Psalm 24

Verses 1-2... 

The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, 

  the world and those who dwell therein, 

for He has founded it upon the seas 

  and established it upon the rivers.

Hiking with friends has given me a renewed wonder at the beauty of God's creation!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art! 

Goodbye June...

My dear one, 

The month of June has been profitable and busy. I enjoyed my first international travel experience as a guest performer/teacher, joined a fantastic gym, bought a new car at a great price (and in a great color), and successfully ignored a birthday. As busy as June has been, I've been able to pull back a bit, savor quiet moments, and enjoy fellowship with dear church folks and colleagues. National news headlines are more sobering than ever, but they push me to study the Scriptures more hungrily than ever. An acquaintance renewed back in January after eight long months renders me silently (and unjustifiably) hopeful. My admiration for this one only grows, but I can't speak much on this matter without feeling like a fool... I was listening to the words of an Ella Fitzgerald song that resonated well with my romantic dreaming:

Imagination is funny 

It makes a cloudy day sunny 

Makes a bee think of honey 

Just as I think of you

Imagination is crazy 

Your whole perspective gets hazy 

Starts you asking a daisy 

"What to do, what to do?"

Have you ever felt 

A gentle touch and then a kiss 

And then, and then 

Find it's only your imagination again? 

Oh well...

Imagination is silly 

You go around willy-nilly 

For example, I go around wanting you 

And yet I can't imagine that you want me too

Psalm 25

Verses 4-5...

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;
     teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
     for You are the God of my salvation;
     for You I wait all the day long.

So much for which to be grateful. So many areas in which I need God's wisdom.

Lord, grant me the grace to wait for Your leading and the faith to follow Your paths.

Psalm 26

Verses 3, 8...

For Your steadfast love is before my eyes,
     and I walk in Your faithfulness.
O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house
     and the place where Your glory dwells.

I'm meditating on these words this morning and trusting the Lord to completely satisfy my restless heart. Sundays are good for my soul. Yesterday was no exception.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,

No sudden rending of the veil of clay,

No angel visitant, no opening skies;

But take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?

All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.

I see Thy cross—there teach my heart to cling:

O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

One holy passion filling all my frame;

The baptism of the heav'n-descended Dove,

My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

(George Croly)