S – Psalms 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

O – God shows us the “path of life.”
In God’s presence is fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore.
Yesterday, Becca and I discussed how sin removes us from fellowship with God (Psalm 32+51).

A – I want to, as Brother Lawrence would say, practice the presence of God today.
I will make an effort to sing a worship song every 30 minutes and to think prayerfully – focusing on the joy and pleasure found in fellowship with him.

P – Lord, walk with me today. Teach me to live in your presence.

Genesis 35:10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel.

This jumped off the page to me today.  God / Jesus changes peoples names often in the Bible.  It reflects their character and future ministry.  This verse prompted a question for me that I heard from a camp speaker this summer…

If God changed your name today, what would your new name be?

My journal entry from today’s Bible readings.

S –        Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

O –      Take my yoke – we are active in this process

Learn from me – yoke was a tool that tied two animals close together, the one more experienced and stronger would lead the other animal.  We learn from God in a similar intimate way.

Gentle and lowly in heart – we do not need to fear his direction

You will find – it is a promise

Rest for your souls – much more than rest in bed, but deep, soul, rest

A –       Go to God first – not retreat to bed first, when I am drained.  Today I want to seek to learn from him through reading his word and spending time listening in prayer.

P –        Lord, show me how to take your yoke upon me.  Thank you for your gentle and lowly heart that cares for me.  Teach me how to find true rest for my soul.

Do you have thoughts?  How can we apply this verse to our lives?

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing.  Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement.

I’ve got a lot to process, but if I were to point to one big thing in my life, Matthew 6:1-4 says: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

When I initially read this on the trip, I struggled with it.  How can I do things for people and not be motivated in some way by their response?  Then I saw the answer lived out through staff in Costa Rica giving their lives to love people that couldn’t give back to them.  They were not trying to look cool to their peers or be accepted by others.  They were not practicing their righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.  Instead, they were showing pure, Christ like, selfless, love.

And I caught a glimpse of the reward that awaits them.  For more specifics on one story, read about Corey.

God gives us all the opportunity to love selflessly.  As you serve this week, ask God how you can give to those in need in secret.