relationship with God, he lacks (has no need that is unmet) nothing. Whatever is good or 'beneficial' for us, God provides. Nowhere in scripture does it say all our 'wants' will be met, but we will never lack what God has determined to be of 'value' or 'benefit' for our lives. 

Sometimes we complain because we see something as 'beneficial' for us, but then we don't ever come to realize it in our lives. We forget that God might see it differently! He might actually be withholding that thing from our lives because it is far from 'beneficial' or 'good'! Now I have gone to meddling, haven't I? It is always good to remember God cares way more about our character and our relationship with him that produces that character than he does all our 'wants' that we think we 'need' in order to be happy in this lifetime. 

God gives us both the tangible and intangible. We need a new vehicle because ours has seen its best days and has resulted in mounting repair costs that far outweigh its value - God will give us a means to obtain a new vehicle. Will it be brand-spanking new? Not always - but it will be of a greater value than the one we have been sinking good money after bad into with all those repairs. We need to let go of bitterness or regret over missing out on some opportunities, so God helps us see the 'value' in letting go and in allowing him to bring about the good he desires in our lives. Tangible automobile, intangible healing of our wounded mind and emotions. 

The thing I think God wants us to see today is that it is not 'wrong' to want something, but not every 'want' is good for us. Sometimes we have to let God show us when those things we 'want' are not what he desires for us and then let them go so he can give us what we need. The thing that meets our need will be the very thing that brings about his character development within us. The intangible may be our need today - seek it wholeheartedly. The tangible may be our need - ask for that need to be met as God sees fit. Then trust him to meet both of those needs because he withholds no good thing from those he loves. Just sayin!

Do I really want that?

It’s better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

I enjoy a really good meal, quality time with a close friend, and hugs from my grandsons. I also enjoy rainy days, a good book, and a happy movie. You could probably make a list of things you enjoy, like a sporty car able to zip on down the road with wind blowing wistfully through your hair, or perhaps a long walk on the beach at sunset. Some of what we enjoy is because of where we are or what we possess - the car or beach make the occasion. For others, it is about who we are with that gives us the greatest enjoyment factor. The company I keep makes all the difference in how much I enjoy the moment! I am "single again" - meaning I was married but have been without a spouse since the divorce. These years have done more to "cement" my relationship with Jesus and brought me much enjoyment in the process! I am not advocating divorce, but if you find yourself in the situation of being "alone again" in this world, you can choose to bemoan the fact or you can allow God to turn your moaning into dancing!

Always wanting something else is a dangerous habit we sometimes fall into in this life. I know I run into this in my own life as it applies to food! I have fruit, veggies, and the like in the refrigerator, but when I get the munchies in the evening hours, I want "something else"! You know what I am talking about, don't you? We have hamburger in the freezer, but want steak. We drive a Ford, but want a Ferrari. We live in a comfortable house, but we want a mansion of sorts. What we don't recognize is what Solomon was trying to reveal to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes: Life is filled with choices - choose wisely and you will enjoy life much more than if you make the choices of a fool!

I Timothy 6:6 reminds us "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Nothing is farther from the truth than the idea that God wants us poor or "impoverished" in any manner. In fact, he wants us to know all he has is at our disposal - for we are his kids. What Paul was telling Timothy was that when you enter into this relationship with Jesus (what some call religion, but I call relationship), you find yourself learning true contentment. The things which once held such an appeal to you begin to take on lesser importance - the shiny sports car is fun to drive, but it isn't all we live for anymore.

Learning to enjoy what we have - not what we could have, should have had, might someday have - but enjoying what we have. Why is it we come into adulthood so conflicted with this lack of contentment? Maybe it is because we have this little thing called "eyes" - what the eyes see long enough, the heart somehow comes to want! In time, we learn that some things (like God's Word) can be taken in ad infinitum, while things like some of the reality shows on TV we are better off not to take in at all! Learning to control what comes in the "eye gate" goes a long way in determining how content we will be in this lifetime! Just sayin!

This pleases me

I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

Solomon was known to be one of the wisest men alive, yet he made decision after decision to follow every whim and fancy of his heart, all in the name of looking for 'meaning' in life. Many times, we go through life looking for 'meaning', but it is in the pursuit of wealth, fame, amassed things, relationships, and even our careers. After a while, pursuit after pursuit, all seem meaningless. What gives meaning to life? Could it be that this ONE relationship we have with Christ gives the most 'meaning' to our lives - making every pursuit we undertake 'meaningful' because he has orchestrated it?

Even the pleasures of working hard at what you enjoy the most is something we are granted by the hand of God. We may think we can eat and drink, being merry all the while, but in the end even than doesn't please - unless Christ is in the midst of every moment of every day. God gives all we find to be a blessing in our lives - even the creature comforts of home, family, food, and rest. We might think we are the ones obtaining all these, providing them for ourselves, but in truth, God is the one who makes these things enjoyable to us.

Solomon's words, "Come, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the 'good things' in life," are really the words so many are saying today. Everywhere we look, people are seeking 'pleasure', but at what expense? Pleasure might be there for a moment or two, but it is soon fleeting. What really gives pleasure to a hungry and hurting soul is being brought into right relationship with our Creator, God. Just sayin!

Life Hack #19: Be Not Pulled

Life Hack #19:

It is part of our make-up to be drawn to that which pleases our senses, isn't it? As little babies, we were fascinated with all things sparkly and bright colored. The slightest hint of gleam and we'd direct our attention toward the object. Smell the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread and your mouth begins to water for the enjoyment of savoring a warm slice lathered in rich butter. Hear the tender notes of some melody and your toes will start tapping with the beat. Our bodies respond to stimulus from without, but that response begins on the INSIDE of us in response to the thing we are "taking in" through one of our senses. Learning "temperance" is a difficult thing in this life, but if we don't exercise a little self-control over our "sensual intake", we will find ourselves in places we'd probably not like to be! Today's life hack is not about alcohol, but rather the 'appeal' of things to our senses and how we should 'govern' what we allow to spur that 'interest' within.

Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with—the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!” (Proverbs 23:29-35)

We first need to be aware of what appeals to the eye. The "eye-gate" is the primary "entry point" which we need to monitor because sight is a tremendous gift. Intake through sight becomes the place where imagination begins to take over. We "see" and then we begin to imagine what we see as our own, how it will affect us if we could just take hold of what it is we see. In the Garden of Eden, why was the serpent so successful when he posed his questions to Eve? Maybe it was because she had already been gazing at the fruit anyway - sight had already paved the way for desire! It tickled her senses - because she "saw" and seeing created desire. Desire is not a bad thing, when tempered with self-control and the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. Desire gets out of hand when everything we see becomes something we have to get or partake in.

We need to be cautious about what we hear, as well. People will always attempt to tell us things which simply are not true. We cannot believe everything we hear - we must become "testers" of what we hear. Each believer must really get to know the Word of God for themselves. In so doing, you are ensuring you have the foundation to "test" what you hear against what you have studied, recognizing when it just doesn't seem to be quite right, and then seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit's guidance to determine if this is just a new truth you haven't really grasped yet, or if it is truly something you need to reject.

We must be cognizant of our values. We don't judge a book by its cover. When we have a set of core values which align with the Word of God and principles taught in scripture, we stand a better chance of "interpreting" input wisely. We see individuals for their inherent worth in Christ Jesus, not what they contribute to society, or how influential they are in today's social circles. We hear the sweetness, as well as the longings of the heart of those who share their lives with us. We learn to use gentleness in urging someone to move forward who has been stuck in a rut for a long time. The values we learn at the feet of Jesus help us to put life in perspective, so we aren't drawn to the things which bring hurt or harm into either the lives of those we are in community with or our own.

We must learn about how our senses "drive" and "pull" us toward certain behaviors and life views. There is much in this life that can repel us, but probably much more that can draw us in if we are not exercising a little self-control. The "shiny" doesn't always sparkle once we take hold of it! The "luscious" doesn't always flatter once it is consumed! Just sayin!

Time to get up

The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I’m spoiled for anyone else! Your beauty, within and without, is absolute, dear lover, close companion. (Song of Solomon 7:5-6)

If you have ever been "in love", you might just understand this intense longing just to enjoy the "presence" of the one you love so dearly. When separation occurs - whether by choice or because of something out of your control - the longing builds. What many describe as "stirrings" for the presence of their loved one is really similar to how God feels about each of us - longing to just hold us close, gently stroking our backs with the tenderness of his hand, and then encompassing us with the warmth and protection of his full presence. How long has it been since you have experienced the "stirrings" in your heart for the presence of your "first love" - God himself?

It could be we need to "stir" these feelings back to life, finding they have "waned" a little in intensity. Begin by remembering just how much God loves us and with what intensity he directs his attentive care over our lives. God's words to us: "I am spoiled for anyone else!" In other words, no one else will bring such intensity of response, nor fulfillment to the heart of God other than you! If you have ever been in a relationship with another, you know that this would be the most "ideal" feeling someone could express to you. The thought of no one else being able to fill the place your love fills in their life is almost electrifying, isn't it? Now, transition your thoughts to God - your life, in his hands, electrifies him! He is magnificently touched when we are near.

Take inventory of the things which have gotten in the way of having this intensity of longing for him. The things which separate only serve to build the intensity, not shut down the pursuit. The things which block us from each other, even for a little while, are not going to "stunt" love, but cause love to be magnified and ignited until our desire to be together causes us to get past those blockades. The distracting influences are nothing in comparison to the magnificence of love - don't "settle" for anything less than the presence of God. When we find things or people getting "in the way" of our times with Jesus, it is time to begin to use those things to heighten our awareness of the "lack of his presence" and then to drive us forward from our present position. They will not stop one whose eyes are fixed on Jesus!

Consider where it is we find our passion ignited. Some of the most trying times have fully ignited passion afresh in my life. Times of retreat and refreshing may do the trick. Each of us have different ways we connect with Jesus, but no one way is the "right" way to find this connection and to build upon this intimacy. ANY and ALL avenues which lead us into his arms are pathways toward his grace. Passion grows when the separation occurs - after all, absence is touted as making the heart grow stronger, is it not? We might just want to "capitalize" on those times when we feel the stirrings of "absence" within our hearts - for these tiny stirrings are the very things which will fan into flame the embers of the fullness of love.

We can "settle" for the absence - becoming content to simply remember the good times we experienced at the feet of Jesus. No amount of "remembering" will fan the flames of our first love, though. We have to get up from our places of slumber, points of compromise, and positions of comfort in order to come face-to-face with the one and only love of our lives that will truly satisfy our every longing and stoke the fires of our heart once again. Just sayin!

Desire and Delight

Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shining down as from the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:4-6)

A heart's desires can be many - no doubt your desires differ from mine, but if we were to list them all, our lists would be long! I desire for my children to know and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. My delight will be to see my two grandsons to grow up to be morally strong, obedient to the commandments of Christ, and to trust him fully with the control of their lives. My desire to see both my children and grandchildren realize their dreams burns deeply with. I desire health, so I do what I can to preserve it wherever possible. I delight in time in the Word of God, good worship music, and the freedom to share my heart in open communion with my Lord. A heart's desires and delights - many though they may be, the one that is most important is the one that leads us to the commitment to do all the Lord desires.

