Taste and See...

Psalm 34:8 is an often quoted verse for the followers of Jesus. "Taste and see that the LORD is good," is what David wrote in the middle of this soul stirring poem. However, while this verse is often quoted it is very difficult to live. In a world that is built around meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual pleasures of our lives it can be easy to "Taste and see" the goodness of other things. For example we will:

1. Taste and see that our friends are good.
2. Taste and see that our material possessions are good.
3. Taste and see that our families are good.
4. Taste and see that this world is good.
5. Taste and see that our Facebook status is good.
6. Taste and see that our iPhone is good.
7. Taste and see that our boyfriends and girlfriends or wives and husbands are good.

However, if we look back at Psalm 34 in verse six I think we will see the key to Tasting and seeing that the LORD alone is good. Verse six states "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles." This poor man is not only David, who wrote this Psalm, but it also you and I. We are truly a poor people who cannot save ourselves. The people and things in this world that we taste and that we see do not compare to the taste and sight of Jesus Christ. Yet so often we don't live this idea. We shake our heads and agree with it, but do we live it. Only when we realize, as David did, that we are a poor people, will we be truly able to taste and see the LORD in all his goodness. Despite all the momentary pleasures this life and world have to offer, they cannot satisfy the longing for eternity that is on each of our hearts. We long for something more than this world and its small pleasures, and once we realize this world is not good and is not worth savoring and tasting, we become poor and turn to the only good and satisfying, Jesus Christ.

What are you tasting and seeing as good? I have to ask myself this question daily as I always refocus my life and desires around the man Jesus Christ. I am a poor man who calls out to him daily and He always saves me from the poor life I would have without Him. Only when we see ourselves as poor people, and Jesus Christ as the soul satisfying, powerful, savior that He is will we begin to live Psalm 34:8. Have you tasted the goodness of Jesus today? Have you seen the goodness of Jesus today? If not, then pray that your eyes be opened because, as Jesus promised, He is with us always.

Here are a few other practical ideas to help you Taste and See the LORD.
1. Read your Bible daily. Read a Psalm everyday.
2. Pray everyday. If you don't know what to say then just pray the Psalm you read that day.
3. Whenever you experience happiness or joy in a day thank Jesus for his goodness and His ability to save us.
4. Whenever you taste good food (steak or candy) think about how much greater the taste of Jesus is. This may be weird to start, but overtime it will remind you that Jesus is a person who you can have real experiences with.
5. Strive to see God in all areas of your life. Your school, your relationships, and even your online experience. When we can see the goodness of God everywhere we will know His goodness.

10 Ways Parents Can Partner with Pulse

These are 10 tips that you can take to foster a spiritual impact in the life of your student. Some of these are steps you as a parent I would encourage you to take, others are things you need to emphasize in the life of your student. If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section.
Bryan

1. Make the church a priority in your family.
2. Encourage your students to attend Fusion every Wednesday night.
3. Encourage your student to serve in some capacity in the church.
4. Make Big Stuf summer camp a part of your student's summer plans.
5. Serve as a volunteer in the church.
6. Connect your students to healthy relationships through the church.
7. Take advantage of the Family Experiences posted here to deepen the impact of what is taught to your student at Fusion.
8. Tell your student what God is teaching you in your own life.
9. Partner with the church to develop your student spiritually.
10. Pray daily for your student.

Road Signs Family Experience

FAMILY EXPERIENCE

What kind of family do you want to be? What shared experiences do you want to have? What kind of legacy do you want to leave? This month, think about one goal, one destination, you want to reach as a family. Maybe you want to become more environmentally conscious. Maybe you want to serve others. Maybe you want to feel closer to each other. When you decide on your destination, then you can make a road map for getting there. Here are just a few questions to help you start planning your journey.

1. What is your biggest obstacle in taking the first step? Everyone has some reason why you can’t do something. Find out what that big fear or reason is, and determine what is the best way to push through that roadblock.

2. Is there something you need to stop doing in order to free up time to get to your chosen destination? For example, if you want to grow closer as a family, what time do you need to carve out of your schedule to spend time together on a consistent basis?

3. Are there tools or materials you need in order to equip you for the path? For example, if you want to become more environmentally conscious, do you need to clean up the garage to setup a recycling center? Do you need to find a drop-off center for recyclable items near your home?

4. What organizations can you contact or information can you research to help you prepare? As a family, if your goal is to start eating healthier, can you all take a cooking class to learn how to prepare more nutritious meals? Is there information you can find online about the nutritional information of foods at your favorite restaurants?

5. What kind of mile markers and guardrails can you setup to make sure you stay on course for the long run? There will be times when things get too hard or when the family gets off track, so beforehand, develop a plan to keep everyone accountable and help get things back on course.

Road Signs Pt. 1

ROAD SIGNS

You can’t get to the south beach by driving north, and you can’t get to the top of the mountain if you are walking down it. In the Road Signs series, we will examine the book of Proverbs for wisdom to help each of us navigate the choices life brings because our choices determine the direction of our lives. And it’s our direction, not our intention, that ultimately determines our destination. Where are you heading?

Week One (February 4)

You can’t get to the south beach by driving north, and you can’t get to the top of the mountain if you are walking down it. Why? It’s because our direction always determines our destination. While we all know this basic rule for navigating the roads we drive, we sometimes forget how the same rule is true in our lives. You can’t lose weight by shoving down quarter pounders and watching five hours of TV. You can’t have deep relationships by ignoring the living, breathing people around you. You can’t grow closer to God by shutting Him out of your everyday life or failing to make the effort to know more about Him. So what is the destination you desire for your life? Are you even on the right path to get there?

Week Two (February 11)

When we’re behind the wheel, most of us stop if we see a street sign that says “danger” or “dead end.” We put ourselves on alert if we see a “caution” sign. But when it comes to our daily lives and the choices we face, sometimes we ignore the warning signs completely. We trudge right through the “don’t say that” sign and deeply cut someone close to us with a wounding remark. We plow right through the “don’t date that girl” sign because we believe that having someone who’s not great for us is better than not having someone at all. The Bible warns us that when we see danger to take action, because when we don’t, things can get really ugly.

Week Three (February 25)

Everyone makes stupid choices—even smart people. Why? Because we’ve all had moments when we know the right thing to do, we have the right information, and we ignore it. We know we should order the fruit cup, but we order the mega-size fries. We know we should not spend all our money on that one shirt, but we do it anyway. We know we should avoid that one relationship, but we just keep coming back because it’s comfortable. So there has to be something more to it than just knowing the right thing to do. It’s not just about knowing the right choice, it’s about actually taking that first step. It’s the difference between knowing the right choice and trusting that the choice will lead you to a better path. It’s the difference between information and submission.

Week Four (March 4)

Have you ever been walking down the street, deep in thought, but oblivious to what was going on around you—that is until you snapped out of it and realized that you passed your destination two blocks ago? Your attention was elsewhere. Your mind wasn't focused on what you were doing. The reality is this: what you give your attention to determines your direction. When something captures your attention, it will alter your direction and eventually lead you to a predictable destination—for better or worse. This week, we will wrap up the series by helping your child take a look at the things that capture his or her attention. We will challenge them to be intentional about paying attention to the things that will ultimately lead them in the direction they want to go.