Psalm 27

PSALM 27:
"...that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his holy temple."

I was in Psalms this morning and this particular verse spoke to my heart. When I graduated highschool I had a preeeettttty cool teen dream for my life... I would be married by age 23. Have kids shortly after. I'd take pictures for cute lifestyle magazines (only a few times a month) (because I would be way too busy homeschooling, duh) ... I'd live on a 'farm' and have some cuuuteee baby animals, a family band, music playing nonstop throughout the house, windows open, garden growing, pies cooling.. Cute, right? All of us get captured by what we want, what we feel, and what we have determined we need.

We are worshippers. We're always living for something. Something is always laying claim to the affection and rulership of our hearts. Something is commanding our dreams. There's something we look to give us identity, meaning, and purpose. The Bible says that there are two choices: (Romans 1:25) You're living in pursuit of the creation or the Creator. You're looking for your satisfaction and meaning in the created world or you're finding it in the Lord.

So in Psalm 27 we see this amazing beauty. What's David's dream for his life? He says, "I want to spend my life in worship of the Lord. I want to dwell in his temple and gaze upon his beauty." The shekinah glory presence of the Lord filled the holy place of the temple, like a cloud. It was a physical picture of God dwelling with his people. David was saying, "I want to be where God is. I want to do what I was created to do."

His plan and pursuit is for a life that's shaped and directed by daily worship of the Lord. David knows who he is; a creature created for worship. He knows who God is: the only 'thing' in the universe that's truly worthy of worship. His dream is the greatest that could ever be.

We cant see the things we will do in ten years. We can't dream of what all God is going to do through us. He's placed us in the exact right places to teach us what we need. Going through broken relationships, family stress, sickness, discouragement, insecurity, seasons of joy, celebrations, encouragement...they're all teaching us. We simply have to be faithful to the task or situation at hand. Just like David who probably thought 'Is this all my life will be... just a shepherd boy?'... not knowing down the road the huge battles he would win with God.

♥

Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls on the Natchez Trace. Wandered miles through pretty winding trails and up steep hills and could see the most amazing Tennessee countryside forever & ever. Past the animal sounds and the most beautiful falling water, it was the sweetest quiet I've ever known. There's something that feels so right about being among these majestic things. Moments that make my heart sing to the one whose hands formed them.

He holds in His hands the depths of the earth, and the mightiest of mountains. The sea belongs to Him, for He made it. His hands formed the dry land too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, for He is our God!
 
                                                                                         -Psalm 95

little lady

Avery's 4th birthday was this past week! Such a fun week! We took a day trip to the childrens zoo, fed some goats, pet a snake, sat and watched the sea lions underwater for-ev-er, rode like every single ride there, and relived every last bit of my little girlhood. This was the same zoo I went to growing up!  Nostalgia nostalgia.
Then we had a pb&j lunch and came home and opened presents from me! This girl is too precious. She says the sweetest things at the most random times. Or tells some cute story. The other day she said "You know, when humpty dumpty fell off the wall and broke himself, God came and fixed him! He healed him right Liz? Because God can heal us when we get hurt!"....  So sweet.

♥

love in Africa

My heart is exploding with joy at seeing what my beloved friends are doing in Uganda!!
These pink totes were just in my living room a few days ago and now on the arms of these incredible ladies! Love it! Of all the places in the world I wish I could be right now, it would be serving the Lord alongside my friends here. So many tears seeing these women rejoice at getting BIBLES! I cannot get over their smiles!! Thank you Lord for the gift of introducing the Kwagala Project to my prayer life, for your faithful loves who travel to the ends of the earth to share your beauty, and for the hearts of these women who desire your word so eagerly. Such a wonderful beautiful way to start my Saturday.

♥ Liz

(photos by: Jade Metz)