Summertime Gaze?

I don't know about you, but I often struggle to keep my gaze cast towards Christ during one of the most beautiful time of the year. Maybe it's just the late nights and business of activities, but this short article by John Piper was a much needed encouragement and challenge for me tonight. 

I love Piper's encouragement, "Don’t let summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him"- I Corinthians 2:9. "


The solution?   "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."  Colossians 3:1-2

It was just the reminder that I needed that no matter how busy I am this summer (and oh boy is this a busy one) to take every chance I get to turn my heart and mind to the things of Christ. For me 

personally that means a few things:

1. Getting up a tad earlier to get in The Word. I truly want my mind filled with scripture so that I am not tempted to doubt the goodness of my Heavenly Father.

2. Savoring each beautiful moment as a gift from God that points to His own majesty and should cause me to give glory to Him!