An Easy Bake oven. Rocky Road ice cream. A baby monkey. A handsome husband.
A Pong game. A better teacher. An awesome locker partner. A pink satin jacket. A handsome husband.
A part time job. A day without back pain. A worthy win. A handsome (and passionate) husband.
A drivers license. A stereo with cassette player. An acceptance letter. A good roommate. A godly (and hopefully handsome) husband.
Another part time job. A way to love a hard-to-love friend. A chance to share Jesus. A decent haircut.
A great marriage. A full time job. A car that would run. A healthy baby. A house of our own. A strong sense of purpose. A miracle for Linda. A message to speak. A new gift of grace. A friend I could trust.
A green light. A paid bill. A break in my speaking schedule. A chance to get away.
All these things I have prayed for at some time in my life. Some important, some not at all. Some long-lasting (23 years with the handsome, passionate man of my dreams), some just vapor (Pong, anyone?)
My heart fairly tumbles over itself with desires and dreams and strategies and schemes. It churns and spins over words and wants and sometimes forgets that all of life…all that I need…everything that works and wins is captured in One Thing.
One desire.
And from that desire springs…well, everything else. Over the past few months, as His presence has become the first and favorite priority of my life, Psalm 27 has become the distillation of my 42-year wish list…the anthem of my existence. Everything. And as I read it this morning, I was amazed to find my own heart woven in the words. I laughed and cried and all I could say is: finally. It’s good to finally and fully want the only thing that I can truly have.
Psalm 27:4-5 I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: to live with Him in His house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate His beauty; I’ll study at His feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway from the buzz of traffic.
helenw13 - Good morning Bo…
I realized yestrday that now that you are a wordpress woman as I am that I “know” what your administrator page looks like(ignorance was bliss when you were a Blogger)…so you can see how many times I click onto your blog just to check to see if there is a new post…just so you know…I truly am not a stalker…no need for a restraining order…I promise!
I will comment on today’s great post later…as it HAS definitely messed with my mind a bit but Caleb and his playdough are calling me so until later!
bolovesjoe - LOL! Actually, since it’s everyone who clicks from your site to mine, I always assume that it’s just curious onlookers, lost in the black hole of blogdom. (Honestly, I can’t believe how much time it costs me when I start to roam around.)
Jessica Carpenter - Go figure, I was already planning on coming home this weekend! (I have no Friday classes… so my plan was to head back Thursday in time for Emerge!) I can’t believe my luck. I’m excited for both the message and (of course) the shout out :). See you in 3 days!!
helenw13 - This speaks to me on many levels as I was a gymnast in another life…the balance beam provides a great visual and it will be forever embedded in my mind during those times where I am tempted to retreat when I should take some risks…allowing God to be God in each situation. If I were completely honest with myself there are a few areas that from the recent past have left me a bit gun shy…I am thankful for the visual reminder of the dismount after just clinging on until the end…I am rambling now…although when I do cartwheels now…I see stars literally…I want to a bit more spiritual cartwheels…and see Him…The Bright and Morning Star.
Bless you Bo and I hope you and Steve got some time of wonderful refreshment this past weekend.
Helen
Lindsay Joy - I love that guy…and I sure love you! I gotta find some more of his stuff. Is youtube a good place? Hope shooting goes well today!
bolovesjoe - Linds – http://www.cornerstonesimi.com is his church’s web site and has most of their messages online (love when churches do that!) You Tube has some good conference stuff.
Katie - Wow, that guy just made me feel about 2 inches tall. Such brilliant truth and so well conveyed. I’ve decided I’m going to preach from a balance beam from now on – just because people will think I’m athletic. Hee! You’re brilliant as always!
Lindsey Diacogiannis - Bo, this video was very encouraging!!! How true it is that we tend to “play it safe” and don’t give things over fully to Christ! Thanks for the encouragement!!! Blessings, Cassie’s sister Lindsey
bolovesjoe - Thanks for the comment,Lindsey. I’m working on the risk-taking part of my life. Some areas I’m good at it, some areas I’m still clinging to the balance beam (not pretty!) Hope things are well for you up north! 🙂