6 Core Longings of the Soul

Psalm 42:1

As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

The night of our grandchild’s birth in Australia we were 9675 miles away in Belize.

We had to settle for online updates through Messenger and Whatsapp.

I cried and prayed all through the night as we waited for the next message to arrive.

She was 9 months old before we could afford plane tickets to Australia. And it’s been two years since we last held her in our arms.

We don’t long for the things we have right near us.

We long for those things we are distant from.

We long for those things we don’t have.

According to Robert Shaw the core longings of our souls are: love, safety, understanding, belonging, purpose, and significance.

As I considered each of the six longings I found myself asking questions and searching for the answers in His word.

Love:
Does God love me?

Psalm 23:6                                                                            "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."

Answer: YES. God’s unfailing love pursues me!

Safety:
Will God keep me safe?

Psalm 18:2

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."

Answer: YES. He’s my shield and a place of safety for me!

Understanding:
Does God get what I’m going through?

Psalm 147:5

"How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!"

Answer: YES. Nobody's understanding comes close to His!

Belonging:

Do I fit in God's Kingdom?

Psalm 100:3                                                    "Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture."

Answer: YES. He made me and I belong to Him!

Purpose:

Does God have a purpose for me?

                                                                                                      

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Answer: YES. He planned work for me before I was created!                                                

                      

Significance:
Am I significant in God’s eyes?

1 Peter 2:5

"And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."

Answer: YES. I am being built into the temple of God!

No matter what culture you come from, what ethnic group you belong to, what your age is, or what gender you are, these core longings exist in every human spirit.

Many of us try over and over to get these longings fulfilled through emotional attachments with people. But we continue feeling unfulfilled because our spiritual longings cannot be filled by earthy sources, they can only be fulfilled by God.

There are answers in the Word to meet

the deepest desires of our souls.

Dig into the soil of His word to deepen your knowledge of Him so that He can meet all of the longings of your heart!

Word of the Week: Adventure

We were going the wrong way but we didn’t know it yet.

What began as a shopping trip ended with an angelic intervention.

Or at least that’s my explanation of our afternoon ride.

A detailed map of the Krasnodar, Russia public transportation system was of no help to us as our eyes alternated between looking at the map and looking out the windows.

Silently praying that a familiar landmark would show us that we were on the right track; my thoughts drifted.

Back home in California we would go for drives on the freeways. If we missed an exit I would tell my little ones that we were on an adventure.

Years ago that was my way of keeping my kids and myself calm as I retraced our path to get back on track.

As they grew older ‘adventure’ became a code word for being lost.

And I was just about to admit to Spencer that we were lost.

A few gentle taps my shoulder made me look up from the map.

“Excuse me.”

Glancing his direction I noticed an outstretched hand gesturing to the map.

I pass it to him.

He looked it over, then looked up at me, “where are you going?”

“The bus terminal near Turgeneva and Gagarina”

Nodding once while politely handing back the map, “You must get off the bus right now, go back 2 blocks and wait for the number 6 bus going the other way.”

Suddenly, the bus came to a halt.

A woman’s voice cried out that we needed to go across to the other side of the street.

Time appeared to stand still as they debated.

Finally, repeating the instructions as I understood them the entire bus, it seemed, yelled out their agreement.

In tandem we jumped up, gathered our belongings, thanked everyone, and exited the bus.

Racing across the street in silence, carefully counting each block, we arrived just in time to catch the correct bus.

Once Spencer and I had a chance to catch our breath we looked at one another to check our reality.

My eyes were glazed over and my heart was still racing. “They were all speaking Russian, right?”

“Yeah, but, I understood it in English.”

Grateful that my teenager heard what I heard I exhaled and acknowledge with relief, “Me too.”

We made it home safely within a half hour but that miraculous moment has remained with me to this day.

We’d been in Russia a few weeks at that point. We had no knowledge of numbers or directions. And yet, as we listened to a language we didn’t fully understand, the Holy Spirit translated those words as they hit our ears.

I’m grateful that God’s power is not limited by language.

As I reflect on this memory it serves as a reminder that He’s still there.

How has He been there for you?

Write down those moments and give God praise for His unfailing love that reaches every corner of the world!

Word for the Week: Celebrate!

We can never see the sunrise

by looking toward the west.

Japanese Proverb

With all that is happening in the world it may be difficult to find reasons to celebrate. We need the sunrise to remind us of hope. And it is hope that gives us a reason to rejoice.

Belize received its independence on September 21, 1981. However, the celebrations and decorations begin as soon as the calendar changes from August to September.

Seven years ago we arrived in Belize on September 6th to witness the country of Belize already decked out and decorated in red, white, and blue in anticipation of the holidays to come.

