that special place

There are lots of places that are special.  It can be a place where something happened or a place where you find a great peace.  But for most people there are several places that we would chose to return if it was possible.  Some places you are able to return to while others can only be visited again in your imagination because they are gone or out of our reach.

As a kid my family visited a resort in Oklahoma several times that was very cool to me.  

There was a camp near a river when I was a teenager that I remember God doing something very special in my heart.  

There was a pond near Vidalia, Georgia where I believe my preaching and love for the Bible came about.  

I well remember the first place that Julie and I vacationed before we had kids.  

Those and many other places hold a special place in my heart.  The common thread for most of those places, or the places that are special to me, is the fact that God did something in my heart there.  I long for and push for places like this to be in my future, near future as well.  God wants us to enjoy those places as well.  God wants us to enjoy time with Him in every place.

Psalm 15:1-5 NASB

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?  He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.  He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;  In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;  He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

God gave us those five verses through the writing of David.  David was a great man with great flaws, yet God showed up and loved David many times.  He was victorious in many battles as well as an inspiration to those he led and to those who read his writing as we do.

David longed for special places with God, but one thing that stands out in several Psalms is the fact that David created those special times very often.  It really was not about the place.  It was about and continues to be about the connection between God and a person that God loves and who loves God.  We can create these special times and special places too.

Find that special place and let God fill your life with inspiration that makes life sweeter and stronger!

NOTE: much of this post was first shared in April of 2014