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As the calendar turned to July, I know that we're in the summer months. School is out. Family vacations ramp up. Work tends to slow up a bit. And the sun shines (okay, so maybe that wasn't true of June, but here's hoping July has plenty of sun!).

I really like summer. I really like the sun. I really like the new activities I have with my family. I really like how long it stays light in the evenings. I really like cooking out and eating outside. But mostly, I really like the change of pace. Why? Because that slower pace (even if it is only a tad slower) allows me to come back to vision, as I was recently reminded by John Ortberg. Not the vision of the future. Not the vision of what we will accomplish. The vision of God in the here and now.

I really like the change of pace because I get to get back to the vision of reality as it is now with God. In these slower moments, I get to reflect and remind myself of how good God is, how competent God is, how loving God is, how powerful God is, and how personal God is. And then I remind myself of how fortunate I am to be living in these moments with God because of what he's up to in me and in this world. The vision, you see, is the vision of God, his life and his kingdom that is already here and now where we live in God's power and presence through Jesus Christ.

That is the vision I return to, the vision of God in the here and now. And that is so important for me because that vision is what informs me of why I do all of what I do. That vision reminds me of why I read the Bible, why I build relationships with other followers of Christ, why I serve as I do, and why I seek to love the way I do. And so often from September to June, that vision for me can diminish because my life can be a blur of activity. I'm simply racing in life, in work, with my kids and their activities and schooling. I can get so busy with activities, even really good and spiritual activities that I lose the vision of God that informs why I'm doing all those activities in the first place. That vision of God reaffirms why I seek to serve, pray, study, read, and love the way I do because it reminds me that through Jesus Christ, I live in the power and presence of God!

So how about you? Has the pace of the year gone by sucked your vision of God in the here and now dry? Have you forgotten the why of all the stuff you're doing because the vision bucket is low? If so, take time to reflect and to remind yourself of the vision of God in the here and now. Remind yourself on vacation and restful areas of how good, competent, loving, powerful, and intimate God is. Reflect on the reality of God's power and presence having drawn near through Christ, which gives us life and satisfies the itch in our soul.

Come back to the vision of God to refuel and to refocus you for the coming months and the upcoming year; otherwise, that future time may just end up being a blur of activity, of "have-tos," of guilt quieting activities, instead of actions stemming from a desire to live out the vision of God in the here and now. That is what will sustain our efforts, our service, our activities, and our practices because through Jesus, we live in the power and presence of God! So breathe in that vision of God in the here and now.

Breathing in the vision of God with you,

Steve

Steve's Signature