One of the poems that Emily wrote for Mothers Day this year. Forgive me for posting the flattery as it is :)
MY MOM
My Mom is nice
My Mom is sweet
Shes the person,
Wholl lift you off your feet.
My Mom is awesome
My Mom is great
My Mom has looks
That can hypnotize your mate
My Mom is loyal
My Mom is smart
My Mom is the best
At beautiful art!
My Mom is caring
My Mom is kind
She has no one else but
Our family on her mind!
-Emily Grace,10
May 2014
Read: Psalm 73:1-3,21-28
My friend Mary tells me that she doesnt always sing all the words to the hymns and choruses in a church service. She says, It doesnt seem honest to sing, All I want is Jesus when my heart wants many other things too. I appreciate her honesty.
In verse 25 of Psalm 73, Asaph sounds like a spiritually minded man who wants God only: There is none upon earth that I desire besides You. But thats not how he began this psalm. Initially, he admitted that he wanted the prosperity that others around him had: For I was envious of the boastful (v.3). But when he drew near to God, he recognized that he was foolish to be envious (vv.21-22,28).
Even when we know God, we are often distracted by the prosperity of others. C. S. Lewis wrote, It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. . . . We are far too easily pleased with lesser things than Him.
What do we learn about God in this psalm that might help when our desires distract us from Gods best? Well, we see that even though we may be tempted to envy what others have, He is continually guiding us and bringing us back to focus on Him. He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (v.26).