I worked this Memorial Day and so I got to take another day off instead. So Julie (newly freed for the summer) and I jumped in the Toyota and took the small trek to Wichita Falls.

Julie still laughs at me (or rolls her eyes) everytime we are driving into town and I say something about the fly-over, and how 'big city' it is.

Isn't it amazing how life changes. Everyday seems the same more often and not and then there are those days that seem like they will change every other day from then on.

As we drove up yesterday we listened to some new music that Julie had found and one was a new CD by Laura Story. There was an underlining depth to so much of what she wrote. I think the last time I lyrically appreciated a CD as much was the latest Casting Crowns CD. Here are the words to the song Indescribable:

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation's revealing Your majesty

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name

You are amazing God

All powerful, untamable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night

None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name

You are amazing God

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are amazing God

You are amazing God

God's Gifts

I'm sure the battle of Merom looked more like modern day Fallujah that a Sunday School Flannelgraph scene. It was considered to be the third campaign of the children of Israel led by Joshua to inhabit the "promised land".

We just don't think of gifts the same way as God. We've been taught differently. Emerson told us that a gift should be given with a favorite portion of poetry or prose, and that the gift should reflect the giver and the recipient. Macy's just recommends a gift receipt to allow for an easy exchange. God requires blood, sweat, tears...

I wonder if the Israelites were as fat and sassy as I. Imagining the gift of God's promise land would come by some divine eradication of all people; leaving decadent homes and great walled cities, doors open wide, ready for inhabiting... not quite.

Wouldn't it just be great if upon the infilling of His spirit God would fill our minds with a complete gamut of Biblical knowledge and understanding; if upon being buried with Him in baptism we would come out of the water with a thirst and longing desire to spend endless hours before Him in prayer; wonderful to upon repentance be emboldened to share the gospel with reckless abandon.

Oh how hollow that would be. Solomon so wisely reminds us that He is more interested in our character than our comfort (Ecc 7:1). He has instead called us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). And His gifts truly are perfect because they work about the perfecting of us (Matt 5:48, James 1:17).

"Look, the Lord you God as set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you do not fear or be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 1:21