According to the seed sown shall be the harvest reaped. We sow seeds that are a result of our desires - desire the good and the seed will be good; desire the unholy or impure and you know the harvest will be filled with all manner of 'weeds and tares'. I learned that the wheat seed and tare seed are very similar, producing a plant that almost looks the same in the earliest part of their growth. When you begin to see the difference is when the fruit is being produced. The seed of the wheat plant is brown, while that of the tare is purple with a black seed. While the wheat seed is good for consumption, the seed of the tare is actually poisonous, containing a soporific poison. I wouldn't want a diet of tares, would you?

Desire functions as the seed for many an action in our lives. Perhaps this is why God reminds us to examine our desires - for our desires often reflect our delight. What is it you find your greatest pleasure in? Maybe the better question is 'who' is it you find your greatest pleasure in? A boyfriend and girlfriend, captivated by young love may immediately say it is the one they are in relationship with. A father of a newborn may be absolutely delighted in the new life he holds in his arms, but his delight in his wife may actually become more profound as he observes her take such good care of that new life. A man or woman who has asked Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, finding unending and unconditional grace at the foot of the cross, may actually find their greatest delight in him. 

Desire and delight go hand in hand. One leads to the other. We desire more of Christ and are delighted to find him in the stillness of our time with him. We desire to understand his ways and are delighted to see his hand in action in so many ways around us. We desire to fully grasp a teaching from his Word and are delighted to find those words come to life in us as we are faced with a challenge too great for our human wisdom. Desire leads to delight - delight leads us to the feet of Jesus. What desire is the greatest in your life today? If it is anything other than Christ and his goodness, perhaps it is time to take a break from whatever stands in the way of us finding our greatest delight in his presence. Just sayin!

Disturbed by a need

Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

We all have moments when we see needs, but we have no clue how to meet them. Things upset us, these things are right there in our face, many times making us mad, sad, and desiring to see something different as a result of some action we may take. When we are disturbed on behalf of God, we are oftentimes moved in the most significant ways. We may even embrace a calling in life as a result of the burden we bear over the matters that upset us. When we are bothered by something - the need is right there before us - we are likely going to see God impact the lives of people IF we put ourselves out there.

We don't have to have a formal position to meet a need if we possess a God-given passion over the need around us. We will make a difference if we follow the burden God places in our hearts. Seek God over the matter faithfully - not just once, or even twice - but repeatedly until you see the results. We may 'hurt' for the need on our hearts for a while, but as long as we are taking that 'hurt' to God for his wisdom and direction, we will be in the best place to receive the wisdom to know what to do. Talk with God about the need you see before you - frequently, deeply, in truth. In prayer, God will help you see his 'bigness' and his 'ability' to help with that burden.

Nothing is too small for God's heart. Nothing is too big for his power. If we have a heart and vision for the need, God wants to hear about it. There is power if prayer - time talking with God. Let God help you define the calling upon your life over the need. It needs to be very clear, but many times we begin with a very 'muddy' understanding of the need and how we may be involved in seeing that need met. It is in times of prayer that we get that clarity. God has a way of getting the 'mud' out of our vision. It only happens when we bring it before God and allow him to bring that clarity. 

God desires to not only carry that burden, but to help us see where we can be instrumental in his hands to meet that need. The burden comes because we are upset by what we see. The calling comes as we clarify that vision before him. Then we give him the burden - he carries it while we DO what he asks us to do. There is no need to carry the burden alone - it is HIS. We are HIS workers - it is never just OUR burden. If we pray on it long enough, we begin to see how he plans to use us to begin to engage in the need. Just sayin!

Appetite or Hunger?

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (Psalm 23:1-3)

I don't need a thing - how many of us can speak those words with our heart bearing full and total agreement with them? Most of us will give lip service to the idea, but deep down inside we desire things we don't have, look for ways to acquire what we think we 'need', and are always on the search for 'more' of something, aren't we? Our desires stem from what we feed the most - it creates an appetite within us for what we desire. If you had never tasted chocolate in your lifetime, you likely don't have any type of craving for it. Indulge yourself with a couple of pieces of rich chocolate and that 'taste' will create a desire for more. Why? Appetite has more to do with our thinking than it does the need to correct an imbalance of some vital nutrient within our bodies. Hunger is purely 'biological' - we need to raise our blood glucose, so we feel the pangs of hunger to replenish that necessary resource. Appetite is actually our 'relationship' with what we take in - we form habits based upon our appetite.

What do you find 'pleasure' in these days? As I entered into retirement, I thought I would miss the hustle and bustle of a daily work life. Actually, quite the opposite is true. I have come to enjoy not making plans for my day - just rising, observing the weather, feeling the desires I may have to create something new, and then heading out to the workshop for a little 'wood fun'. I also enjoy the spontaneous text from my BFF that asks if I want to go with her to the store, explore the thrift shops, or go over to her sister's house for a bite to eat. There is something different in the 'pleasures' I experience in retirement than there were during my working years. Have my desires changed? You might think so, but those desires have always been there. I have always wanted to create with my hands - so workshop time has always been a craving. I have always desired to find a good bargain - so thrift shop trolling is a fun pastime for me. I just have the time to do these things more frequently now - not having to cram them all into one weekend!

If you feed the desires God places deep within your soul - mind, will, and emotions - you will find your desires grow (your appetite changes to desire more of those things). Feed your body fruits and veggies often enough and you will actually crave them. Feed it cookies, donuts, and salty snacks and see how those cravings begin to direct your food choices when hungry. Feed your spirit the Word of God and you will begin to understand its content. Feed your spirit with times of worship and praise and your desire to spend time with Jesus just might increase. You are what you eat - we have probably all heard that one before. If what we 'take in' the most often is what we desire the most (becoming what makes up our appetites), then it stands to reason that if we feed upon the Word, spend time worshiping at his feet, and actually begin to pour out our thoughts and desires before him, those desires just might change for the better! Just sayin!

