54: Summer Thoughts and the Culmination of the Challenges
Bible Contest
For those who have been keeping track of your Family Worship Times and your Individual Bible Readings from January 1 to June 30, log into the website and enter your tallies. I think we have the bugs worked out. If you have any difficulty with this process, you can email your totals to me at spdemme@gmail.com
Summer Thoughts
I trust your summer will not be routine. I hope you will have an opportunity to get away and do life differently for a few days. In May my wife and I scheduled a few days to be alone and celebrate our 35th anniversary. We had time to walk, to reminisce, to ride bikes, and even have a horse drawn taxi ride. It was a slow and restful time.
One afternoon, while Sandi was visiting the art museum and the shops, I headed for the historical sites. On the way, I stopped at an old church and found my way to a pew where I sat quietly and read the scripture over the altar. The Lord is in His Holy Temple.
The complete scripture is found in Habbakuk 2:20 The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.
I sat in silence before my God and listened. As I focused on God and His presence, several phrases formed in my mind.
He sees me.
He knows me.
He made me.
He loves me.
He likes me.
I invested several minutes pondering each sentence. As I meditated on these truths, a stillness and a calm came over me and fed my spirit.
Last night I was kayaking on a small lake. I paddled to the center and just sat there watching the sun go down and drinking in the stillness. I am learning to be still, and know that God is God. Psalm 46:10
If I were home, I would be working, or doing a chore, or checking my email, or looking for updates on Facebook. But in different surroundings, with a new schedule, or none at all, I have found time to rest in the Lord and reconnect with Him.
I hope you each find similar times this summer. And regardless of our circumstances, may we each know that God is in His holy temple, be still, and feed on His presence.
Steve
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