Pursuing Jesus

I read Ecclesiastes 1 during my Quiet Time yesterday, and it hit me that I have been feeling this sense of vanity that Solomon is talking about. He talks about the natural world going on while man labors, then is gone like the wind. He says that nothing is new. He says that what is crooked cannot be made straight. With everything going on right now- Corona, the government and media feeding our fear, wondering if this is the begining of Revelation or will things "calm back down", the hate and fear being spread by different groups rallying for different lives that matter- while simultaneously cheering and voting for the murder of unborn babies, children being sold and traded for sex- even infants! My heart is heavy with the hurt. With the pain. With the longing of knowing what awaits in forever with Jesus. And while I look around and wish for Jesus to come back right now- I also hesitate- knowing that the reason He is waiting is because He doesn't desire any to ...

Receive.   This is the word that the Lord brought to mind when I was praying about my “word of the year.” And my heart rebelled. I couldn’t have that word. I needed a word that required action- something that I could do for Him. My heart was to serve Him. That was the route I was already on. The year before I had followed Him from Virginia to Oregon to intern at Crystal Peaks. While I was there I felt His leading to move to NY. I drove back to Virginia, not knowing if I was going to be staying for a while or moving right away. Ten months later I moved to NY and worked at a Christian summer camp, not knowing what I would be doing job wise when I finished at the camp. I started teaching Sunday school at my church and started a small group with a couple friends. All of these things were actions on my part. Me following the Lord’s leading. So where did this “receive” come in? I was ready to do!   But Abba knew my heart. He knew how tired and thirsty my soul was for Him. I...