Soul Cravings

This phrase has kind of been the "buzzword" in our community recently. It all started when Erwin McManus, author of "Soul Cravings", spoke at Northwood church a couple weeks ago. Here's some thoughts and truths that have stirred us...

In the oh-so-famous chapter of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 Solomon sums of life as laughing and crying, living and dying, working and playing, hurting and healing. A time for this, a time for that. Seems life really contradicts itself. I can relate to that, can't you? In verse 11 Solomon shares a promise that I have claimed and clung to many, many times. "He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time." Then, "Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." It means our souls were created with a craving for God. Ever had an itch that you couldn't seem to scratch? Like, no matter where you scratch the itch remains? Ever felt that same way in your Spirit? Like something deep inside of you is longing and desiring but you're not sure what for? Something Erwin kept saying that made so much sense to me is that its like our souls know something that our brains do not. So we have this desire, this craving deep within us, but our brains can't quite catch up to what it is. That's where the enemy comes in and tempts us with the temporary satisfaction because his worst fear is that we will grab hold of what it is that will truly satisfy us. Erwin questioned who it was that discovered it was water we were thirsty for? How many people died because they tried eating dirt to quench the dry craving in their mouth before somebody dipped their hands in the stream of water and drank deeply?

So, I've been asking myself, and now am asking you...

When our hearts seem thirsty or our soul feels that "itch", what will we choose? Time and time again I find myself in a pile of dirt thinking I've found the water. Sometimes, I even like the taste of the dirt better only to be left dying.

As a family, a community, we are experiencing a deep craving for Jesus. We are exploring what it looks like to train our brains to catch up to our souls. We don't want to live like he did only for our hearts to be far from him. The next few weeks (or however long it takes!) we will explore. We will question. We will challenge each other. We will search for the line between discipline and legalism. We want more of Jesus.

You, as always, are welcome to join us. In our home, in your own home, with us in flesh or with us in spirit...jump in!