Thank You!

There are moments in my life when I am just so grateful to be alive, moments when I realize that the weight of all of my problems, issues, fears and concerns simply cannot compare to the joy of being, the joy of living, the joy of taking in a breath and smelling the morning air and feeling the warmth of the sun upon my face.

I am grateful!  Grateful for eyes that see and ears that hear!  Grateful for arms and legs, hands and feet that move!  Grateful for the heart beating within me and every single functioning component of the intricate system of my physical body!  Grateful for this day and all of the possibilities it contains.

I am grateful and I must say thank you.  My soul must say thank you.  To the One who is Beauty, Mystery and Light; the One who is and causes everything else to be, the One who will always be everything I'll ever need: Thank You!  Thank You!!  Thank You!!!

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. 

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."

Psalm 30:11-12

Following the Way,
Kevin

Good Morning God

I woke up this morning and I said, "Good Morning God".  It's a spiritual practice I have used in the past and am returning to again.  It's a practice that emphasizes devotion.  By setting aside my first words of every morning to God I demonstrate the place of importance God holds in my life.  In saying Good Morning I am saying to God: You are my first love.  You are the first thing on my mind when I awake; the first thing upon my heart when I begin to stir myself out of bed.  Before my feet even touch the floor I long to commune with You. Brushing my teeth, washing my face, emptying my bladder can wait; I must greet the One who watched over me all night as I was sleeping.  I must reach out to the One who is always reaching out to me. I must turn to face the One who has never hidden his face from me and so I simply say Good Morning.

It's also a practice that emphasizes presence.  I greet God because I realize that God is there and is always there.  There will never be a morning when I will awake to find myself alone.  No, God is always there and by simply saying Good Morning my spirit is reminded of this fact.  And knowing this makes all the difference in how I go about my day whatever it may hold.

Good Morning God!  I am more than grateful for the privilege of greeting You this morning and sharing with You another day.

Following the Way,
Kevin

Joy!!!

I am having one of those days again when the joy of God is just rumbling and tumbling inside of me.  I don't know what to do with myself!  Go to the bathroom and cry tears of joy?  Run around the office shouting God's praises and confuse my coworkers?  Or let it all hang out and just bust out in tongues and dance the way we Pentecostals do when we get a little too excited in church and REALLY confuse my co-workers?

I love days like this!  I am in awe of God's grace and I feel kissed by God's grace right now.  That's the best way I can put it.  Grace is always present but sometimes you feel like it just reaches down and kisses you on the cheek and wraps its arms around you.  I feel like I am about to spontaneously grow wings and take to the sky!  I don't know how anyone could live without ever feeling like this.  I'm just in awe of life, of God, of grace, of the soul's ability to be a sponge sometimes and just soak up all of the joy it can find.

What a gift!  This day.  This moment.  This awareness of grace.  How could I ask for anything more?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   

Romans 5:13

Following the Way,

Kevin