Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
     Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
     for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
     for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
     and the swallow a nest for herself,
     where she may have her young---
a place near your altar,
     Lord Almighty, my King and my
          God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your
          house;
     they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in
          you.
     whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
     they make it a place of springs;
     the autumn rains also cover it with
          pools.
They go from strength to strength,
     till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
     listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
     look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts
     than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the
          house of my God
     than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
     the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
     from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
     blessed is the one who trusts in you.


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I need to observe the birds more because I too want to make a home near God's altar.  They are blessed because they build their nests in God's house.

But I am a pilgrim.

As pilgrims, traveling through earth's valley, let us put one foot in front of the other, availing ourselves of God's strength, and more strength tomorrow and the next day.  Walk in heaven's sunlight and see the path and destination like we've never seen before.  Walk under the Lord God's umbrella-shield stretched out from time to eternity.  Yet be quickened and revel in cool autumn rain, pooling over walking shoes.  Call forth springs from the depths of heaven, just waiting to be discovered.  And drink from them, fellow pilgrims, drink holy water from God. 

Let us keep moving toward His kingdom, realizing it's at the very next step, as we trust Him.  As we trust Him...which feels so strange and vulnerable, but oh so light and free.

Let us be pilgrims.

And birds.

Let's get as close to God as we can.  In this very moment with a heart full of palpable Holy Spirit presence.  Yet walking onward, onward until we, us, the redeemed Real you and me, step through God Almighty's doorway, run through His courts and finally fly with holy abandon to the altar of the King.