What satisfies you? 

When was the last time you paused to reflect and notice if you are satisfied or not? 

If you’re like me, it’s been a while. 

But I’m doing it now. 

Satisfied is a word that reminds me of the children’s story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She goes about the bears’ home proclaiming something to be too much of this or not enough of that until she finds the one that is “just right”. That seems to be a good definition of satisfied - just right. 

I love the verse in Matthew 14:20a which says, “And they all ate and were satisfied.” 

Not too much or too little, but just right! 

This is about one of the miraculous times that Jesus fed thousands of people when he only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish at his disposal. 

He made sure that they had enough to satisfy their hunger. 

They didn’t lack and they didn’t dip into gluttony. And what about Jesus? Did...

Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be healed from your affliction.”

Daughter.

Jesus calls her Daughter.

What an intimate name. In that one word, he conveys fatherly warmth, love, compassion, and protection. This is an amazing moment where desperate faith stretches out to touch a holy God. In this Daughter’s desperation, she seeks him out.

She follows him. She had only heard about him. But she must know that He alone is the source of healing and hope. Why else would she have dared approach him? Yet she “came up behind him”, not to his face.

Have you ever felt your faith desperate yet strained at the same time?

Maybe you feel unworthy. Maybe you've only heard about the goodness of God but have yet to experience it for yourself and so you are uncertain, scared to even dare to trust. But you look at your affliction and know that only by His hand will you find restoration and peace...

Thankfulness.

Colossians 3:15- “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”

Is your heart thankful?

What does it take to orient my heart toward thankfulness?

Have you ever thought about that? If by nature I am corrupt and selfish, how do I turn that around? I know there are times I have wondered about this. Especially when I have failed miserably. 

The opposite of thankfulness is selfishness.

I hate to admit it, but I can offer many examples of my selfish heart. When something doesn’t go my way and I pout. Or when someone cuts me off in traffic and I grumble. And definitely, after I have an impatient outburst towards my family. Ugh! Those are the worst! It’s when the “Me, Me, ME!” monster rears its ugly head and destroys relationships. And later in the quiet moments, I wonder, how can I become less self-centered? 

The problem is a...