My Epic Journey

v.12 ‘Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.‘

My desire is to be blessed by God.  I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy?  I often talk to high schoolers who are looking for happiness.  I myself and always looking for what will make me happy.  And if I can be hones, my main pusuit to find happiness is in a materialistic approach.  Such as, more money, more toys and better vehicles for example.

But I must give myself some credit.  I am not entirely materialistic.  I also fell like the more I am around my family and invest in them, the happier I will be.  Though that may be a great thought it is not a ‘God’ thought.

God wants me to know that the only thing that will truly make me happy is to rest in Him.  When I am fearful, I must rest in Him.  When I am anxious, I must rest in Him.  When I need fulfillment, I must rest in Him.

I must learn to ALWAYS rest in God!

I have a niece who is three years old.  She is a princess.  The only problem is, this past week we found out she is a very sick princess.  Our family vacation came to a screeching halt when we received a call from my brother informing us that his only child was just diagnosed with leukemia.  Just in the past couple of days she has had three chemo treatments, two blood tranfusions, but best of all–hundreds of people praying for her.

I am writing this to ask your help as well.  Please pray for her and my bother and sister-in-law as they now go through this unthinkable situation.  I know they and I would greatly appreciate it.

‘He is like a tree’ (v. 3)

This phrase reminds me of when I try to convince my wife that I am a ‘rock’–that I am a big and muscular and that nothing phases me.  She knows better than that and usually returns by saying that I am a ‘big, squishy rock.’

I do desire to be a tree though.  A spiritual tree that stands the test of time.

Growing up on Nolte Street in Indianapolis, IN, I remember a big sycamore tree in the backyard.  It stood alone.  I was amazed that after every storm the tree still stood tall.  Now it might have had some scars on it such as a branch that was knocked down by the wind but the tree was still there.

Iwant to be that kind of tree.  I want to be able to withstand the storms and pressures of this life.  I want to come out of life’s battles still standing strong.  But not only that, I want to be producing fruit in the process.  My desire is that others see in me a desire to stand strong for God and as a result are compelled to look unto and into Him.

I want to be a Psalm 1 tree!

“Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.“               –Matthew 5.16