Wow.  A lot of resistance to contemplative time during my sabbath this week. I spent Monday prior to the start of my sabbath helping with one of the businesses.  This created a bit of anxiousness to get the other to-dos accomplished (personal and business). I woke up on Tuesday morning with thoughts of all the tasks that I needed to accomplish and unusually spent time checking email for anything pressing and needed to keep disciplined to not engage unless it was absolutely necessary; nothing fit the bill.

I did a “take two.” I sat in my yard and just waited. Listening.

John 17:24 stood out to me, “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am.” (NIV); “I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am;” (KJV);  “I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am,” (NKJV). Practicing Lectio Divina what might this mean?  Jesus is the one who speaks John 17:24.  Jesus seeks us to be with him in eternity.  His heart, the heart of God, is on full display in this simple statement.  Being in the presence of God doesn’t require climbing a tall spiritual mountain or finishing a spiritual obstacle course or passing multiple levels of tests with enlightenment until we reach black belt or master jedi status.  God seeks us.  Our God want us to be with Him forever.  When I let that sink in, that the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, loves me, knows me intimately, and cares about little ‘ol me, this speck of dust in the entire universe, I am moved.  I worship.  The LORD has many rooms.  John 14:2.  Let’s do our best that none will go empty.  For when we gaze upon an empty room it’s a clear symbol of lost potential.  Fill the rooms!