Set on Pilgrimage

There's not much better than a Sunday full of football and napping, which is exactly the kind of day I've had.  Read a little, nap, watch the Broncos win, walk on the treadmill, read a little more, and watching San Fran and Seattle playing right now. 

Psalm 84 has been on my mind all day.  It's been one of those things where everywhere I turned, it showed up.  I don't know if it was a youversion selection or what, but three different people tweeted some of the verses, and then verse 2 was our Made to Crave verse of the week.  It's a short chapter, so I'd like to share it all with you. 

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
³ Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.^[c]

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.^[d] They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

⁸ Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹ Look on our shield,^[e] O God; look with favor on your anointed one.

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,  blessed is the one who trusts in you.

 

Sometimes, I'll be honest.  It's a drag on Sunday mornings to get up and go.  We spend all of our time rushing here and there through the week, and a day with the blanket pulled up to my chin seems like a pretty good idea...

 

But one day in His presence is better than a thousand anywhere else.  He is a sun and shield... keeping us warm and protecting us.  And His house is a place for all of us.

 

As I sat in church this morning, I thought about His presence.  I thought about what a privilege it is to get to go to church.  And while I was sad this morning, my first morning in church without Mamaw,  I couldn't help but think as Brittany was singing Revelation Song, about how lovely Heaven will be.

 

Yes, our hearts are set on pilgrimage. This world is not my home... but while I'm here, His presence makes it worth the journey.