Yesterday was the first day of Spring and I, for one, am ecstatic. I was definitely not made for winter. I survive winter and thrive in summer.
I can’t wait to plant my garden next month and peel back the cover on the pool—even if it is only halfway full because of an apparent hole in the liner. I can’t wait until the grass looks like something other than hay. I want to sweat in the car and complain 32 times a day to someone, “It is SO HOT. I can’t even breathe outside.” Seriously. Can’t wait.
I don’t know if you’ve felt it where you live but I can feel summer coming on. We’ve had some warm days over 70 and plants are starting to bloom. It’s coming.
This morning I was reading in my Valley of Vision book. Please don’t take me for more spiritually disciplined than I am. I’ve only been consistent for two days now. But I’m trying, as part of a new growth plan thing I want to tell you about soon, to read it every morning.
Today’s prayer was about the goodness of God and it struck me so hard that I stopped reading and did one of those Selah things from Psalms. You know where “Selah” is written out to the side and you’re supposed to stop and meditate on what you just read? Yeah, it was one of those moments.
It is an amazing thing to see Deity in a creature, speaking, acting, filling, shining through it;
That nothing is good but thee,
That I am near good when I am near thee,
That to be like thee is a glorious thing:
This is my magnet, my attraction.
I don’t often assign the word “Deity” to God. When I think of deities I think of the Roman and Greek gods we studied in school.
I started thinking about how our true God really did come in a creature, speaking and acting. And isn’t it amazing what kind of God he is? Some gods were too full of themselves to look away from their reflection, some were consumed with war and others, art. I’m not suggesting they were real. In fact, these are the very gods that those in the New Testament were trying to say were not real.
I just imagined if we had studied about Jesus in the same way and what we’d say about our God. He’s so loving and cares about the least of these and patient and slow to anger and just so darn good.
As I’ve been praying that God shows me how much he loves me, one day he just whispered to me, “I died for you, Amy, how else can I show you?”
Selah.
Isn’t that overwhelming? That our God, the one true God, when he came in a creature he loved us so much he died for us. Who, especially a deity, does that?
And so, that last line, “This is my magnet, my attraction,” communicates so much about how I’ve been feeling lately.
Just as spring is coming on, I feel like God is doing something new in me. I have this renewed sense of urgency to know him better. It’s just as it says, like a magnet. I’m drawn to him. It’s unexplainable and without logic but I am. I want to be so engulfed in him that it’s like summer and I say I can’t breathe! I want to be fully in his presence and overwhelmed with his love.
So I probably sound like that Jesus Freak T-shirt I wear and that’s ok with me. I think I’m done trying to pretend I’m not.
This is my magnet, my attraction.
Sort of a sidenote, but I know someone with a granddaughter named Selah. I knew it was biblical, but couldn’t recall the exact meaning and always intended to look it up. How beautiful!
Such a pretty name! There’s a Christian music group named Selah as well. If you know Angie Smith the blogger/author, her husband is in it. Since Psalms were actually songs, they say it’s most likely a break in the music where you’d pause to listen or think.
Love this! I feel something stirring in me, too. And I am going to start reading I and II Kings again because it’s been AGES and The Bible series has really brought up things I have forgotten or have been wondering if they portrayed accurately. I’ve also been doing the She Reads Truth Youversion devotional on Songs of Ascent (in the Psalms) and it’s so so good. I think we are told so often how Jesus died for us (those of us who grew up in the church), that it doesn’t even phase us anymore until we slow down and really think about it. Have you ever read Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado. It’s about Good Friday and it’s just really amazing.
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No I haven’t but I’ll go put it on my list to read.
I have hated not watching The Bible since we don’t have cable but I’m hoping to go watch it at my parents soon.
I missed this past Sunday’s episode but it’s on DVR. It’s really been good and fairly accurate for the most part. Of course, they can’t show every story due to time and I really wished they would have done Jac0b and Esau and then Joseph and his brothers, but they left all of that out and went straight to Moses after Abraham. Oh, well.
Leann recently posted…2, almost 3
No Joseph?? Disappointing!
Right?
Leann recently posted…2, almost 3
WordPress is so weird sometimes. It spammed your last comment. Anyway—Right!!
Thank you for writing this. Today my heart is heavy after hearing of the sudden passing of a special lady (my friend’s mom, I’ve known for over 35 years), and the sky is grey and it is cold and everything is white outside. I am thankful I know she is now free of all he misc ailments (she was 70+) and I see the soft flakes and pure white blanket outside, but the excitement I had just the other day of spring coming has been tucked away with what is just one of life’s realities. Thank you for the photo of sunshine and clear waters, and sharing a piece of your journey. They are a good reminder of seasons in life, and God’s love for us regardless of the season or how we are feeling that day.
Hugs
Thank you for sharing that, Deb. So sorry to hear of your friend’s passing. Lots of hugs from South Carolina.
love this. i’m a jesus freak too! ha ha. i feel the stirring lately too…it prompted me to go public with my blog which is huge for me but i’m fine about it now. and i love love love the Psalms… i have another simple blog called living sober through the psalms. the way they highlight our crying out to God in petition AND praise is just so powerful to me. i’m so glad i found your blog!!!!
Awesome! I love to connect with other Jesus Freaks 🙂