"A good day."

The kids and I went to "the cubbies church" today (where Moses goes to cubbies on Wednesdays). On the way there, Moses started the following conversation, completely out of the blue:

Moses: I like it here on earth.
Me: What?
Moses: I like it here on earth.
Me: Me, too, Moses. But heaven is going to be SO much better.
Moses: But, but, but... heaven is a long time from now. So can it be better here, first?
Me: Sure, Moses. It can be better here, first.

It struck me because, as we seek a new church, I've wondered whether what we want in a church can really exist on earth. Is what I am longing for the fellowship that comes when we reach heaven? Aren't all churches broken, because they too are the product of a broken world?

So while I told Moses that yes, our earthly life can be "better" for now, I didn't really mean it.

Then during church, the pastor spoke on the following verse:

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4

And I thought, "YES! That is what I am longing for! I am longing to dwell in the house of the LORD! To always be in His presence!"

The pastor made some good comments on relationships and fellowship. And then he closed by reading the rest of Psalm 27. The following was particularly applicable to my life right now:

Teach me your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path because of my foes.
Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breath out violence.
I would have despaired unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:11-14

And there it was, right there. Moses was right! (He has been fairly prophetic in the past.) It CAN be wonderful here on earth! We CAN see goodness in the land of the living!

I know my life is good; I hadn't been denying that. But the "goodness of the LORD" goes far beyond my life being "good" right now. I LOVE that promise.

Between the awesome worship time and the great sermon, I was so totally refreshed today.

Later in the afternoon, I took Moses shopping so that he could pick out a present for ZuZu's birthday. He had been telling me that he wanted to get her a "princess- with a castle." I thought that might be a little costly, but we did find this at Walmart, from the movie "Tangled." Funny story: we've never seen that movie, but ZuZu loves the preview for it at the beginning of "Toy Story 3." Not because she loves the beautiful girl with the long flowing hair. Not ZuZu. ZuZu loves the little chameleon thing that sits on her shoulder and pounds its fist into its hand. She imitates it every time. So when Moses saw a toy with that little lizard, he was determined to get it.

On the way home, Moses and I got a special treat from McDonald's: "ice cream with a straw" (known to the rest of the world as a shake) for him, and a caramel mocha for me. We also got a shake for K (Moses was worried that we would leave him out- what a sweetie!). And as we were going up the hill to our house, Moses said, "This has been a GOOD day."

Yes, Moses. Yes it has.