Not ever gonna be a size five!

How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God. Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. (Psalm 84:1-4)

We have all kinds of "longings", don't we? If the day just seem to drag on and on at work, we "long" to be home or out pursuing some other activity. If the laundry is piled high and the sun is shining, we long to be outside enjoying the weather, not scrubbing away yesterday's stains. If the traffic jam keeps us barely inching along, we long for another passenger in our car so we can take the high-occupancy lane! There are all kinds of "longings" or "yearnings", huh? Many times, it is the process of "yearning" which actually gets us to take a few steps forward when it is most difficult or uncomfortable to do so. We just aren't satisfied with the way things are, so we move toward what or where we think things will be different. Yearning is really just us having an interest or strong desire or longing that brings us to a place where we are moved or attracted toward some particular 'pull'. What we desire the most will become the object of our attention - whatever is the object of our attention becomes the object of our affection. 

What captivates our affection becomes the dominating and overriding influence for our choices in life. If you don't believe me, think about the one thing that just seems to keep getting you into trouble in life. It has a "pulling" influence, doesn't it? No matter how hard you "try" to avoid its influence, you get "roped in" every time! It might be you are just like me - needing a little adjustment in your "longing" department! We can yearn for both beneficial and harmful things - almost at the same time. If we are hungry, we can yearn for something sweet or salty - the "loudest" yearning will be fed - sometimes with one overriding another for a short time, then the other rising up to demand equal fulfillment. We sometimes confuse longing with passion. Passion is just the emotion we attach to the yearning. The yearning actually comes from a deeper place. Maybe this is why David turns to God and tells him his SOUL (his mind, will, and emotions) yearn for God's presence. He connects the three - not just the emotions. His mind has been made up - it desires the one who can fulfill every longing. His will has determined who it is he will pursue. His emotions might just get him moving toward God's presence, but they don't do all the work!

There is a power behind these yearnings of ours. Whenever we want to understand how to "break the hold" of a yearning that is not beneficial to us, we have to understand the "power" behind the yearning. If I struggle with being critical toward others, I need to understand what the root of that judgmental pattern in my life actually is. It might have a link in not feeling good about my own abilities or accomplishments, so I find it easy to criticize the accomplishments of others. If you struggle in this area, it could have a root in being told you'd never amount to anything, so you are a little jealous of others who actually accomplish things easily. Regardless of the root, the fruit is manifest in the critical attitude and response toward others. Getting at the root helps us break the "power" behind the yearning - for in understanding the root, we begin to allow God's power to change the fruit. There is a depth to each desire. Some desires are fleeting - they just are there and then gone. Other desires are lasting - such as the need to be loved and to love another. This particular one can get us into a lot of circumstances we'd have been better off avoiding. For some, this longing is connected with the root we call lust. Lust is a powerful emotion and can send reason right out the door. Understanding the difference between lust (longing for immediate satisfaction) and love (the long-term commitment to meet the needs of another) is the starting point for recognizing when lust is the motivating influence. The depth of the desire determines just how frequently we will pursue the desire.

There is a sense of something being unattainable. We often have longings or desires which we honestly don't believe for a moment we will ever be able to achieve or attain in life. Maybe we are wearing a size 14 dress - we long to be a size 5 dress - but...our main problem is not the dress size, it is the reality that our body (bone) "frame" is one which will likely never be that small. Could you realistically achieve a size 5 - yes! But...you'd look anorexic! Some of our longings are linked to how we "see" ourselves. Others are linked to how others see us. Either way, we get defeated because we don't "think" there is any remote possibility of attaining our desire. This goes back to the power behind the desire. When the focus is right, the desire lines up. It isn't that we'd be healthier at a size 5, we'd just be skinnier! One thing I have learned is that my "image" is not realistic when it is governed by comparing myself with others. When I do this, all those desires somehow present themselves as unattainable - in the far-off distance, not in the here and now. I need to let God deal with the here and now, knowing with confidence he will address the far-off distance in his perfect timing and way. Chances are, what is so all-fired important to me today will pale in comparison to what he has for me tomorrow! Just sayin!

Don't get too comfortable

Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands. (Psalm 119:18)

If you have ever been in a situation where you kind of feel like it is 'foreign' to you, you probably felt a little like a fish out of water. You flopped around, struggling to find a way back to where you felt comfort and ease. I know moments like these cause most of us some angst, increasing our anxiety level more and more as we wander around a little lost and insecure. Being a 'stranger' isn't easy to deal with, probably because as 'sojourners' in this place of discomfort we find it hard for us to move from stranger or foreigner to being at ease dwelling where we are placed. God isn't immune to our discomfort - he has a plan for it!

Take a moment to dwell on the idea of God having a plan for our feeling a little like life is a bit 'foreign' to us right now. There is much to be learned when we are made a little uncomfortable. It is usually God 'stirring up' something within us that he is about to do within us. As our psalmist prays, he asks God to open his eyes so he doesn't miss what God is about to do. I often pray this same prayer - sometimes as nothing more than what I refer to as 'arrow prayers' - those tiny prayers that are about a sentence long, but are intentional and from the heart. The truth is our souls are kind of starving a bit and if we are to find the nourishment our souls need need, we need to get a little more than a 'bit' uncomfortable in order to be open to how God will meet those needs. 

