Finding Time

Recently I was sharing a devotional thought from Matthew 26 (Jesus being anointed with oil just prior to the Triumphal Entry) ... looking toward Holy Week I was making the application of giving a precious gift -- a gift of great extravagance -- that could be a picture of God's extravagant gift of salvation to us.

I belive that God impressed on my heart this thought, "Give me a whole day. A day spent in worship by reading My word, praying and singing." I thought that seemed like a great idea -- until I tried to figure out which day! Have you ever tried to set aside an entire day just to give as a gift to God? I haven't found one yet, but I don't want to give up trying. I'll let you know how it goes.

Wrestling with the Necessities

I am slowly reading through Tozer's book, "The Pursuit of God". I am always wrestling between taking time to read and refresh myself and just doing the next thing that I need to do for work. Since spiritual refreshment is supposed to be part of my job, I shouldn't wrestle with taking the time to immerse myself in the Scriptures or in great books that will nourish my soul.

So, here are some other short quotes from Tozer, "If we would find God amid all the religious externals, then we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity ... The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One."

Tozer goes on to write that in the beginning God gave man a world of useful and pleasant things for his delight. But now, with the introduction of sin, " ... those very gifts of God (are) a potential source of ruin to the soul ... Within the human heart "things" have taken over ... God's gifts now take the place of God."

Very thoughtful and powerful words as I think about the things I have and the places they occupy in my life.

The Children of the Burning Heart

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too easily satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart.

-A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God