Hey friends! First sorry for being MIA. We are going out of state next week (palm trees here we come!) And I’ve been inundated with tasks to finish up a couple large projects at work. Alas that means my time to blog has come way down.
I wanted to do a short post today. A quick touch base – mostly just to say hi and tell everyone what has been going on in my life with God. And I hope to do one more on Friday. Then I’ll be out for a week.
I’ve been frustrated this past week. Frustrated that the typical things I consume – music, stories, blogs relationships – are just not enough. I’m left with a deep hunger for ecstasy, for transcendence, to be brought up into a daily story that captivates me and draws me along. I’ve gotten to the point that yesterday I decided I was going to go on some kind of fast because I’m no longer deriving any type of transcendent joy with the devices I turn to – I’m focusing now on meditating on Christ throughout my day. Making him more and more of my escape, my ecstasy, my story, instead of me getting tidbits of these things in the various musical and story and podcast items I consume in my every day life.
I’ve been reading through Colossians. I think one of the biggest issues with us struggling to have God fulfill our need for joy, for ecstasy is we can’t touch him – and we are such sensory creatures. Then I was reading Colossians 2 this morning and read this and felt like God was speaking to me,
For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit. Colossians 2:5 (I know Paul was speaking about himself here – but I felt God speak it to me about himself today and wanted to share it)
It all boils down to one thing:
Only God can satisfy us.
Where are you finding in your own life that what this world offers is just not enough?
Hope you have a wonderful day my sisters and brothers in Christ.
In Jesus,
Joel
inthedesertwithjesus 
love this! thank you for sharing It’s funny how the things we used to enjoy are now mundane after having that close encounter with Jesus Can’t wait til Friday!
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Amen and thank you Linda Kay! Once we taste the joy of being close to him, everything else loses its luster. We have to have that thrill of being in hia arms.
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I think I’ve been in the same rut. Lately I’ve been praying that I would only be influenced by His presence and no other, so your verse from Colossians sounds about right! I decided that I was cluttering my mind with lots of noise, even though you might say it’s the “good” noise. As I’ve been coming out of a dad gum long season of grief, I am aware that I tend to avoid things that I need to take on. I think I’ve been finding easy ways to avoid doing the tough spiritual work. So, I’m de-cluttering, if that makes sense. Enjoy your trip!
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That sounds very similar to what I’ve experienced. De-cluttering is a great way to put it. I’ve filled my days with lots of noise, and like you said good noise, but noise nonetheless. And I’m just aching for more. I need it! Stuffing myself with potato chips and ice cream is wearing off – I need an actual dinner! And agreed its so much easier to just pop on a song or some distraction and get a quick high off of it than doing the hard work to get deep satisfaction in the presence of the Lord. I’m right there with you, trashbags and broom and mop, ready to de-clutter and clean it up!
Hope your week is going well Katie! Blessings in Christ!
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The closer we come to Christ the more difficult the material world becomes I find!
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Amen! I feel the same way Lana! Being close to him make the world seem faded and old and unsatisfying.
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I guess I’m on a different path. I love Jesus and sense His presence, but for me, I’m not having a place in my life where it’s “not enough” ecstasy. Though this may sound nutcase-ish, I find that the more I dig into the things I’m good at (talents, e.g. painting, writing… striving to improve those talents (He gave me)), the more “ecstatic” I feel and this has nothing to do with reading my Bible or digging deeper into Christ in that sense. -And this, despite living a close-to nightmarish life (as you know Joel). So yeah… it’s almost too much when friends meet me and I’m all “ecstatic” despite my circumstances. Some truly look at me as if I must be in denial or something. I’m just passing through here on my way to my Word document… so I’ll keep it short. Take care and photo those palm trees 😉
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I don’t think that sounds off the wall at all friend. So years ago I used to spend hours and hours doing calculus (I’m a total nerd which I’m sure you have picked up on by now lol!). And I felt so alive in Christ doing calculus. Way more so than when I was doing a bible study. As John Eldredge quoted St Irenaeus, ‘The glory of God is man fully alive.’ I think that’s so true. And if God made you to image hinself such that when you are painting and writing you are fully alive, go for it!! (I feel similarly about writing myself) and I think that’s a sign of maturity in Christ – not a matter of being in denial.
Plus Jesus did say in John 5:39-40,
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
I’ll post some palm tree pics when I’m back!! 🌴 have fun writing friend! And have a wonderful weekend and week!! You’re in my prayers before our Father for his blessing of his presence.
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Wow! I just got a totally different and so much deeper perspective on that scripture! Thanks my friend. I’m printing it and hanging it above my computer!
I love your insights!
Thanks for the prayers ❤️ I look forward to seeing a palm tree 🌴. Hope you had a great trip.
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Thanks friend!! I love that verse – I always try to remember it when I feel bad for not having been in the Word as mucg but have been spensing lots of time in prayer.
Thank you! We fly out this weekend so I’ll be back on in a week to divulge all the beachy details! I plan to poke my head in though on WP to say hi once or twice.
Hope you have a blessed and wonderful weekend!!
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Feeling guilty about not doing the things we are “supposed “ to do is something I struggle with. I do try to stay connected, perhaps not through folded hands in prayer but just sending His spirit.
Have a great vacation! You all deserve it ❤️
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I know how you feel. I’m reading this book on comfort and it is really helping me.
It’s very grounding. That’s the best way I can put it.
I want to send you this passage from the book but it’s rather long to type out.
I have a photo of it but don’t know how to attach a photo.
😩
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Can you send it to me on the contact page on my blog? I haven’t used it but I’ll get stuff from time to time from other bloggers through the contact form. I’d really love to read it! It sounds great!
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Well I see where you are talking about. I might need to get on my desktop to do it. I’ll give it my best. 😉
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Sounds good! If you can’t attach in that contact section just send me a note on there and I’ll reply on an email and you could probably reply and send it that way. Thank you!!
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I’m going to try this afternoon. I sent you something else in the meantime thought you might like.
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I loved that devo you sent that your dad did! So good! Thank you! I replied on email – feel free to send me it just as an attachment 🙂 thanks!
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Thank you for that message it is a valuable thing to realize that though we cannot physical touch him in a way we can touch him in a much deeper sense and it kind of does us well to realize that this world is the shadow and as such WE ARE touching him in the real sense always! xxx
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I hadn’t thought of that verse being directly God’s words to us too, so cool! Thank you, Joel. May He refresh you with His presence!
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Thank you Jennifer! I appreciate it. Gosh, it’s been awhile since I wrote this post so I don’t remember all the context of what happened with me and God before it, haha I had to reread this one to remember it. But yes, I hadn’t thought of that verse being for us either before I talked with God on it. Its really beautiful, he’s so wonderful and lovely toward us.
May he refresh you with his presence too 🙂 God bless
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It’s indescribably special how He takes His written Word and brings it alive to our hearts by His Holy Spirit in fresh and new ways as we seek Him!
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