Insatiable appetites for what God has in store for us - what image does that conjure up for you? I have those nights when nothing looks good in the fridge, pantry, or fruit bowl. I want something, but I don't know what it is. That is kind of like what it is to feel a little like a stranger in our present circumstances - we know God is working, we are hungry for something, but we have no idea what it will be that will satisfy that hunger. We are ravenous, but we aren't able to find the very thing that will satisfy that insatiability until we allow God to take us a little bit further into that place of discomfort. It seems a little like God might just be a little 'hard on us' when he allows us to get uncomfortable - feeling like life is a bit foreign - but the way to discover new the new things he desires for us is for us to get out of our comfort zone and into the place where he is free to move. 

God isn't cruel when he allows us to feel discomfort - he is exercising the greatest of kindnesses toward us! He knows we will have our deepest desire kindled at the point of our greatest discomfort. Just sayin!

Desire is a step toward receiving

As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, “Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!” When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!” He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw. (Matthew 9:27-29)

Become: arrive at; grow into; develop into. If someone were to walk up to you and tell you to "become what you believe", what would you become right here and now? What would you "grow into" or where would you "arrive at" in your life? This might be a very telling question for some of us. Most of us don't really have a plan for where we'd like to "arrive at" or what we truly would like to "grow into" in a spiritual sense, much less a physical or emotional sense. We simply live day by day, making the best of each moment, and wonder what the next will hold. I don't think God expects us to "plan out" every moment of our lives, but I do think he has a unique place in our lives for the faith to believe for great things in him. Imagine being blind in a crowd. It is one thing to be blind when you can pick your way along a street you may know like the back of your hand. There will still be untold unanticipated obstacles in your way, but at least you know the path you are traveling. These two men were blazing new territory on this day - the crowds pressing hard toward Jesus and they were in the thick of it. Maybe these men were just being "ushered" along by the crowd, but they know where they wanted to be and they were headed in that direction! Jesus was their aim! Healing was their hope!

They cry for mercy. They ask the great Healer for his favor - not for their healing, but for his favor. I wonder if they secretly really believed for their healing - asking for his "favor" to accomplish this? If we really understand this word "favor", then we know it is something we cannot "justify" - we have no reason to expect it based on anything we deserve, but we are counting on the goodwill of another to grant what it is we wish for. They pressed along with the crowd and right into the living room of Jesus' house! Yep, it says that when Jesus arrived at home, they went right inside with him! They weren't willing to remain on the outside, listening for some "beckoning call" from the Healer that might suggest to them they could enter into a privileged place. They just press right into his presence. I think God honors this kind of faith - the faith which presses beyond what someone might say are the "acceptable boundaries". Going into someone's home uninvited was just not acceptable then and it isn't any more acceptable today.

Don't lose sight of the fact that Jesus did not have them thrown out! He simply took notice of them there. I wonder what difference we might accomplish in life if we put ourselves in a similar place with Jesus - in the place where he cannot help but take notice of us. This was in the place where he was the most "intimate" with others. Think about it - isn't your home the place where you associate with others in closeness. This is what intimacy really is - close personal relationship with others. These men put themselves in a place of "close personal relationship" with Jesus. In so doing, they find themselves up close and personal with Jesus! The Healer's home became their place of greatest hope! In response to their confidence and trust in their Healer he asks: "Do you really believe I can do this?"  I wonder how many times we actually take our "faith" to Jesus and he looks back at us with this question? I think it may be more than we imagine. The question is pointed - do YOU believe I can do this? Not that YOU can do it if you just believe hard enough, but that the Master can do it. I guess I would have seen these men's faith as already answering the question. Yet, Jesus poses the question. Why? Perhaps it was a confirmation of their intense desire and fervent hope.

I think there are times Jesus is asking us to clarify and confirm our desire - what it is we envision we will "become" - arrive at, grow or develop into. There is nothing wrong with Jesus asking this question. It clarifies the purpose of us drawing near. It is one thing to arrive in the presence of God, it is quite another to be sure what it is we need once we are there! They had a "vision" of seeing! Their desire was to arrive at sight! Jesus usually goes one better than what it is we desire - have you ever noticed that? They want physical vision - I think he probably was bringing some clarity to their spiritual vision first! In response to their faith, he tells them to "become what they believe". If Jesus were to say this to us, I wonder what we'd become right here and now? Often, what we believe is what either holds us back or propels us forward. Their belief drove them further into the presence of Christ. I wonder where our belief will drive us today? Will it find us pressing through the crowd and right into the very "personal" space of Jesus? If it does, what is it we will seek there? Knowing what it is we really desire is often the first step in receiving what it is we will receive. Just sayin!

More, More, More - a close second to Me, Me, Me

It is that time of year when kids everywhere begin to write out their wish lists for Christmas. At first, the new bike or gaming system is all they want, then the list begins to grow and grow and grow. We actually encourage our kids to 'complete' this wish list task by writing a letter to Santa. As the list grows, so does the discontent - the more we want the more discontent we become with what we have. Discontent can produce positive outcomes in life - such as when we are no longer content just barely being able to button our jeans and we begin a concerted effort to avoid the cookies and put in a little more exercise everyday. Discontent can also have a very negative outcome when it drives us to compare what we have with what another has, then begin to complain about what we don't have in this life. What makes the difference between the positive and negative outcome with discontentment? I believe it is where we turn with our discontent - turn in the right direction toward God and his graces in our lives and the outcome will be much more positive than if we turn inward and just focus on our wants.

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. (I John 2:15-16)

Wanting your own way - does that sound familiar to anyone? As itty-bitty kids we begin to form this discontent with not getting our own way. We want to be held, so we cry until someone picks us up. We want to be fed, so we whine and whimper until someone breaks out the biscuits. We want dry bottoms, so we cry out as though our lungs were about to explode until someone replaces the wet diaper with a dry one, applying some soothing ointment to boot. As we get older, we still want our own way - it is just that we have gotten a little more 'discreet' in how we maneuver our wants into the conversation or the moment. When God asks us to do something that we don't want to do, how do we react to his request? Sometimes we ignore it, hoping he will forget he asked. At others, we outright refuse, putting us on some pretty shaky ground because of our rebellion. Either way, wanting our own way will not serve us well.

