“You are awesome, O God, in Your holy places.”  – Psalm 68:36 JPS

Sitting on the chancel steps with the children, I asked them about where they live – in a house or an apartment or somewhere else?  There were a few giggles; Gracie, age 3, told me she lives in her house with her brother and mom and dad.  Her grandparents live on a farm in a house – not in the barn.

We noted some people live in tents and some don’t have homes.  We talked about how Joppa builds Tiny Homes for the homeless.  (The kids at Ankeny UCC take up a weekly coin collection during the offertory; in July this year it is designated for Joppa.)

We named places where some of God’s other creatures live:  nests (birds), hives (bees), dens (bears), shells (snails).  One child pointed out that rabbits just dig a hole in the ground.

Then I wondered where God lives.  “In heaven” was the first quick reply.  “Up in the clouds” was the next answer.  A third child just gave me a puzzled look.  Gracie whispered “in my heart.”

Jesus lives with us, in our hearts.  That means God is with us wherever we are.  And wherever we are, we are with God.