It’s 11:52 am and I’m hungry. My stomach is empty, growling for more. I don’t want my stomach to rule me, so I’m ignoring the emptiness for a few minutes. (Not too long, lest I start gobbling the dark chocolate kisses stashed in my cupboard.)

I ate a piece of homemade whole wheat bread and a banana at 8:00. Behind in my one year Bible, I read two days worth at 8:30. But I’m not hungry again for his Word. How do I learn to be hungry for God at the same interval my stomach calls for cheese and bread?

The world is full of rumblings and growlings that tug on our arms, like two year olds, wanting our attention. We must apportion our attention with care, remembering that we do not live only on bread.

Holy Spirit, please fill us today and satisfy our hunger. Then fill us again with even more hunger for you.

Sitting at my computer this cold winter’s day, I’m trying to ponder the nature of sin. But I’m distracted by the bright sunlight, just penetrating my skull as noontime approaches. I lean back into the warmth. Soon I’m taking off my down vest, absorbing the rays. Who can ponder the mysteries of the universe when the sun beckons?

But wait. This is one of the mysteries of the universe. Why am I responding to the sun? Not, how does it work, physically, or emotionally or astronomically. But why?

I don’t have much of an answer to that “why” question but I wonder if sin is a little like not responding to warmth when we’re cold. We instinctively respond physically but we have a choice spiritually. The best definition of sin I know is “the refusal to let God love you.” The refusal to receive his warmth in our coldness.

Father, even many of us who are believers don’t really believe the warmth of your love. Reveal your love to us today. There’s always more with you.

I’ve often dreamed of finding bunches of coins on the sidewalk. In those dreams, I’d say “This isn’t a dream, this is the real thing!” But I always woke up.

This morning, though, the coins were real. On my morning walk down main street, there they were, spread out before me. A half-dozen dimes and nickels, shiny against the dull concrete. Not a lot of money, but a lot of symbolism: Today’s the day to start the blog. Today’s the day to stop worrying about how good the writing will be. Today’s the day to let God make this dream real.

Sweet Jesus, we all have dreams. Some are your dreams for us and some are our dreams for ourselves. Help us today to discern our dreams. We want to follow your dreams for us because your dreams are joy and peace and truth.