We have been present for Independence Day in several different countries. And the one thing that is uniquely Belizean from my perspective is that Belize doesn’t wait until the day of celebration to start celebrating. And it made me think that we shouldn’t wait for a reason to celebrate either!

Why celebrate?

Because of LIFE:

Life is short. Each breath, each moment, and each heartbeat is a cause for celebration!

Everyone will experience ups and downs in life but the more you praise, give thanks, and rejoice in spite of your circumstances the more you will find to praise, give thanks, and rejoice over!

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and His life brought light to everyone.

John 1:4

This life is filled with enough Light for everyone. But, if you’re not looking for it you will miss out! The sun rises in the east not the west. Turn your head the other direction and look to Him for reasons to celebrate the life you are living in this moment.

Ponder the path of your feet. Are they leading you toward or away from the Light? It’s never too late to turn around and run the other way and begin to celebrate life.

Why celebrate?

Because of LOVE:

Love is priceless. If you find it embrace it, cherish it, nurture it. Never take love for granted.

Loneliness can be a deadly disease but those who are blessed with loving relationships can survive the harshest of conditions.

Four years ago on September 21st our son married the love of his life and we gained a daughter-in-love. We celebrate their love because it brings joy to our hearts to see two souls in love with God and in love with each other.

Our family has expanded to include a granddaughter and we rejoice each time we see her face or hear her laughter. There is hope, life, joy, and a sense that all is right with the world knitted within the laughter of of a child.  

Who are the loved ones who bring a smile to your lips and joy to your heart? Give God thanks for them right now. Hand write them a letter or speak the words face to face.

Living in another country away from our extended family is hard at times. We’ve missed out on many special occasions large and small over the past 12 years of missionary life.

As I get older I realize that my family in the states has gotten older as well. Tom and I made it a point to express our love and appreciation verbally to my 98 year old grandmother last October. The three of us cried together and spoke words normally reserved for a funeral. I’m grateful that Tom got the ball rolling on that conversation. It is a priceless moment to think back on and cherish.

Why celebrate?

Because of CHRIST!

In Hebrews there is a passage that speaks to me as a reason for celebration and gives a picture of a great celebration to come.

Hebrews 12:1-3 says,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

There is a great crowd of witnesses cheering us on! We can endure to the end no matter how long our race is. Christ is our example as He endured the shame and pain of the cross to redeem us from sin. Each time I wonder, “why celebrate?” God whispers in my heart, “what about Me?”.

I pray that you will hear His whispers of the heart and look to Him for a reason to rejoice.

Make a list each day of one reason to be grateful for life, one reason to be grateful for love, and one reason to be grateful for Christ in your life.

Begin today to truly value and celebrate life, love, and our Eternal Source of Hope, Jesus Christ!

Wednesday's Word

Do you have a favorite word? Or a word that you tend to use more than others. My word is 'awesome'. I think I use it at least 10 times a day. My husband, children, and grandchildren of course, are awesome. The cinnamon rolls I make are awesome, a friend tells me what happened to her and that’s awesome, I see a video or read I book and then describe those things as awesome.

• Awesome: extremely impressive or daunting;
• inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear.
• 
  

As I was going through Psalms I came across this passage in Psalm 47:2 "For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth."

As I read I smile when I notice my favorite word! The Lord Most High is indeed totally awesome. I can say that, sing that, and pray that without fear that I’m using the word incorrectly.

God is AWESOME!

God speaks to us in words that can profoundly touch the heart. Stop and listen to His word for you. Pray, read, meditate, and hear what word God lays on your heart this week. Perhaps it’s one that you use all the time but you just need for Him to unveil it in a different way. And He will do that for you, because that’s just how awesome He is!

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Running with Pearls

Many years ago I had to take a vocal performance class when I was studying at the University of California in Irvine. It required getting up in front of everyone, singing, and then listening to the instructor's critique. Students were also allowed to write their observations and give them to you as well. And yes, it was as horrifying as it sounds!

Constructive criticism is nurturing and helps you to grow. It shouldn't tear you down and leave you unable to move on. I suppose it depends on your personal strength. There were days when I was not strong enough to take in what I needed to hear. But, slowly I grew a tougher skin. I accepted that singing pretty was not enough to truly capture the heart and soul of a song. I stood up and I sang my heart out and then I listened. Not just for the applause that came after the performance but for the "this is what you did well", "this is what you need to work on", and "this is what will help you get better".

One critique still readily comes to mind when I practice. I was told that my notes were too choppy in one section. She suggested that I close my eyes and picture each note connected to the next like an elegant strand of pearls being slowly and gracefully pulled from my mouth revealing each pearl as part of a seamless string offered up to each listener.

Pearls.

I love pearls. Literally and figuratively.