Wanting everything for ourselves - that began in the crib and oftentimes it continued into our adulthood. No one took our toys - no one interrupted what we wanted to have in our possession. From our toys to our time - it is ours and no one will take it away from us. Have you ever stopped at the end of a day and looked back at how much you thought you'd do and just what you actually got done? Someone interrupted your day and you didn't use that time the way you wanted it to be used. They made a drain on your day. We cannot control time any better than we can control the weather. We want it all for ourselves, but God specifically puts others in our path because he wants us to give of what is ours so the lives of those others will be made better in the process. We cannot always have everything - including time - for ourselves any more than we can have our own way.

Wanting to appear important - notice it says 'appear' important because importance is an illusion. It is evasive. It changes from day to day. What was important today will not be as important tomorrow. In the end, wanting to appear important is just a pathetic way of admitting we find our self-worth or 'value' in how others see us - the impression they have of us. If we focus less on wanting our own way, as well as wanting everything for ourselves, the 'value' others will see in us will be far greater anyway. Maybe this is why God puts those two first in this passage - because if we deal with those correctly, then we won't be as concerned with this one. We will be positive examples of his love and grace - the things that give us the 'reality' of being 'valued' individuals in this world. 

Wanting, wanting, wanting - it isolates us from God. It sends us on a trajectory that will eventually have us spinning out of control in this world. If we desire to do what God wants and asks us to do, we will find a deeper satisfaction in life. We will live fuller lives and be less concerned with how we 'appear' and more concerned with how much others see of Christ in us. Just sayin!

Bargain or not

Do you barter with people? When I visited Nogales, Mexico, the advice I received from others who had visited there before me was that I should never pay full price for what a vendor is asking when I wanted to purchase something. I was to 'barter with them' until I felt a fair price was met. For example, I wanted this blanket marked at however many Pesos and I was supposed to say what I was willing to pay for it. Usually the vendor would meet my request with great resistance and shake his head vigorously that he was opposed to such an offer. Part of the 'bartering' was that I was to walk away as though I were no longer interested. If you have ever done this, you know they follow you asking you offering you some reduced rate, but still not what you desired to pay. If all goes well, you will 'wear them down' to a reasonable price you both can agree upon. In turn, you walk home with the blanket, feeling very good about the 'bargain' you just found. Truth be told, we sometimes do the same thing with God - we approach him with our desires and we have something in mind we will 'do' or 'trade' if he will just agree to meet that desire. God doesn't need us to bargain with him - he needs us to be honest about our need and just as truthful about our desires! 

Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. (Matthew 7:7 ERV)

I think we may all be a little guilty of 'bargaining' with God from time to time - some of us use this 'tactic' way too frequently, though. We cannot expect God to 'chase us down' to give into our demands, though. The things we have need of in our lives are God's pleasure to meet for us in some fashion. Now, I grant you, the 'fashion' God chooses may differ from the way we would have chosen to have the need met on occasion, but if we remain open to how God meets our needs, we might just find our needs are met in a fuller and more consistent manner than the way we imagined! When my kids were growing up, money was very tight. I had to rely upon what some call 'hand-me-down' clothes for them on more than one occasion. While it wasn't quite like going to Target or Walmart and buying them brand new, the blessing those clothes provided for my kiddos was astronomical! They were well-dressed, always clean, and they had 'new clothes' to wear that fit well. The even better news was that the bargain find at a garage sale or thrift store, or the 'freebies' I received from friends met every need and kept me on target with my budget! My friends saw a need, reached out and met it as best they could, even blessing my kiddos with new things from time to time!

The needs we have are oftentimes not spoken, though. It is as though we keep them all bundled up inside, afraid if we told God what we needed or desired, he might just 'turn us down'. I am sure we have all felt that way from time to time - as though our need or desire were something God would never 'agree to meet' in our lives. There is no need or desire that God considers insignificant, yet there are different ways he meets each one of them. We have to learn to trust God to meet them in the way he knows to be best for us. Just ask - openly, honestly, and without fear. He isn't going to laugh in your face! He might just show you how magnificently he has prepared to meet that need, but was just waiting for your to ask! Yes, there are times when we ask and we don't 'receive' right then and there, or exactly as we might have imagined we'd receive the answer. When I was younger, I asked God if I could remarry at some point, and I shared honestly with him what I desired in a future mate. He never said 'no' to me, but if you know me, then you know I am still single. Did he fail to answer me, or deny my 'request'? No! He showed me ways to be content and to be a woman of integrity in my singleness. It became quite clear to me that there were things I was preparing to do that I knew nothing of when I was younger that would have been harder to do if I were remarried. I can honestly say I never regretted not remarrying - I am grateful in my singleness and content to allow him to use me as he desires.

Ask God - be direct - don't beat around the bush. He has ways of meeting our needs way beyond our imagining. He delights in hearing our desires and contrary to what you may think, he doesn't always fulfill our desires exactly as we ask, but he has ways of fulfilling them that might just prove to be way more fulfilling in the end. We might think we have to bargain with him, but he reminds us there is no 'bargaining' in this relationship with him - it is open, direct, and free communication. Just a reminder here - he doesn't chase us down to give into our demands. He might just stand there and watch us walk away from our demand. It isn't that he doesn't love us - it is that he loves us too much to give us everything we demand! Just sayin!

