From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

"You will...find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). Sometimes people think seeking God means sitting in a church or reading the Bible. Well, yes, that is a portion of our seeking God. But what God wants us to do is to have a longing, a thirst for Him. Seeking Him with all of your heart means you have an attitude which excitedly expects Him to manifest Himself in any and every way.

I love to hike out on the Appalachian Trail. The wonder and beauty of the woods and mountains, or the vastness of a star-studded sky on a cool evening; these things scream out to me of the goodness, wonder and power of God (Romans 1). But so does a little snail, hauling its burden along, as I do my backpack; reminding me of the burdens we all bear but how God intervenes to either remove it, help you bear it, or strengthen your legs to go on. Or I muse on the fallen branches rotting on the ground, reminding me of the death that is guaranteed when you are cut off from your source of life. So much out there and at home or anywhere I go speaks volumes to me, probably because I want to hear from God.

How about you? Just try it. Ask God to speak to you in triumph as well as tragedy; while outside or inside; while working or playing. In being attentive to God, you can see and hear His messages and all that is around you. God speaks to you continually and is not limited in the variety of ways to reach you and teach you. All you need to do is be open to Him. It certainly smooths out the journey when we know that God is weaving and blending all things into a pattern for good. Heck, He even gives you hints along the way as you seek Him with all your heart. Just do it! Endure the fire...it's producing pure gold!

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