Satisfied with God

Thoughts raced around my head like Indy cars on the track at the 500. I couldn't seem to shut my brain off, even though it was 4:30 a.m. and I'd been awake since 2:00.

In frustration I picked up my iPhone from the bedside table and looked up a Psalm. Tears clouded my vision as I felt the Psalmist's words speaking to my restless spirit:

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.   Psalm 17:15

Satisfied with God.  Are we, as flawed human beings, ever satisfied with anything? That's really our problem, isn't it? Always wishing for more, always regretting the past, always worrying about the future...

So what is the key to being satisfied with His likeness? I wondered. Then it dawned on me... the key is my vision. When I look into His face and see Him for who He truly is ~ the God of the Universe, the God who sees me in my bed at 4:30 a.m. tossing and turning, the God who knows my deepest thoughts ~ I will be truly satisfied.

Father, clear my vision and help me to behold Your face and be satisfied with You. Nothing else in this world will ever satisfy the deepest longings of my heart like You can. Thank You for being El Roi - The God Who Sees.

Is There Not a Cause?

Do you ever get discouraged as you try to parent your children in today's world? I know I do. When I look around at all the evil my kids are faced with, I wonder what the world will be like when they have their own children. Sometimes I just want to shut my eyes tightly, stick my fingers in my ears, and scream "la-la-la-la" to shut out the noise of the world.

But I know I can't. And neither can you. So what's a Christian parent to do?

Fight the Enemy. Keep fighting and don't get up. Ever. Pray for your kids. Keep praying and don't quit. Ever.

As we start a new school year, whether we educate our children at home or send them to school, we have to keep fighting this world and its influence on our children. We can't "check out" or take a vacation from parenting even though it is the most difficult job we will EVER have.

The following quote from an old magazine article by Jonathan Lewis jumped off the page at me recently. It gives me new hope to keep fighting the "hollow and deceptive philosophy" of this world, and its unrelenting pursuit to take me and my kids captive. (Colossians 2:8 NIV)

You have within the walls of your home -- sitting at your table, playing on your floor, scampering through your halls -- one of the most powerful weapons of our time: children whom you can train to go out into the world and accomplish great things for God; children who can dream great visions and make them reality; children who can slay the Goliaths of our generation as they echo the words of the youthful David, 'Is there not a cause?'

 So, Christian parent, keep fighting the Enemy's hold on your children! Dream great dreams for them ~ God-sized dreams. After all, we have the greatest Power on our side; the Creator of the Universe walks with us on this parenting journey. Not just halfway, but ALL the way. And that, friends, is reason enough to keep up the fight!