Dogeared Pages

Most kids today don't have a clue what a Sears or J.C. Penney's catalog looked like. They have immediate shopping options via the World Wide Web, making these bound 'manuals of dreams' a thing of the past. When we got the latest version of the catalog, we'd pour through it over and over again, admiring the latest fashions, dreaming about the shiny appliances promising to make our life easier, and finding out just how 'empty' our toy boxes were in comparison to what was displayed within those pages. If it wasn't in the catalog, you never knew it existed. The catalog was the place you turned when you were in need of something. Yet, it wasn't 'complete', was it? You couldn't buy your groceries through the Sears catalog, nor could you buy a horse, cow, or goat (at least I don't think you could). As "complete" as that catalog was, it didn't contain all we needed. It just made it convenient to find basic things. The more complex things often required us to look further and in different places. Wouldn't it have been nice to have a true 'one-stop' experience with all we were in need of right there at our fingertips? "IN CHRIST" we have everything we need - no further away than the welcoming words, "Come, Lord Jesus".

For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power. (Colossians 2:9-10 TLB)

There are moments when we all look elsewhere for whatever it is we need in life. We seek love through some form of human contact. We look for meaning in life through some career pathway. We dream of fulfillment through some 'purchased product'. All these might be worthwhile pursuits when we have made Christ the first pursuit of our lives. When these pursuits become the primary pursuit, Christ taking backseat in our lives, we find it is a little like flipping through all those pages in the catalog - there are a whole lot more unfulfilled dreams than there are fulfilled ones! There are even things we will never be able to obtain through 'pursuit' as they are gifts and not something we can 'achieve' or 'obtain'. If we are honest here, we might even say we have found ourselves 'having', but not really 'enjoying'. We have 'obtained' lots and lots of things and have not even taken the time to 'enjoy' them fully. How much more can we say we have been 'given much' in Christ Jesus that we have never even experienced yet?

It is hard to come to the place of turning away from what we have fixed our attention toward for so long, but as with the catalog, we sometimes need to just put those things down and look around at what it is we already have! We might not 'have' all our mind can conceive, but what we do have far outweighs whatever it is that is attracting our attention at the moment. IN CHRIST, we have ALL of God in a human form - we have EVERYTHING when we have Christ. Those words are powerful because they tell us it isn't about us 'getting more' - it is about us learning to live with what we have been given! To enjoy fully the things we now possess IN CHRIST and learn how to appreciate what a privileged position we have in him. Christ fills the pages of our lives - he isn't found in the pages of a dogeared catalog. Yet, there is much we will desire more and more of as we experience him fully. We will find it isn't long before he 'marks' his place in our lives much like we marked those pages in the 'wish book' catalog. We are given more than we could ever pursue - so why do we spend so much time and effort on pursuits that are fleeting? Just askin!

What are you doing with those needs?

For a great many of us, prayer is a kind of "hey, God, it is me again" approach. We find ourselves going to him repeatedly for much the same thing, maybe laying it all out again in just a slightly different manner, but doing so because we just "need" something that only he can provide. There are also times when we simply pussy-foot around the whole matter that is niggling at our brains and pulling at our heartstrings because we aren't entirely comfortable talking to him about it. Regardless of our reluctance to actually lay those things out before him openly and honestly, he knows what they are, so all our pussy-footing around isn't really helping the matter. There is just something that comes when we are open, direct, and totally honest with ourselves and him in prayer - it is often referred to as "he answers"!

Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body." (Matthew 8:1-2)

Somehow, we have learned that we cannot be forthright with God about our needs, fears, hopes, etc. We have developed a skill of "sugar-coating" them, or not even presenting them to him at all. Either way, we are denying God exactly what he wants to do! God is delighted to take care of us - not just in meeting every one of our "wants" we might lay out before him without issue, but also in meeting those "needs" we may not be quite comfortable discussing with him at first. Jesus' immediate response back to the leper was a hearty, "You betcha, I wanna!" The man was made whole again - no sign of his leprosy! I wonder just how much time we allow to go by with unmet spiritual, emotional, and physical needs simply because we don't lay it out there before God. When we are honest with God, he has a chance to be involved in our lives as he desires to be.

Let me just say that we may have a difficult time at first trying to decipher between our "wants" and our "needs" as we approach God in prayer. Yet, if we are forthright about both in our times with God, he will sort them out! The leper had been living with a disease that separated him from his family, friends, and his worship. His healing was more than physical - it restored him in so many ways. Jesus did not look at this fellow and say, "Now, Mr. Leper Man, is this really a need?" Nope, he saw the man's faith and he responded with a resounding, "I wanna do that for you!" - and he healed him.  Here's the thing - if you "wanna" grow in your relationship with God, then he wants to help you grow. If we "wanna" be free of our fears, then he wants to help us develop the faith to trust him with what it is we are fearful of in our lives. If we "wanna" let go of ill feelings toward another, then he wants to help us get out from under the burden of carrying all that baggage. If we "wanna" new SUV when the old one is still in awesome condition, God may not see that as a need at the moment - we already have something that is blessing us with faithful transportation right now - so the answer may be that we need to wait.

Isn't it time that we start laying it all out before God, allowing him to sort through the needs and the wants in our lives. The desire of God's heart is that we come to him with the faith to give him what it is that is on (and in) our heart - those things that burden us, keep us bound, and chew up so much of our attention trying to "fix" or "live with" them. He wants to meet our needs - we just have to "wanna" give them to him! Just sayin!

Do I really want this?

