Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto the front porch with a cup of coffee in hand just as the sun was beginning to rise, and I smiled when I took my first breath of fresh air on this new day. We are under a “heat advisory” in Virginia, and the high temperatures will take a toll on the earth for a few days because of it. I watched the deer come out of hiding for breakfast, and then they headed right back to their cooler hiding place. As I looked out at the foggy fields filled with deer eating their breakfast in the early hours of this new day, I thanked God for the Beauty of the Simple things that bring such Joy to me. We’re all surrounded by Simple things that have the Potential to Fill the Heart with Joy and Gratitude for the God of all Creation, but not everybody is interested in looking for them because their Hearts are more inclined toward themselves and their “feel-good” moments instead. As for me, I’ll take the sound of a bird at sunrise over any concert on the planet, and I’ll take watching deer in the fields over any movie. God Entertains me more than man-made things ever could because I love the Simple things and my Heart is filled with Gratitude for each one. This morning, I spent a little extra time thanking the Living God for all that He is and for all that He does for me and for this amazing, clear, and soon-to-be scorching day in Virginia. The Simple Pleasures make my Heart sing. Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith, too?

It could be so easy to focus on the bigger battles in life and miss the Simple Pleasures if we aren’t careful, but it’s those simple pleasures that often have the Biggest Impact on the Heart. How can pleasure be measured when we look into the eyes of a child or when we hear them giggle? How can pleasure be measured when we stop the world to focus on conversation with our loved ones or when we break out in a belly laugh as we walk down Memory Lane? How can pleasure be measured when we spend time sharing our Heart with a friend or when we go before the Throne of our God together in prayer? How can pleasure be measured as we consider the birds of the air or the fruit of the fields, and we Know that it all comes from Him? How can pleasure be measured when we look at the sky full of stars and we know that God scattered them there and that He knows them each by name? How can pleasure be measured when He speaks to us at just the right time for just the right Purpose, and He takes us by the right hand to lead us where we’re Called to go? There is no end to Simple Pleasures and no way to measure the joy they bring to the Heart…IF we refuse to overlook them in our search for the “bigger” things.

Some people consider the simple things to be nonsense, and they miss out on the Quality of Life because of it. They need those “wow” moments for them to feel Fulfilled, and they’re only impressed by God when He does “Big” things to entertain them. They miss out on the Simple Pleasures. These same people are inclined to search only for those “big” moments found in the Bible, and they’ll flip past the pages of those Simple things as if they are unnecessary “fluff” in the Bigger Picture. But there isn’t even one word in His Word that is unnecessary “fluff” and just one Whisper from His Spirit when I read them is THE BEST (not so) Simple Pleasures in this Journey of Life. My God can part the seas at the sound of His voice. My God can make the sun stand still, and He can calm the storm. My God can declare war and bring Peace whenever He wants to. My God can heal the sick and raise the dead. My God gives AND He takes away. My God can do all things, and I am in awe of Him. But when He Whispers to my Heart…When His Words come flowing into me and I feel His Spirit Speaking to me…it’s THAT Simple Pleasure that brings me the most pleasure in this Journey called Life. Knowing that He Loves me…that He hears my cries…that He is with me always…That He has a Word for everything I am and for all that I do, and that He cares enough to Whisper those Words within my Soul is so beautiful it defies words! I wish everybody could have what I have all because I savor those Simple Things.

I pity the ones missing out on the Simple things as they let their Time here on earth slip by. Far too many parents refuse to participate in simple things with a child as long as there are smartphones and TVs to entertain them instead. Far too many people of Faith are sitting out the Game on the bench (aka pew) and they’re missing the pleasure of Selfless Service in His Name cause of it. Some people stay away from churches that serve up Simple music as if a rock band defines the worth of the Church, like spectators, and they’re missing the Truth in their quest for entertainment. Some people refuse to slow down for anyone or anything because chasing success is much more important to them than “chasing” Relationships with God or man. Eventually, the Time will run out for all of us, and the opportunity to enjoy the Simple things will come to an End. I wonder if there will be Regrets for the ones who thought of themselves and their entertainment as far more important than those “boring” Simple things where the Truest Blessings are found? Will they hear God say, “I gave the gift of a child, but you found other things more important than spending time with her?” Will God Remind them that they existed just to Glorify Him and not to entertain themselves?

I don’t know if we will be asked about squandering our Life here on earth, nor not, but the thought of standing before God with excuses for why I didn’t Savor the countless blessings in the Simple things is enough to keep me Chasing my God with everything within me. I see Him in everything around me, and He sees me as His child who appreciates it all.

What about you?