[1] We’re back! Last night we returned from a six day vacation to Lake Tahoe. I forgot how long California is, until it took us ten hours to drive from Orange County to the cabin in Truckee. Despite Tyler getting sick half way through the week we enjoyed spending time with our good friends Ty, Lucas and Heather.

A few times on this trip I was wondering what in the world a vacation is supposed to be. I think I’ve seen too many TV commercials showing families snorkeling or at a spa in the mountains. I usually think of vacations as restful, relaxing, good food, enjoying time together and time to read and blog. Only half of those were true for this particular vacation with poor sick little Tyler to take care of I only slept a few hours at nights and then tried redeem the day time by reading, but kept falling asleep!

I managed to make some progress in J.C. Ryle’s Holiness and also started a new book, Faithful Feelings by Matthew A. Elliot. Most of all I was thankful for time to really meditate on God’s Word. My husband is the high school youth pastor at our church and our group is reading through the Psalms together over at the [2] Godsongmusic site. During the week in Tahoe we hit Psalm 100 and I just keep going back to it, it is so encouraging!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.

I really like the one word commands the Psalmist gives us to respond to God–shout, worship, come, know, enter, give. Each command is so specific too.

Shout for joy.
Worship with gladness.
Come with joy.
Know that He is God, and our Creator, we are subject to Him.
Enter with thanksgiving and praise.
Give thanks because the Lord is good and His love and faithfulness are forever.

What an awesome call to focus on God and doesn’t this Psalm make it sound like it should be a celebration? This was one thing that reminded me have joy in our trip despite the few obstacles…But I sure am glad to be home!

Click [3] here to see more pictures from out Trip to Tahoe!

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