Every Christian experiences spiritual ebbs and flows or periods when there is less fervor; less hunger.  I may be coming out of a time like this.  I could feel the sense of dissatisfaction in my soul as I woke up this morning; dissatisfaction with where my spiritual life has been of late.  I awakened praying, as if I had already started reaching out to Him in my dreams.  I so wanted to read Scripture.  So, wanted to turn a corner and start again. Remaining in bed was no option.  I want to go through a period of re-energizing, like I have done a thousand times before.  Christianity is not for most a constant rise upwards, but a series of undulations, like the typical charts I see that track the growth of blue-chip stocks.  What one must see is the big picture of growth over the years, without being either elated or deflated by the daily vagaries that come with immediate successes or failures or momentary victories or disappointmens. So, I will die to self, again, like Paul dying daily, only to find that the One who gives life to all has been faithful, waiting to revivify me.  Perhaps this time the fervor, the hungering, will last longer.  Perhaps it will be a bit more heightened, more intense.  Perhaps the ebb, when it comes, will be of less duration.  We will see, but in this moment, with apologies to Dick Vitale, it's stock up!

In the last couple of weeks we have enjoyed the blessings of three baptisms through the ministry of our church, with the converted coming from the world, not from one of our families, and conversions like these are always especially encouraging.  Some intentional nurturing is in order!