I Love Seven-Eleven!

I used to love the 7-11 store that was about a half a block from our house on Warren Drive-- it's now swallowed up by Johnny's Pizza. I can't tell you how many Icee's I drank from that store when I was a kid. They had Jolly Ranchers gallore -- in every flavor and I can remember the little brown paper sack that I'd carry my stash home in. I didn't think so much about it when they closed all the 7-11's around here in lieu of the more modern Fil-A-Saks or Jump-'n-Runs -- whatever you wanna call 'em. I always liked 7-11! Sometimes when I'm travelling out of town -- I see a 7-11 and those wonderful memories of childhood come rushing back to me. I just have to stop and get an Icee or something! A bit of nostalgia happening this morning. Thanks for indulging me.

In my early private devotion today, I read a number of Psalms and came to Psalm 90 where the sub-heading in my bible says The Eternity of God, and Man's Frailty. Verse one begins with this -- "LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Then it continues to enumerate the awesomeness of God and the shallowness of humanity. Finally, the psalm concludes with these words in verse seventeen; "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands." What an intriguing thought! To have such a relationship with God, our Father that we can call on Him to beautify us with His presence. I was moved by those words and stayed there for a while -- praying over and meditating on that one statement -- "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us!" Then it says, "and establish the work of our hands for us;" What an amazing thought, that our Eternal God, Who by His sheer and unbridled power has formed the universe and all that is in it and to imagine that He has opened the door to such an appeal . . . "Come and establish the work of our hands!" I had to ask myself the question, maybe you need to do the same; "What are you expecting from God today?" Judgment and condemnation -- misery, emptiness, loneliness and frustration? Why not believe God for the good? Construct every day on the seven-eleven principle -- Matthew 7:11, that is! Why not spend every moment looking for the goodness of God in your life. Get your eyes off what you can do and trust God for what He can and will do! "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Mt. 7:11 NIV. A couple of other scriptures to direct your thoughts: Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:6-9. I just love 7-11's don't you!