I have a devotional time each morning before I go out to run. Wisdom from God, pearls, I call them, gleaned from the Word, that fill my heart and sometimes transform into song while I meditate on them as I put in the miles for the day.

I have fallen a few times when I've gone out to run. It's taken a while to get back out there consistently. This past week I actually put in 9 miles of running and 2 miles of walking. I am committed to not letting the pain the of past keep me from moving forward. Another pearl in the set that He has hand designed for me.

My desire is to share the pearls I've discovered in the form of God inspired music. I've been on an extended journey through Psalms and am gathering up gems for my next project.

I've put off writing here on the blog for a few months because I felt the need to be still and be quiet in God's presence before I could share again. Now as I am back in the recording studio I feel compelled to talk about the pearls. And to run. I hope you'll join me and find your own strand of pearls to give as a gift from Him to the world.  Let's run this race together. Gathering pearls and sharing them along the journey!

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Blessings to you!

  

Thought for Today

Not long after our puppy, Sabaka, came to live with us, I was sitting outside with my Bible doing a study on brokenness. I stopped for a bit to watch her play. She chased coconuts, ate leaves, and ran around the yard finding treasures. In between each action she would come back to me and I would pet her and shower her with love.

As I sit today in sorrow over the loss of her life to parvo, I am also reminiscing over those moments in the yard observing her play. It calls to mind how I am with God at times. I start reading my Bible and decide to get a drink. In the kitchen as I wait for my teapot to come to a boil I pick up my phone and check Facebook. As I check on what my friends are up to I come across a video to watch...and so on. When I finally get back to my Bible study, time is growing short and I have lost my train of thought with all the distractions.

God didn't move.
He didn't get sidetracked.
I did.

How I long to sit at His feet and be loved on by Him. But O, how hard it is somedays to stay put long enough to hear His voice and feel His presence!

I'm grateful for the brief time we had with our pup. I have photos, memories, and lessons gleaned from her short life.

Like her brief life...our lives are like a flower quickly fading. May we be found hungering and thirsting for more of Him. May we have steadfast and prepared hearts that are set on praising Him. May our souls awake to His presence. And may we acknowledge the greatness of His love and the magnitude of His faithfulness.

#FromBrokennessToBeautiful #MakeMeHoly

Follow Hard After Him

According to Matthew Henry following hard speaks of "a very earnest desire and a serious vigorous endeavor to keep up communion with God".

How frequently do our involvements, even good ones, take us away from communion with Him? I know I am guilty. There have been times that my earnest desire to be with Him alone is derailed by getting caught up in checking messages, or Facebook, or my to-do list. I've been guilty of 'worshiping' problems, or fixating on a loved one's situation, or committing to another ministry opportunity, or obsessing on what is going on in the news from around the world and along the way I lose my focus on Him and I realize I have gone my own way and am not following hard after Him.

Following hard is a calling.

  Following hard is a way of life.    

Following hard is a daily commitment.  

My desire is to follow Him wholeheartedly, unreservedly, with determination.

I want to be filled and saturated by Him.  

I want to worship Him with my whole being.

I want to follow hard after Him.  

When I run I notice my surroundings.  All around me is life.  The trees, birds, people, animals, and plants, that I pass all cause me to think about life. Specifically life in Him. Life because of Him. In the evenings as the sun is setting the splendor of Him Who sits on the throne overwhelms me.  God's paintbrush coats the sky with brilliant orange-gold fire that causes me to breathe deep with wonder.  And all I can do in response is give Him praise. Praise helps me to follow Him. Praise helps me to keep my eyes on Him and off of my self or my situation.

Matthew Henry also says "those that follow hard after God would soon fail and faint if God's right hand did not uphold them." As the year winds down and Christmas approaches let us look to the divine power of God to hold us up and strengthen us as we determine to cling ever more closely and follow more passionately... indeed following hard, after Him.

Hallelujah Anyhow!

Have you ever had to pray and praise your way through a hard time?

That's what Paul and Silas teach us to do in Acts 16:16-26.

In fact their worship time was so strong it caused an earthquake powerful enough to open the doors and make everyone's shackles fall off!







Today I'm speaking at a worship workshop and my topic is:

Broken Along the Way

As I was preparing my notes a song that my Aunt Betty used to sing back in the day at our little church in Wichita, Kansas came to mind. It's called 'Hallelujah Anyhow'. I believe that God is able to redeem our circumstances. He can replace our doubts, fears, and frustrations with love, compassion, and gratitude, And He can refine us by polishing our rough edges to make us shine like stars in the darkness so that we reflect His glory. I'm still working on praying and praising my way through pain and heartache. And this lesson from Paul and Silas and this song are helping me along this path.

Give it a listen clicking below...I hope it inspires you as much as it does me!