The air was warm.  Not too hot but just the right kind of warm that makes you think of summer.  It is just barely on the edge of crashing into our busy worlds and shattering all our demanding lives. To this if you’re like me you say, “Amen.”

Summer means refresh to me.  What does it mean to you?

Today we will set intention towards refreshing.   Watermelon.  Strawberries.  Grilled anything.  Boating.  Days without schedules. Fresh shaved legs.  Clean sheets.  Crisp cold pillow.  Jumping in a crystal lake on a hot day possibly after a hike? Every good thing is from God. (James 1:17)

What is one area of refreshing you desire?

With God desire is met in full.  The recognition we all crave is met with His presence.  The hunger that drives us to do more say yes to more is satisfied in Him.  The slow of yesterday met the difficult news as God created space in my life where heaven and earth converge.  It was not that the news I wanted to hear came.  My desire went unmet. It was there however, where my heart rested in place of prayer.  I took the desire to Him.  The breeze just blowing on my skin soft and soothing after what has seemed like days of hurricane winds.  Yes, I live in Ellensburg where the wind blows too often.  The settling of His peace came with a calm free of tension.  Perfect timing.  Where God says, like my friend Brooke did, “this sucks, but there is a blessing in the middle of the struggle.”

It was just at the end of the day as the sun was setting over the red barn.  There is a blessing that fills the barn with God it’s just different.

Desire is not satisfied with the object it desires.  Shoppers know this.  Foodies know this.  Exercise obsessed know this.  _____________ know this. You fill in the blank.

I read this quote below about desire.  Follow the thought through.

That there exits in us a desire that nothing in time and space can satisfy, a desire for an unknown “something” that no amount of food, sex, friendship, success can satisfy.  That human beings everywhere and at all times have been overwhelmingly religious, believing in something beyond the here and now that will fill the desire for that “something”.  Therefore, “if I find in myself a desire which no experience in the world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” (Tim Keller and C.S. Lewis)

Desire is best satiated in Christ.

Prayer is pouring out your heart like water without filter or concern for how it sounds.  The prayer below is a tool.  Spring from it where ever you would.  Let it serve you.

Almighty God,  Father of all life, we Your creation give you our hunger for accomplishment for more.

We bless you for not allowing lesser things to fill our bellies when you have a real meal prepared for us.  Help us to come.  To arrive at summer and experience your immeasurable love.

We confess we are poor in spirit and we ask for the kingdom of heaven.  We confess our true condition we give you any and all of our sorrow and ask for comfort.  We confess our desire for significance and strength and humbly ask to harness the power of restraint through your meek nature.  Christ in us. We confess our thirst so often is directed toward temptation and sin.  We ask for a thirst for righteousness knowing this thirst is satisfied.  Where we have sinned we need mercy from you.  Refresh our portion of mercy given and received. Clean our hearts this is the only way to see you otherwise like summer Ray-Bans our lives are smudged and smeared with sin.

Make peace in us and with the ones we live.  Help us all be children.  Childlike in play.  Joyful when at play and peaceful when at rest.  Baptized with contentment in your plans.  Name us.  Call us to our true selves, to be known as God’s children loving all but above all loving You, our Father.

Refresh those who are persecuted for the right reasons.  Let them carry the Kingdom of Heaven in a step.  Where they go this summer let the Kingdom converge.  Lead us in a better way of living.  Amen.

Reading portion Matt. 5:3-10

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.