Devotional 7-27-07

Our family loves the ocean, and so every year we make our annual trek to the beach - for rest, renewal and fellowship. We always look forward to beach week, and one of the main reasons is the motion of the waves and its consistency. I think all of us in this family agree, that the constant movement of the waves is so soothing and so relaxing. It just renews our spirits.

In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." When we take stock of our life, the one constant throughout our entire life is God. Friends, family and loved ones move in and out of our lives, due to circumstances beyond our control, but God is always there. We may ignore, forget, take for granted or refuse to see or feel God's presence and love, but God is consistently still there. Jesus reminds us in this scripture passage that all we have to do is ask - search - knock - just open our eyes, ears, mind or heart, and there God is - always - consistently - no matter what.

God, God's love, God's presence, God's care. Consistently there. We just have to reach out. Seek God, feel God, praise God and pray to God for when we do, we are like a sweet aroma, so pleasing to God. As Fanny Crosby so aptly reminds us in her beloved hymn:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
and give Him the glory, great things He hath done!

Thank you God for being the one constant in our lives. You are always there - just waiting for us to ask - search - knock. You alone fill us and bless us. We are your children and we love you the best that we can. Amen.

Rev. Suzanne Ellis