“You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
When we were younger, we played this game “hot and cold”-you’ve hidden something, or you KNOW where something is that the other person is looking for…and you say “you’re getting warmer…now you’re red hot!” And then as they moved, you’d say “oh, now you’re getting colder…oh, it’s ICE cold now!” When one person KNOWS and the other is still searching…it can get interesting!
The songwriter Bono from U2 penned, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” on their epic Joshua Tree album, he referenced it as a “Gospel song with a restless spirit.” It was written and inspired by their travels in America. Many have said that this song is both an expression of spiritual joy and disappointment. He went on to say that the song is more about the “Search” than the actual accomplishment.
While I love that song, and that album is one of my all-time favorites…I think I disagree with his comments. God promises that He CAN be found…and He WILL be found! But it is when WE seek Him!
I catch myself scrolling thru social media or browsing on Amazon or eBay…and I wonder, “what am I really looking for?” And I wonder lately if that is what a LOT of people are doing: LOOKING for things! We look for the perfect house or the right car or the job with the big paycheck, and we think, “When we get THAT…then I will be happy!” Problem: Lots of people have “THAT”…and they still aren’t happy.
Maybe it’s because we are looking for the things that really matter – like love, and acceptance, and value and peace – in the wrong places. (Yes, I’m tempted to quote another old song here-“Looking for Love in All The Wrong Places”…but I digress) The things that MATTER are not found here…they are found in relationship with Yahweh! The peace that we crave from our crazy world is not found here…it’s found in Abiding In Him! The value we want is not going to be in how cool we dress or what model of car we have…it’s found by seeing His Amazing Grace! The love that will last is not found in your “soulmate”…but by having your Soul set on Him! And the funny thing is…THAT will make your marriage better, your relationship with kids or siblings stronger, and will make you FEEL more loved than EVER BEFORE!
I wonder how many times we THINK we are “red hot” in our search for meaning…to only find out we are ice cold.
The promise that God makes is this: YOU WILL FIND ME! But He gives a caveat to that: when you seek me with ALL OF YOUR HEART! Maybe it’s time to stop scrolling…and start soaking in His Word. Perhaps the search we need is not for adventure, financial gain, or prestige…maybe it’s in that Book that points us to Him. If you have to be on your phone…go open the YouVersion app and find the Plan called The Cost of Following: Self or Christ?-it’s a 5 day reading plan about being a Disciple…you won’t regret it!
Heavenly Father…too many times, we face our struggles and we “still haven’t found what we are looking for.” Help us to LOOK for You! Help us to SEEK You! And give us strength when we feel lost and all alone, to realize that you have never left us! Give us a Spirit of searching for You that is Red Hot!
In the Name of our Brother, Jesus, we pray…Amen
Shalom Alachiem-Peace Upon Your Household
Don
THIS WEEK
AMP BOY’S HANGOUT – Wed, July 26
AMP GIRL’S MOVIE NIGHT – Friday, July 28
NO AMP on Sunday, July 30
Watch for more details or contact Caitlin with questions.
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TEENS – Sod Poodles rescheduled for AUGUST 4TH!
We missed it earlier this summer…so we’re trying again for Friday August 4th! Yes, School will ALMOST be started…so let’s head to the Mall and the Ballpark for a last blast! Sign ups will go around this weekend! $10 gets you a great day-we meet at church at 12:30, and head to Amarillo’s Westgate Mall! After a couple of hours there, we go to HODGETOWN-Home of the Amarillo Sod Poodles! We have box seats and you get hot dog/chips/soda while you are there! Let’s have a GREAT GROUP go! Only 25 tickets available-first ones signed up get in the van!
