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.

♥

A couple instagram shots from my wild 11 hour day today! Woosh! This little lovie is Avery. Look at those pink converse! She's 3.5 and a ball of wonderful. The Lord provided this precious opportunity to help out this amazing family in town...which means I get to hangout with cool kids all day! It's been the sweetest time getting to know them and encouraging them. My day today consisted of: singing in the car, watching sprout, fingerpainting, reading stories, playing in the park, shooting baskets, peanut butter and jellies, bird watching, flower picking, and trying to prevent multiple meltdowns from a girl who wouldn't take a nap. So awesome! And the part that I love the most is that we get to talk about Jesus. The other day in the car Avery said out of nowhere: "Jesus and God live in my heart, but Jesus's friends can't... not enough room in there, sorry!"....Oh my word, so dang cute! And today she fingerpainted the story of when Jesus calmed the storms and told me all about it! So grateful for her little heart that loves to talk about these things!

love

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

                                               -Philippians 2:1-2

I love this chapter so much. Paul is in effect saying 'the attitude of mind I have been urging on you is exactly that of Christ himself.' Christ who provides our encouragement, comfort of love, and fellowship of the Spirit. Who fills us with all joy. Be unified in Him. Keep the bond of love by being of one mind (for the Lord). Not warring against one other. Not complaining about each other or being resentful over the silliest things. Treat others as more important than yourself, consider their needs first. Have a spirit of meekness and peace; gentleness; patience; building one another up in love! Thinking not on self, but on Christ, who emptied himself. Who came not to be served, but to serve. So beautiful.