There she was, Stacy Fabian, the pastor’s daughter, the most beautiful girl my nine year old eyes had ever beheld. The adults were having church and us big kids were out in the lobby unsupervised and there I was in the same room with her. Wow, I couldn’t believe it, how could a guy like me get so lucky? For the next hour or so, I never felt so alive. I knew I needed to act fast or I’d lose her attention, so I did what any nine year old boy would do when he was with the girl of his dreams. I picked up a live roach from the floor and introduced her to my new friend Harvey and then I threw it at her. She ducked out of the way, screamed and giggled while running away from me. But I wasn’t going to let her get away that easily. Harvey had friends too. So I picked up another one and I began chasing her around the lobby trying to get a good shot at her. One finally landed in her beautiful blonde hair. Just when I thought I had gone too far, she totally proved her love for me too. This marvelous creature standing before me, pulled the roach out of her goldillocks and flung it right back at me. I was hooked and my heart started singing, and dancing like Gene Kelly in “Singing in the Rain”, splashing around in puddles. This amazing euphoria, this feeling, this was real love people! Okay, well at least I thought it was, but give me a break, I was nine years old. For the first time, I actually wanted the church service to go longer, let the time go by, I didn’t care, I was in the moment. Unfortunately the service ended sooner than expected and just like that, the moment was gone. On the way home that night I was love sick and all I could think about was Stacey and me. My heart longed to be with her again. I think I even had a dream that night we got married and lived happily ever after on a farm where we raised roaches. Anyway, Stacy and I were not meant to be but I’ve encountered many more people throughout my life, whom I wanted nothing but to spend time with them, to just be in their presence. People who just gave me real joy and happiness when I was with them. People whom I enjoyed their company so much I could spend all day with them, and read a phone book together  and never get bored. Have you ever experienced relationships like that, whether male or female, romantic or just as friends? I think we all have had one or two in our lifetime. And this led me to think about our relationship with God. Do we get as passionate about our God as we do sometimes with other people? I was recently meditating on a Bible verse, “in your presence is the fullness of joy”. The Psalmist is talking about how just spending time in God’s presence fills him with all gladness and joy. And I got to wondering, do I come away with the fullness of gladness when I spend time with God? Do I lose my sense of time and get caught up in the moment of just enjoying God to the fullest? I do that with my human relationships, why not with God? And sadly, I have to admit, most of my time with God can be routine and dry. It seems like I go through a ritual of checking the boxes. Check box #1 : Read my 10 minute devotional.  Check box #2: say my 10 minute prayer. Check box #3: Read two chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New. Check, check , check, and then, after all the boxes are checked, I’m out the door ready to live my day, and praying occasionally before my meals. Does this sound like you too? I don’t know about you but I want to experience more of Him in my life. I want to hunger and thirst for God and get excited to meet with Him and enjoy His presence. If you’re like me, I’m sure you do too. If you’re feeling a little stale, let’s think outside of our little check boxes. Let’s figure out what things refresh us and let’s do them with God. Is it kayaking, sitting near a lake, going for a walk, painting, fishing, playing music? Whatever, you enjoy, just spend time alone with your Maker and enjoy it with Him. Maybe a cabin retreat for a weekend just you and Him, no phone, no Facebook, just a Bible and a notepad. Whatever you think of, remember this is a relationship not a religious thing. Just talk to Him normal like, no need for ritualistic “Our Father thou art in heaven”, prayers. Just talk to Him with reverence but as a friend, sing to Him a love song as you would to someone you’re madly in love with and wherever you are or whatever you’re doing, acknowledge Him with thankfulness and don’t forget to listen. So what are you waiting for? Make it fun, get creative with your Creator today.  May He fill you my friend with the fullness of His joy, so when the rains of life pour, you’ll be splashing in rain puddles with God,  lost in the moment, just “Singing In the Rain”.

Psalm 16:11
“in your presence there is fullness of joy;”