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.  (Matthew 5:6) There are various types of hunger and desire. We have "appetites" for different things at different times in our day. We don't necessarily want a bag of M&Ms for breakfast, but by our two-o'clock slump we might fancy them - then again, I have been known to down one for breakfast! There are times we eat just because the clock says it is time to eat, or the opportunity is before us. There are other times when we work so intently, caught up in the task at hand, only breaking to find nourishment when we finally realize an intense sense of hunger and fatigue in our bodies. There is appetite and hunger - both pretty similar in meaning. APPETITE: An inherent craving. A preference. A taste for something. That which we strive after. HUNGER: A craving, or urgent need, for that which will satisfy. A longing.

Then there is this little idea of a craving. CRAVING: Something that you earnestly desire. That which we yearn for. A strong inward desire. DESIRE: A longing or hope. A conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction once attained. All these words have something in common - the urgency of attaining that which will satisfy. They focus on what it is that we desire - what we believe will provide us with a sense of reward or satisfaction. We all know that we can be "hungry" for all the wrong things. We also know that changing our mindset (and our "heart-set") to desire things that are good for us is a little more difficult at times. There are several things that we need to ask God to give us a true "desire" for in our lives if we are to grow up into well-rounded believers - but we need to be open to having those desires met by him, as well.

Discipline - we need to begin by asking for the desire to have our lives trained in such a way that we see correction of negative behavior and attitudes as something we need rather than something we dread. We need the "mold" to be changed - and to be truthful here, this only comes through discipline. Along with discipline, we need to be equipped. Equipping - we need to learn how to find our own nourishment from God's Word instead of always having to be fed from the hands of another. This is really the desire to be pursue both God's provisions and his promises - in order that we would be "fit" for service and action. It is fine to be fed, but when we do a little toward the preparation of what it is we partake in, we sometimes value it a little more.

We all want to realize a place of satisfaction in our lives, but we seldom realize that the greatest satisfaction is found in the place of our lives being sanctified (made holy) by our God. As we desire to grow in the grace of God, truly being set apart as an example of his grace, we develop an intense longing to be free of the sin that clutters our lives. We all probably want a sense of closeness with our Savior. This desire is really for "contact" with our Lord - there is a need to know him, but also to be known by him. With this desire for contact comes this idea of renewal or refreshing. Contact with our Savior makes for an open pathway that leads into places where we are deeply touched and constantly renewed. We all need times of inner renewal or a refreshing of our spirit man. There is a desire to be vitally connected with God - so that we are renewed (made fresh) each day.

Enlightenment - we all want to "be in the know" as it comes to the things God is doing and showing us. With illumination comes exposure - this is the rub. We want to know much more than we are willing to expose ourselves - we need to have this desire expanded in our lives if we are to really have our 'appetite' for the things of God expanded and fully met. We may not know the true value of our hunger until we experience the results of having that hunger truly satisfied. I know from personal experience, I can eat and eat in the physical sense, all the while just not having whatever it was that I was really craving truly satisfied. The problem is that I have failed to recognize the specific craving - it was probably not really for chocolate, but for an apple! We need God to begin to show us what it is that we really are craving in our lives and then begin to trust him to meet those cravings out of the storehouse of his love and goodness. Where the cravings aren't going to satisfy, he will help us to change them to the ones that will! Just sayin!

You hungry?

Most of us want things to turn out 'all right' in life. We strive for this outcome - not really wanting to endure any type of failure at all. Why? Failure isn't comfortable - it costs us something - we don't always regroup after it very well. Have you ever been accused of taking life too seriously - of being 'too afraid' to fail? Guess what...when someone tells you that you take life seriously, they are actually paying you a high compliment! According to scripture, taking life seriously is something that will find you a great reward, significant honor, and integrity that stands the test of time. I have been told on more than one occasion that I am way too intense about life - I am not afraid to fail, but I like to think things through before I take that first step - making others think I am just a little bit scared of the next steps. I guess that it really doesn't bother me - in fact, rather than being put off by that insight, I want to continue to have that intensity without putting people off by it - I want to be cautious when I need to be and bold when it is time for me to take those steps God asks me to take.

It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.  (Proverbs 16:20)

Quiet reflection is often the "norm" for a believer who is given to "taking life seriously". They have those dedicated and consistent times of reflection - times to think things through and run them through the various "filters" they have been given by God's Spirit, the Word, and those times of prayerful consideration at the feet of Jesus. Sometimes people interpret this kind of "reflective" time as delaying a response, or not being concerned about what is going on in their life. It is most often that time we take to gather our thoughts, allowing God to give us the right answers to even the toughest of questions that help us make decisions in a more 'decided' fashion and with absolute certainty (faith).

God is in the business of examining motives. Whatever motivates us is the object or person that has captivated out attention and drives our actions. We are moved by that which maintains our focus the most. That's why God focuses on motives so much - getting at the heart of the matter in our daily choices means he can begin to point out to us where focus is in need of a little adjusting. He asks for serious reflection on what it is that "has our focus" - because it also has our heart. He desires to be the only one that has our heart - therefore, he examines our heart so frequently.

There is much to be gained in reflective times. In the intensity of life, there are times of refreshing that are needed. The path of the upright leads away from evil - they have learned to follow a different path. This is not because a Christian is perfect, but because their heart has been captivated by Christ, thereby affecting their focus and intent. This affected focus ends up impacting motives, and keeping us from wrong paths - those choices that would otherwise be made in the haste of the moment. Hunger drives us to the kitchen - desire drives us to prepare the meal - passion drives us to consume it for all the enjoyment we will derive from that meal. We need all three!

I wonder if we really know the value of what makes us "hungry" for more of God's grace, "desirous" of times alone in his presence, or "passionate" about giving all in service to him. This type of "intensity" doesn't happen accidentally - it is a choice made because of a hungry heart. Becoming what God desires begins with hunger. Hunger actually makes our focus more 'acute'. We may not recognize the value of our hunger until we begin to experience the desire for more of God! Just sayin!