Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
She climbed into our dusty Yukon with five pennies clenched in her hand and a look of accomplishment on her face. Saturday night was Clara's inauguration into the Milholland Family wages. We don't give "allowance" to our kids but do have a list of chores for which they are paid a small wage each week. At kindergarten you make 50 cents per week and then your pay escalates by a dollar per grade. Our 7th grader, as an example makes $7 each week.
Wages are distributed in increments of 10% for tithe, 20% for savings and 70% for spending. Clara's five pennies represented her first little offering to God. This is the conversation that ensued between she and her younger sister, Carynne who's four.
"Clara, why are you holding that money?"
"I'm giving it to God."
"All of it?" she asked incredulously.
"No just a couple quarters or something."
"What does God do with it? Does He give it to his wife, Mary?"
"Nah. I think He uses it to help people or something."
This conversation tells me a couple of things: 1) Clara doesn't know the difference between a penny and a quarter, 2) Carynne quite logically thinks since God is Jesus' dad and Mary is His mother that they're married, and 3) Carynne thinks Scott gives me all His money. Boy will she be surprised some day...
This little talk reminded me of my own misperceptions, especially some I've had about God. In my early days as a Christian, I couldn't understand the intimacy some people seemed to have with Jesus. I knew Jesus as my savior, but not my friend.
I was puzzled when I heard sayings like "you hunger and thirst for righteousness". I didn't and I felt like I wasn't in the I Heart Jesus club. In today's passage, the author gives the key I was missing. Intimacy with God is built one conversation at a time.
His heart longs for God like the deer pants for water. His soul is thirsty and needs Living Water. His thirst is quenched when he meets with God.
Jesus, thank you for Living Water. It refreshes my soul and simultaneously gives me greater thirst. Thank you for these sweet moments of quiet without husbands, kids or responsibilities. Here where I meet with you, I get my "pant" on.
How has God built a longing in your heart for Him?
